Start with the job your film needs
Write a short brief before requesting proposals: the film’s language, genre, confirmed release date, Karnataka release plan, available assets and approval contact. Name the next audience action you want: watch the trailer, remember the release date, find a show or discover an OTT release. Each action needs a different creative and destination.
Separate theatrical promotion, a song launch and an actor’s personal PR. If all three are needed, ask the agency to allocate deliverables to each. This prevents a proposal full of general activity from leaving the film’s immediate release need uncovered. Share uncertain dates as provisional so the calendar can be revised deliberately.
Ask what the campaign evidence actually includes
Open two or three relevant examples and inspect individual post links, publication dates, formats and reported metrics. Ask which work was a client collaboration and which was the network’s own editorial or fan coverage. Both can demonstrate audience familiarity, but they answer different questions about paid delivery.
Check whether every delivered post appears in the report, how missing measurements are labelled and whether any rows are estimates. A screenshot of a total cannot answer those questions. SouthSide’s case studies link to public campaign dashboards; read the scope and limitations alongside the headline figure. Past results describe those posts and their circumstances. They do not establish a result for a new film.
Compare the proposed audience and page list
Ask for the actual pages or creators proposed for your film. Review their recent posts: language, tone, film interests and the kinds of conversation they attract. A creator who handles a thoughtful interview and a meme page that carries a release reminder can each have a useful role. Their follower totals alone do not tell you whether the brief fits.
Ask what geographic or audience evidence is available, and distinguish a page’s overall audience from the audience reached by a particular post. State whether your priority is Bengaluru, a wider Karnataka release or an online Kannada audience. Avoid treating a page list as proof of access to every viewer in a region.
Make delivery and approvals concrete
A useful proposal names the number of posts, formats, publishing pages, campaign window, creative responsibilities and reporting arrangement. It also records who supplies footage, who approves Kannada copy and what happens when a trailer, asset or release date changes. Ask whether creator appearances, filming, travel or paid media are included or quoted separately.
Agree on one approval contact and a response window that your team can meet. Record spoiler limits, sensitive scenes and claims that require confirmation. Ask how revisions are counted and who can pause an incorrect post. These are practical decisions for the brief, rather than assumptions to discover during release week.
Compare proposals on the same scope
Put each proposal beside the same checklist: page list, deliverables, production, approvals, dates and measurement. Ask each agency to explain any gap. A larger total of posts may consist of repeated copies, while a smaller scope may include original edits or creator production. Compare the work you are buying before comparing the total quote.
Use the campaign measurement guide to agree on reporting terms and the cost drivers guide to clarify inclusions. For SouthSide, send the brief through our services or contact page. A clear brief makes the proposed work easier to review.
Related services and evidence
Kannada film promotion · All services · Case studies · Campaign measurement research