There are a number of cool things happening regarding the release of Rectify not the least of which is to say that it’s available at all. Who knew we could make a short that would “get distribution”. Here’s what’s going down so far:

• Rectify is currently available on Caachi
• Rectify is currently available on IndieFlix
• Sometime this week Rectify will be available on Heretic Films and Bside
• Sometime next week Rectify will be available on Amazon and Joost
• The week after Rectify will be available on Hulu and Vuze
• Sometime in the future Rectify will be available (in the FHTA short film package) on Netflix
• AND… starting AUGUST 1st OurStage will be running another sign up promotion but this time we get $4 per new person signed up! The promotion will run through August and I will make Rectify available for free viewing to anybody who signs up as part of the promotion.

Stay tuned for more details!

Tags: The aftermath by Dan
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So I’m back from L.A. and the entire experience was awesome. DIY Days was a complete success. Here is the breakdown of the day:

OPENING KEYNOTE
Robert Greenwald (Outfoxed, Wallmart the High Cost of Low Price, Iraq for Sale)

10:45 AM - NOON
Panel #1: THE REALITIES OF DIY

Discussion Leader: Mark Stolaroff (producer and founder of the No Budget Film School)
- Arin Crumley (Four Eyed Monsters)
- Ondi Timoner (DiG, Join Us, We Live in Public)
- M dot Strange (We Are the Strange)
- Hunter Weeks (10 MPH and 10 YARDS)

NOON to 1PM - LUNCH

1PM to 1:45PM:
Arin Crumley - FOUR EYED MONSTERS case study

1:45PM - 2:30PM:
Lance Weiler - EXTENDING THE STORYWORLD case study

2:30PM - 3:15PM
KEYNOTE
Marshall Herskovitz (Blood Diamond, Quarterlife)

3:15PM - 4:30PM
Panel #2: MOVING BEYOND THE SCREEN

Discussion Leader: Lance Weiler (Head Trauma, The Last Broadcast)
- Marshall Herskovitz (Blood Diamond, Quarterlife)
- Tommy Pallotta (A Scanner Darkly, Waking Life)
- Femke Wolting (filmmaker, cross-media producer and designer)
- Mark Pellington (Henry Poole is Here, Arlington Road and Mothman Prophecies)

4:30PM - 4:45PM
Break

4:45PM - 5:30PM
M Dot Strange - WE ARE THE STRANGE case study

5:30PM - 6:45PM
Panel #3: WHEN THE AUDIENCE TAKES CONTROL

Discussion Leader: Saskia Wilson-Brown (Current TV)
- Arin Crumley (Four Eyed Monsters)
- M Dot Strange (We Are the Strange)
- Miki Krimmel (expert in social media and online community)
- Alex Johnson (digital media strategist / filmmaker)
- Lance Weiler (The Last Broadcast, Head Trauma)
- YOU

6:45PM
Closing Remarks

7PM - 8PM
Social Hour @ Mountain Bar

The amount of information was intense. Thankfully the whole thing was recorded and will be made avialable on the DIY Days and Workbook Project websites shortly.

I want to extend a huge thanks to Lance Weiler, Arin Crumley, M dot Strange and everyone else involved in making it happen. It’s great to see some of the pioneers of the current media revolution turning around and sharing their experience with other artists.

In other news: my first real experience of L.A. felt very inviting. I see a possible change of zip code in my future.

Tags: The aftermath by Dan
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Last March I posted a blog entry about entering Rectify in the From Here To Awesome discovery and distribution festival. I am pleased to announce that Rectify has been chosen from over 120 entries to be in the FHTA showcase. For those who don’t know what’s up with the festival here is the official blurb:

About FROM HERE TO AWESOME :: DISCOVERY AND DISTRIBUTION FEST
The first edition of FROM HERE TO AWESOME, an open-source discovery and distribution film festival is coming to a theater, living room, computer, and / or mobile device near you. The festival kicks off July 26th in Los Angeles and roll outs out over a six-month period with stops in New York, San Francisco, Boston and London. Filmmakers retain all the rights, see direct revenue from each of the outlets and enjoy global audiences. The goal is to create a direct connection between audience and filmmaker.

From Here to Awesome is an extension of the Workbook Project a social open-source experiment for filmmakers.

What does it all mean?

The showcase consists of 10 feature length films and 10 shorts. The shorts will be packaged together as one unit. These will then be made available through various different outlets including Amazon.com, Vudu, Heretic Films, IndieFlix, Hulu, Joost, and many more. Unlike most distribution deals in which the distribution company consumes most of the revenue from a film through various “fees” and “marketing expenditures”, the majority of any revenue generated by someone’s film in the FHTA showcase will go back to the filmmaker.

What does it REALLY mean?

As exiting as that is, I don’t feel that is what makes this festival so special. As I mentioned in my previous post, we are experiencing a tidal wave of change in how media is created, distributed, and consumed. When was the last time you bought a cassette tape or even a CD? Do you still use a Walkman® style CD player? Probably not. Do you watch any movies, TV, or videos online yet? If not, you will. Digital media is giving us more options as to what, when, and how we enjoy our entertainment.

I believe that by embracing the changes we can learn to surf the wave of change while others, who are stuck in the old way of doing things, fight to keep their heads above water. The FHTA festival is at the forefront of trying to get up and ride this thing. As with any period of great change it pays to get an early start. When the new media landscape begins to become clear a few people will be in a position to benefit greatly, while most of the others will be playing catchup.

New opportunities are rapidly emerging for artists to create their art, share it with a wide audience, and connect to that audience like never before. At its core, art is communication and the ways in which we communicate are evolving.

Not to sound overly dramatic, but we are truly living in a significant point in history. The question is, how do you want to leave your mark?

Tags: Festival News by Dan
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