First Feature Film Created Via The Web
Massify, the online collaboration site for film makers, recently reached its goal of creating the first ever fan-created film with the completion of Perkin's 14, a horror flick scheduled to premier January 9 - 15 during Horrorfest III.
Most exciting is the process; from selecting the story to post production and launch, the Massify community was involved in making decisions every step of the way.
Massify, a young startup out of New York, was conceived by Kenneth Woo and Brett Icahn [yes, the son of Carl Icahn] as a network for filmmakers to connect and collaborate.
Earlier this year, Icahn told the New York Times: "Online networks should apply a democratic process to the creation of content, not just the distribution of it."
Similar to MeDeploy, a company we've written about before, Massify provides tools for indie filmmakers. The biggest difference is in the level of community participation. Massify offers members a platform to share ideas with like minded folk with a goal of creating films that the community wants to see. By way of online competitions and community voting, ideas turn into films that Massify and its partner's fund. Perkins' 14 is their first group effort.
Perkins' 14: The First Fan Created Horror Flick
Earlier this year after partnering with After Dark Films, Massify held a competition to find the first film to produce. Three months and 400 pitches later, Massify member Jeremy Donaldson, an aspiring filmmaker from South Carolina and his film Perkins' 14 were declared winners.
The second competition for this film involved asking actors to upload audition videos and members to vote for the semifinalists who would be flown to Los Angeles for screen tests. By June, the casting contest was over, and the actors had been selected:Katherine Pawlak, Josh Davidson, Shayla Beesley, and Trey Farley. The final competition saw Justin Osbourn win the design competition for the official poster for Perkins' 14.
While the premier is still a few weeks away, you can take a look at behind-the-scenes footage and read up on the making of the movie on the new Perkins' 14 Web site. And if you're a filmmaker that wants to avoid jumping through the traditional hoops of the filmmaking business, why not take a look at Massify.
Whether the Massify dream of democratizing filmmaking is successful or not remains to be seen, but, the idea of power flowing in the opposite direction to what Hollywood is used to is just the beginning of this exciting time in media. The Internet generation has arrived and it is clearly a welcome departure from the other forms of traditional media we have become accustomed to.
We've embedded the short trailer below for you to take a look if you're not squeamish, and as always, we'd love to know what you think.
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This is the rhetorical death blow to anyone who doubted Kevin Kelly and his New York Times piece "Becoming Screen Literate."
Steven you're right. I've linked the article here in case anyone missed it - it's worth a read.
From the story:
"Cheap digital creation tools have empowered a new generation of filmmakers, who are rapidly filling up those screens. We are headed toward screen ubiquity."
Wow a movie that listened to its viewers in advance. Good job.
Lidija,
Good article.
I noticed you linked to Mr. Donaldson's IMDB page, but not to the 4 outstanding actors who earned their way into the movie. They all have extensive IMDB pages. Even better they all have online audition videos on Massify that were used to evaluate them in connection with the contest they won to be in the movie.
Take care,
T.R.
And part of it seems to be shot in Romania....I guss for cost-cutting and many professionals you can find there.
This is a testament to the power of the Internet. Having fans create the film is a great step to show how the Web will change filmmaking. Its crowdsourcing at its best
Another website, IndieGoGo, is using a similar concept to help filmmakers on the Web. The site is a social marketplace for filmmakers to connect with their fans. You can post your projects online and get fans to support, endorse, or contribute money. The idea of crowdsourcing or crowdfunding is the next step to indie filmmaking.
Check it out: www.indiegogo.com
Wow dude that is really funny!
jess
www.privacy.es.tc
(linkback) Cool or Lame? First Feature Film Created Via The Web [VOTE] - http://www.thriveorfail.com/1e7c3
Looks entertaining, but not at all scary. Why? Looks like zombies to me, zombies aren't scary :)
for real? its just like every other scary movie out there....fuck make somthing new and exciting!
Found a similar concept - called Motion Sponsor - (http://www.motionsponsor.com) ! The website was officially presented at Cannes Film Festival this year and it should be a great opportunity to discover all "the behind the scenes" of a movie production ;)
Apparently, the beta will open soon in January 2009 with exciting projects...I hope!
Anyway, the financing of indie films is changing and this is a great news for all aspiring filmakers and producers!
This is the first time I've read about this movie... but there must be something in the etha because I and several others all started identical projects last year... Mine's still in development where as others are thriving.. Is it a new film-form? Or just a gimmic?
Yes, films like Star Wreck: In the Pirkining, Star Wars: Revelations, Big Buck Bunny, and a few dozen others kind of beat them to the punch of "first" many years ago. This tendency to struggle to attach "First", and "Best" or "Worst" to articles is getting out of hand, especially when it comes to objective claims such as this one... Do a little research first. It was like when SciFi tried to claim SGSG1 was the "longest running sci-fi series on television".... Come back in another 20 years and then maybe they can compete with Doctor Who. :P