For the typical rookie independent filmmaker, the road to getting a movie made goes roughly like this: Get deeply into debt; gain entry into a high-profile film festival, preferably Sundance; get an agent; sign with a major studio. Only then do you sit back, listen to Roger Ebert rave, count your share of the box office gross, and sign with Miramax for a three-picture deal.
In fact, that journey usually only takes place in film school fantasyland -- or in the movies. But in the past few years many film newbies have taken the new digital path to moviemaking magic: They've posted their films on the Web. The explosion of sites such as iFilm and Atom Films has opened a new virtual venue -- of potentially millions of people -- for next-generation Spielbergs. These filmmakers are going online, often with short-form works suited ideally for slower connections on the small screen. And they're getting noticed: At least 17 filmmakers whose work appears on iFilm have gotten Hollywood deals.
So how do you go about getting your Citizen Kane on a major site such as iFilm -- and ultimately seen by the world? It's a relatively painless experience, once you've wrapped your project. Ultimately, all you need to do is go to iFilm, click on the submit film button on the top of the screen, and follow these steps:

1. Register at the site, which is free, with a user name, password, and personal information such as name and address. You also submit the film's name, it's total running time, and a short synopsis -- an online pitch of sorts. This plotline gives people a chance to find out what your movie is all about before they try to watch it. It's vital to catch people's attention the first time. IFilm features some 15,000 films, so you can easily get buried.
   
   
2. When submitting movie details, you can include a cast and crew list. If you do have a cast and crew, include them, and not only because filmmaking is a group process. You don't want your collaborators to come looking for you when they see don't their names in virtual lights.
   
   Here's the tagline for my film, The Development:
   
   "Gigi F. Rockmonster stars as Alice in Episode 4, A New Hope, of 'The Development.' She is spending a nice afternoon taking photos in a park when she mistakenly photographs a kidnapping. She soon gets in way over her head, and ends up dodging Hit-Men and trouble."
   
   In my tag line I chose words that would grab the reader's attention. It was important me to include the fact that, at first, Gigi is enjoying a quiet day in the park, then finds herself chasing hit men. This idea of a sublime quiet followed by intense action is one of the film's central premises. It shows what The Development is all about.
   
   
3. When the questionnaire part of the process has been completed, iFilm will send you an email containing a confirmation number. The email also has iFilm's address and the different video formats that they can accept. The best idea is to send them a format that looks good streaming over the Web. I recommend a DV tape (DV stands for digital video). I sent iFilm DV Pro Tape, which I later learned they can't encode, so don't make that mistake -- it will delay your movie's premier.
   
   This site's preferred formats are Beta SP or DV tape. But iFilm will accept a wide array of formats (DigiBeta, S-VHS, or VHS, or in digital formats such as MPEG1, uncompressed QUICKTIME, or .AVI file on CD-ROM, ZIP, JAZ or DVD media). Keep in mind that the higher the quality of your submission, the better your film will look on the Web.
   
   
4. Once the tape has been received, iFilm will send you another email with details about the encoding process, as well as the about your movie's premier. It takes from four to eight weeks to get your film onto the site from the time your tape is received. When iFilm is ready to premier your film, they'll send you a second email notice. At that point you'll likely see your film online within 24 to 48 hours.
   
   When I found out that my film was to appear, I went to the site and checked it out to make see if was up before I got too excited. When I saw my movie was online, I typed up a press release and emailed it to as many people I knew.
   
   
5. Self-promotion is another important step. Being an amateur filmmaker is a tough racket, so don't be afraid to pump up your work. Getting your film distributed by iFilm, one of the Web's leading original film showcases, will lend a sense of legitimacy to your project. Work this angle every chance you get.
   
   Paco is a San Francisco filmmaker. To watch his film The Development, click here.