Read the beginning of Dave Warren's independent journey Indie Creator: Part I.

As an indie producer Dave Warren realized he needed more than one project to sell. Photo credit: Frank Longford, Studio2 Productions, Santa Ana, California.

Being a relative unknown and selling a show is a bit like the Tour de France. It’s a tough, long journey with a lot of hills to climb. As you struggle to survive, you learn a lot about yourself and your goals along the way.

When I ventured beyond my cubicle and entered the world of the Creator, I was sure I had all the tools necessary to go out and take the animation world by storm. The reality was I was naïve and had no idea how complicated and difficult the process is. I did possess some very important skills like passion and persistence, but other than that, I had little or no idea of what else was involved. My thinking at the time was I’ve got a great show and I know it. It’s just a matter of getting out there, pitching it and the rest will be history. Well, a couple of years have passed, and I’m still writing that history, waiting for that triumphant final chapter.

There are subtle things involved with this process that most of us don’t see coming and have to learn by experiencing. After the “Pitch-Me” competition and the amazing ride I had at NATPE, I was on an emotional high. I never stopped to think about how it felt when that ride came to an end. Coming back to my studio, I felt lonely and slightly depressed. Everything that happened was great, yet I didn’t come back with a sale. That meant getting right back in the saddle, promoting the show and working on getting a deal. This is a cycle that continues to repeat itself over and over again with each new market, interested buyer or potential sale. It’s something I’ve learned to live with, but definitely not something I ever anticipated. Life is like a roller coaster; full of ups and downs and so is selling a show.

Shortly after NATPE, a distributor in Canada named Michelle Stratford who was interested in representing SoSophie contacted me. Honestly, at that time I didn’t even know what a distributor did. I was just so thrilled someone was interested enough in what I had to offer that I quickly signed a deal with her.

All of Dave's hopes and dreams were tied up with his project SoSophie. © 2003 channelzero entertainment, LLC. All rights reserved.

Mentors many times come from places you least expect them. This was the case with Michelle. She introduced me to the MIP-TV market in France, buyers from all over the world, and, to this day, continues to pursue every opportunity that is available with efficiency and grace that is unmatched. From her I learned the importance of developing relationships, following up, what a co-production is and how shows are actually bought and sold. I was overwhelmed at my first MIP market to see buyer after buyer and how they interacted with Michelle. They had a genuine love and respect for her that transcended just doing business. I felt so very lucky, and still do, to have her by my side.

The MIP market is an amazing spectacle. Networks, buyers, sellers and distributors from all over the world gather to get down to the business of television. It can be a bit intimidating and overwhelming at first, but I quickly adapted to this strange new world and found opportunity at every corner. I’ve met countless buyers from all over the world who provide instant feedback on your idea. I’ve developed relationships with many of these people. I got an opportunity to see the competition up close and learn the business side of things. Those four days in France provided me with a priceless education and set the foundation for my future in this business. For that, I will always be grateful to Michelle and France, and will always hold both very dear to my heart.