Comments on: Reflecting on From Here To Awesome http://fromheretoawesome.com/blog/2008/10/29/reflecting-on-from-here-to-awesome/ a discovery and distribution festival Fri, 12 Mar 2010 02:01:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Samantha http://fromheretoawesome.com/blog/2008/10/29/reflecting-on-from-here-to-awesome/#comment-2232 Samantha Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:52:43 +0000 http://fromheretoawesome.com/blog/2008/10/29/reflecting-on-from-here-to-awesome/#comment-2232 totally agree, Zak. You're sort of demanding a filmmaking active democracy. :) totally agree, Zak. You’re sort of demanding a filmmaking active democracy. :)

]]> By: Erik http://fromheretoawesome.com/blog/2008/10/29/reflecting-on-from-here-to-awesome/#comment-2231 Erik Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:57:09 +0000 http://fromheretoawesome.com/blog/2008/10/29/reflecting-on-from-here-to-awesome/#comment-2231 Great article Zak. Great article Zak.

]]> By: ZAK FORSMAN http://fromheretoawesome.com/blog/2008/10/29/reflecting-on-from-here-to-awesome/#comment-2225 ZAK FORSMAN Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:24:57 +0000 http://fromheretoawesome.com/blog/2008/10/29/reflecting-on-from-here-to-awesome/#comment-2225 That's a good point, Lance. YouTube is congested with "noise" (and viewer count fraud too). So how do we usher in the kind of tools and services that have helped me discover the films i want to see as a member of the audience? It's not by perusing the weekly list of New Releases, that's for sure. Nearly every film that has excited me in the past decade -– Lilja 4-ever, Rosetta, The Son, George Washington, Ratcatcher, Morvern Callar, Uzak, Climates, Millennium Mambo, Cafe Lumiere, Three TImes, -- has come to my attention through small social networks, discussion forums and mailing lists to be specific. I've usually had to take a small leap of faith and import a DVD from the UK or Japan without having seen the film, but I have rarely been disappointed. In my own experience, this kind of online word-of-mouth has been very effective at pointing me toward niche content that is GOOD. It has worked much better than Netflix's recommendation algorithms. And basically, what happens is, I return to this community thinking, oh what are these people talking about", "oh that sounds like something I would like", then I buy it, watch it, and return to that community to engage in the discussion about it. I don't know if that would work universally for everyone, but it's a model that works for many. Anyway, as this "ipod moment" delivery method emerges (and I imagine it's inevitable), how can we incorporate the appropriate tools and services for the audience to filter out a high signal-to-noise ratio? If our own websites become the new "channels", can we as content providers network ourselves in such a way that the community in search of niche content has a reliable method to find us... providing we are making GOOD content, in the first place? :) That’s a good point, Lance. YouTube is congested with “noise” (and viewer count fraud too). So how do we usher in the kind of tools and services that have helped me discover the films i want to see as a member of the audience? It’s not by perusing the weekly list of New Releases, that’s for sure. Nearly every film that has excited me in the past decade -– Lilja 4-ever, Rosetta, The Son, George Washington, Ratcatcher, Morvern Callar, Uzak, Climates, Millennium Mambo, Cafe Lumiere, Three TImes, — has come to my attention through small social networks, discussion forums and mailing lists to be specific. I’ve usually had to take a small leap of faith and import a DVD from the UK or Japan without having seen the film, but I have rarely been disappointed. In my own experience, this kind of online word-of-mouth has been very effective at pointing me toward niche content that is GOOD. It has worked much better than Netflix’s recommendation algorithms. And basically, what happens is, I return to this community thinking, oh what are these people talking about”, “oh that sounds like something I would like”, then I buy it, watch it, and return to that community to engage in the discussion about it. I don’t know if that would work universally for everyone, but it’s a model that works for many.

