Philanthropists Could Significantly Improve Our Film Ecosystem, Or...
30+ Things they could do to make it a whole lot better
Why aren’t things better? Particularly, why aren’t things better for ambitiously authored films? The answer is easy. There are some things that business or the market won’t ever fix. Sad but true. Although something could be done about it... if we had some help…
In any ecosystem, there will likely be a whole boatload of operational improvements that will never get done if we wait for the market to solve them. Unless we have a major societal change in priorities, the opportunity cost of capital will always pull it to the most profitable enterprise. Profit-seeking funds don’t gravitate to those that simply may make things better for the most amount of people. If we had the logic of the public good, or just the participants’ good, we would have public transportation, free health care, education, and child care, green energy initiatives, and possibly even UBI. But we don’t. No matter how good they would be for us, or how much we want them, odds are we aren’t getting them anytime soon either, at least not while the world keeps working the way it now is.
Just looking at our little garden, how will we ever make progress, unless we have support from a good intentioned soul who loves cinema, gets how it all works, and has deep pockets? If good ideas were enough, I wouldn’t have to write this column. We should not have to depend on others’ good action— but that’s probably the only way the things we need will ever get done. Those that have amassed significant capital have to decide to put it to work for the common good.
To compound matters, the bulk of the philanthropy in the film world – intended or not – often goes to fund the production of more and more films. We really don’t need more films, but that’s what we like making. What we really need is to build a better system, one that helps filmmakers earn more for their work, brings the films together with their audience, and helps make filmmaking sustainable from folks for a wide background and perspectives. Investment in infrastructure may not be as glamorous as funding a film, but it will have far greater impact.
If I had money to truly support the arts, what would I do? So nice of you to ask!
Let’s count the ways. Some of these suggestions below I have fleshed out a bit in prior posts. Some of these I have not done so yet, and will try to in the months ahead – particularly if anyone here expresses a wee bit of enthusiasm for something in particular (and it doesn’t have a link). I am also leaving some big ideas off the table. Because I like to save them for someone special too.
Please share your own vision below in the comments section.
I first got inspired to write this list when I flew to Sundance this January. A philanthropist approached me as I exited the plane and asked for ideas on how to help. We met and I shared, but it didn’t seem like anything sparked. Perhaps if I had this list already prepped, along with a plan for each, the world of film would already be a better place. I won’t let that happen again! Ha!
Like other such lists I have drafted for us before (How Actors Can Improve Cinema & Theatergoing, etc) the goal here is just to get the ball rolling. We need to recognize the state of things and what brought us here. We need to understand the reasons why things are as they are. We need to observe the challenges and failures. We need to prioritize our options. All such pondering can be part of our creative practice. With a better practice, we will have better results. The good stuff will come faster and then faster still. We can build it better together.
30+ Things Philanthropists Should Consider Funding To Improve The Film Industry For Everyone
clink on the links for more detail please!
Proposal Generator (To Future Proof The Film World) – We write the proposals (find funds?) and then give to organizations to run
Best Practices Conference & Publication
Think Tank For The Future Of Film & The Business Of Storytelling
Alternative Distribution Initiative: Multi-City Film Club /Festival
Alternative Distribution Initiative: Speaking Tour w Curriculum
“Speak T2P” label
Pitch Market (like Good Pitch) for Democracy & T2P Narratives
Mentorship/Skills Online Marketplace
“Secure Links” Scholarship/Support Fund
Future-proofing & Sustainable Film Newsletter (like HFF but only much better & with multiple writers)
Artist-focused Newsletter Creative Industries, Creative Process, & Inspiration (like HFF but covering all creative industries & with multiple writers)
scholarship fund
Global film booster
Career Counseling for artists
Artists In Need: Frequent Flyer & Customer Points Initiative
Artist Retreat Initiative: 2nd Home & Office Space Wrangling
Value-add investor training
Subscriber deal flow
Pool resources so one can take on bigger projects (connect the dots)
Fund a for profit venture that is risky but could help the film ecosystem like screenplay to graphic novel publisher or greatest screenplays never made podcast company.
Monthly meet up of “Heads Of Department” with filmmakers, first showcasing a handful of artists’ work, and then giving time and drinks for folks to socialize afterwards. Access is everything. Directors need to meet cinematographers. Designers need to meet producers. So on and so forth.
Fund the various film support organizations to all join together, divvy out the turf, and in one year’s time generate 500 Best Practices For Working In Film Ecoystem Today, Vol.1, with the idea/commitment that this will be updated every three years, and any profits should go to a fund to help support emerging producers globally.
The items that are listed here that do NOT yet have links will be the subject of future posts. Onward, shall we? What should I write about first? Let me know your thoughts.
Should you ever wish to share the name of that Philanthropist you met on the way to Sundance, I'd love to take a swing at inspiring them. Just saying.
Great list. Some of my favorites are #8, 15, 18, 19, 22, 23, 26, 29, 31. I love the idea of making more space for people to connect & learn. I have done some iterations of it with creatives/artists in general, but currently learning how to do that well specifically for filmmakers. Social events and Mastermind small groups (of 5-7 people) have worked the best for creatives/artists. I did a podcast that I think was too general and didn't niche down enough, but a few of us are thinking of starting one specifically for filmmaking outside of Hollywood and seeing how that goes. Wish us luck!