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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