Cinefile

As we near the end of 2010 and head into the new year, independent filmmakers and artists who consider themselves to be part of this emerging new media movie industry have to be aware of the following fact: the story behind your movie is just as valid and important as the story within your movie's narrative. In other words, sharing your film from its original concept (when the idea arises in your head) via a blog post, Twitter page or any useful online platform is no longer an option--it's a must. Audiences these days are more sophisticated, aware and tech-savvy than ever. Considering that the audience for your film is right on par with familiarizing themselves with new mobile platforms (e.g. Apple's iPad) and are looking for intuitive new ways to be engaged with movie content, it is only logical that you--the independent artist--utilize free platforms, like Cinefile.com, to share both your work and the story behind your work.

Writer Nick Bulton argued in a recent Wired.com article: “As we move to this world where we consume things on screen and the lines blur between television and radio and the printed word and every medium, everything is going to be catered to storytelling." This isn't an exaggerative claim. With the eve of the Internet TV revolution upon us, we're going to be seeing numerous niche venues arise that will cater to every type of filmmaker and content creator. The key to enduring and sustaining your work will be in recognizing which outlets are more suitable to your content. But the basic practice remains the same: share your story. That means behind-the-scenes stills, clips, concept art and even audio podcasts in some cases. By conditioning your creative work ethic to exist outside of just filming your movie, you will be better prepared for the new trends, avenues and rewards that will surely come with these platforms.

Consider this piece of text from a recent industry news post titled "Multi-Platform Work No Longer A Novelty In Digital Age":

"Mike Monello, co-creator of The Blair Witch Project and co-founder of cross-media producer Campfire said: “We are not at the cutting edge…we are trying to catch up to audiences.”

He spoke of how The Blair Witch Project took off with audiences because of its “story universe” that existed even before the film’s release.

He said film-makers and storytellers now should not just deliver a story, but an “experience design.”"

Skeptics who think that mobile platforms are just a fad should look at the stats and realize that these devices are the real thing and will integrate into the new moviemaking rhetoric. So now the question is: Where will you begin sharing your story?