Emerging filmmakers are always looking for new ways to network and build relationship currency with others connected to the entertainment industry. Unless you're located in areas like New York or Los Angeles this can prove to be a challenge. Living here in Las Vegas I decided to create a few different options. Since I belong to the Nevada Film Alliance and the Las Vegas Screenwriters, I do have the chance to interact with like minded people, but for the past few months I've been pursuing another path as well, which has expanded my circle considerably and allowed me access to people I'd been unacquainted with previously.

I started writing a column for two popular entertainment websites in my area, Las Vegas Round the Clock www.lasvegasroundtheclock.com and The Flick Chicks www.theflickchicks.com, which has provided me with invitations to red carpet events and allowed me to speak with a number of individuals connected to the movie business. It's a win/win situation in that having press credentials enables you to promote yourself in a subtle manner, while offering a valuable service that helps other filmmakers. Covering events you also meet local media personalities and have the chance to get to know them better, which is a great way to start building up a rolodex of contacts for when you're trying to garner press for one of your projects.

Just this past week, while attending the red carpet premiere of "Reach for Me" and the private screening of "American Sunset" at the new Giordano Theatre, I had the occasion to speak with two screenplay writers, three directors, several independent film producers and actors including Seymour Cassel, Adrienne Barbeau, Corey Haim and Frank Molina. I also had the pleasure of meeting two of my followers from Twitter, one Facebook friend and several other writers and photographers. Another plus is that when you're writing about an event or interviewing someone promoting a release, you have a professional reason for requesting business cards, so that you can send the people you're writing about an email with a link to your story.

Trying this method of networking may not be for everyone because it does require a time commitment and a willingness to put yourself out there and strut your social skills, but it is an interesting way to develop relationships with local media, meet visiting filmmakers and be kept informed about what's going on in your town. This type of affiliation may become more beneficial as well because of the dwindling number of film critics. If more filmmakers were to become a part of their local community's media, this could present opportunities for supporting indie projects, especially with the growth of DIY marketing and promotion. Speaking strictly for myself, I'm finding it to be the write way to network.