Anyway, as this “ipod moment” delivery method emerges (and I imagine it’s inevitable), how can we incorporate the appropriate tools and services for the audience to filter out a high signal-to-noise ratio? If our own websites become the new “channels”, can we as content providers network ourselves in such a way that the community in search of niche content has a reliable method to find us… providing we are making GOOD content, in the first place? :)

]]> By: Kevin K. Shah http://fromheretoawesome.com/blog/2008/10/29/reflecting-on-from-here-to-awesome/#comment-2213 Kevin K. Shah Mon, 03 Nov 2008 05:41:01 +0000 http://fromheretoawesome.com/blog/2008/10/29/reflecting-on-from-here-to-awesome/#comment-2213 The most beautiful thing about this is that you are endeavoring to make films that are meaningful in every way, through the creative process AND all the way through "creative distribution". I think there is an edge you are all on right now, and the fact that distribution can itself be part of the creative process is the most exciting thing I've felt since the first time I picked up a video camera. I'm learning here, make way. Kevin The most beautiful thing about this is that you are endeavoring to make films that are meaningful in every way, through the creative process AND all the way through “creative distribution”.

I think there is an edge you are all on right now, and the fact that distribution can itself be part of the creative process is the most exciting thing I’ve felt since the first time I picked up a video camera.

I’m learning here, make way.

Kevin

]]> By: Lance http://fromheretoawesome.com/blog/2008/10/29/reflecting-on-from-here-to-awesome/#comment-2208 Lance Mon, 03 Nov 2008 01:25:48 +0000 http://fromheretoawesome.com/blog/2008/10/29/reflecting-on-from-here-to-awesome/#comment-2208 This kind of distribution is very exciting - it does worry me a bit though, I see a problem with a higher signal to noise ratio - with such an open distribution system I fear that it may be hard to find quality films. One can look at youtube and see that most of the stuff on there is junk. At the same time though, the opportunity would be tremendous - I'm sure many groups will form to recognize the quality films and help get their names out there... This kind of distribution is very exciting - it does worry me a bit though, I see a problem with a higher signal to noise ratio - with such an open distribution system I fear that it may be hard to find quality films. One can look at youtube and see that most of the stuff on there is junk.

At the same time though, the opportunity would be tremendous - I’m sure many groups will form to recognize the quality films and help get their names out there…

]]> By: William Reaugh http://fromheretoawesome.com/blog/2008/10/29/reflecting-on-from-here-to-awesome/#comment-2207 William Reaugh Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:37:19 +0000 http://fromheretoawesome.com/blog/2008/10/29/reflecting-on-from-here-to-awesome/#comment-2207 Well written article, gives me much hope and makes me excited about the prospects of distribution in the future. Well done, Zak. Well written article, gives me much hope and makes me excited about the prospects of distribution in the future.

Well done, Zak.

]]> By: dc http://fromheretoawesome.com/blog/2008/10/29/reflecting-on-from-here-to-awesome/#comment-2193 dc Sun, 02 Nov 2008 19:04:45 +0000 http://fromheretoawesome.com/blog/2008/10/29/reflecting-on-from-here-to-awesome/#comment-2193 great article, it's exciting to learn about all the new resources which are being created for the interdependent filmmaker and the infinite content which will be available to audiences. For the first time audiences will have true freedom. great article, it’s exciting to learn about all the new resources which are being created for the interdependent filmmaker and the infinite content which will be available to audiences. For the first time audiences will have true freedom.

]]> By: Mike Hedge http://fromheretoawesome.com/blog/2008/10/29/reflecting-on-from-here-to-awesome/#comment-2091 Mike Hedge Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:28:40 +0000 http://fromheretoawesome.com/blog/2008/10/29/reflecting-on-from-here-to-awesome/#comment-2091 Zak rocks! Zak rocks!

]]> By: John T. Woods http://fromheretoawesome.com/blog/2008/10/29/reflecting-on-from-here-to-awesome/#comment-2079 John T. Woods Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:25:05 +0000 http://fromheretoawesome.com/blog/2008/10/29/reflecting-on-from-here-to-awesome/#comment-2079 true. true.

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