How To Build The Non-Dependent Film Ecosystem, Pt 1

Let’s pick up the pace of the needed change, shall we? Or else...

Note: My apologies if you are getting this twice. It seems the initial send went to a highly select group. We don’t want to leave anyone out, so it means some of you are now getting it a second time.

We just completed another leg of our “Invisible Nation” European tour (not to mention one stopover in the US, for the Sonoma Film Festival where we won the Grand Jury prize yesterday!), and over on those shores, the fever for true independence still rages.  Granted, consulting on the needed changes to our film ecosystem are also what brought me out there, but there are other factors that make the Europeans more proactive than their American counterparts too. The EU-ers have been harder hit than us in the US perhaps. They had the Global Streaming Platforms come in and fluff up the local economy in a big way. And then those same GSPs ran away with all the toys, leaving the locals bruised and sore.

With smaller populations there are less options. The old way of doing things had been decimated during the gold rush so when the money flowed back out there was nothing left standing. For years the focus in smaller territories has strictly been on the creative and not the business or sustainability. The EU powerhouses bought up all the leading companies and now that few films are selling, they too are think of that long flight out. The locals know that the Peak Content Gold Rush didn’t make things better. The locals recognize it as the repercussion of under-regulated capitalism. They are not as desperate as us Americans, because their state generally covers things that education and health care. They can dream a bit bigger than us. They are hungry for a new system that allows them to share in the success of their work, the data it generates, and ultimately the ownership of their IP. Could this be a global film movement? I’m in. You?

I hope you’ve been tracking our progress in mapping the why, how, and what of a new non-dependent film ecosystem here on HFF. We started with “Why Do We Need A New Ecosystem”and followed it with “Tenets For True Independence”. Perhaps we could have used some First Principles For A Non-Dependent Film Ecosystem, but for me it would closely resemble the “Artists Bill Of Rights”. Perhaps yours would differ. Perhaps not. We had already laid the ground work by pointing out “What Does Indie Provide Vs The Mainstream?” as well as “Streaming’s False Hopes” that the GSPs failed to deliver.  Global streaming was the beautiful dream that turned into a nightmare. Perhaps it was a little more salt in the wound, but I offered “What Was Lost In The Pivot To Streaming” to remind us all that was good that we’ve now lost.  I think you know I believe that we are in a position to build it back better. I did my best to get us started by outlining What’s Needed To Help An Artists First System Prosper”. That’s seven steps. Feels like a masterclass in ten sessions to me.  What’s the next piece to the puzzle? I have a few suggestions…

Perhaps it is time to look at what our first steps in a new ecosystem for non-dependent film might be.  Let’s get to it!