In the dialectic of enlightenment philosophers Horkeimer and Adorno argue that the products of the entertainment industry leave no room for imagination as viewers are trained to “react automatically”. “Every detail is so firmly stamped with sameness that nothing can appear which is not marked at birth, or does not meet approval at first sight.” They predicted the attention economy that has captured our attention and subtracted our imagination.
From funding indie films with NFTs to redefining our idea of storytelling to promoting blockbusters with gamification, the metaverse is opening up a new world of entertainment. A recent study estimates that the metaverse market could reach up to USD 678.8 billion by 2030. Filmmaking is just one industry that is in prime position to take advantage of this new channel of entertainment and distribution.
Supporting talented film producers and writers
Do you remember your first trip to the movies? Who did you go with, where did you sit, what treats did you bring? Movies and cinema specifically are a preferred form of escapism. A place of reprieve, a space to bask in the feeling of community without the noise or having to interact. The feeling of anticipation as the lights dim and silence pervades the darkened room is difficult to replicate in any setting. A simple thrill without the rollercoaster of adrenaline.
As our attention spans continue to weaken, let’s not forget to devote some time to the pure pleasure of a beautifully told story through the art of filmmaking.
In Web3, there is often talk of disruption, innovation, breaking the norm but for the movie experience the power of Web3 is the ability to protect and support the existing talent and industry. Eagerness to make great films is nothing new and is often passed on from generation to generation. Take Julie Pacino for instance. Growing up around the artform allowed her to soak up the beauty of film and capture the essence of great film making. Today she is embarking on our own legacy and using NFTs as both the funding mechanism and as a way of expressing the magic she so expertly captures on camera. Pacino understands the complexity and beauty of individual expression. Her collection of 3,356 photographs take you on a journey through the filmmaking process as Pacino creates her first feature film called I Live Here now. She is pioneering a vision for NFTs in the future of film and using the power of the community to portray her films.
Fans and creators working together
With NFTs there is an opportunity to enhance the relationship between the film maker and the fan. Features like the rights to characters within movies, NFT relationships and building infrastructure that allows you to manage those rights turns the film production into a shared experience. If there is a community involved in the film, a shared ownership of the NFTs can be enabled. It is in a sense putting the power back in the eyes of the observer.
Story DAO is a community focused media platform where creators and passionate fans collaborate and co-create the next great story franchises. The founders are bringing creators and fans closer.
Digital Artists as storytellers and film producers
Escapism is a term that all cinema goers are familiar with. Something one yearns for as a way to turn off from the noise of life and turn on to another story far removed from our own struggles. With a complete dominance of convention in our current film industry, room for freedom of expression has been lost. Now, NFT’s are providing a vehicle for artists and film producers to unite in creative approaches to Web3 production.
When looking at the work of NFT photographer Billy Dinh it forces us to focus on hidden elements. What is behind the lens, what hasn’t been captured? The way he carefully positions objects and people within the frame. Using only one or two sentences to describe the scene, he sets the stage but doesn’t tell the full story and allows the viewer to create the characters.
The same feeling occurs when we take a closer look at the work of NFT artist 0xTjo. The details of each corner, each element of space, each expression dismantled as you could never imagine. The disconnected pieces are what make it mysterious, transformational, mesmerizing.
Another artist that creates a new form of film with digital surrealist art is Moteh. His most recent work ‘It was always you’ takes the viewer on a journey without dictating the path. Who are you? Where have they been? Will they meet again? The narrative is left for the observer to ponder. He manages to create a full story using only a few words and an image. It is film making at its core. It is the highest quality of production and the photographer becomes the film director.
French novelist and poet George Duhamel was onto something when he said “I can no longer think what I want to think. My thoughts have been replaced by moving images,” George Duhamel, Scene de la vie Future (Paris, 1930)
If the art of storytelling has been lost to the manipulation of celebrity culture, then perhaps it is time to restore this artform. To fully appreciate the beauty of filmmaking, the producer should be free to insert scenes that are not simply added to conform to societal norms. So how do we fund this path to the future of film and offer hope to all film makers wishing to break from the norm, the cycle of box office hits and the restraints that come with lack of support from major streaming services.
Funding films of the future
Before a film can generate revenue from its eagerly awaiting audience it has a massive mountain to climb in securing the funding needed to produce the end result.
NFT ticketing is another form of funding that can grow from the seeds of Web3 technology. Tickets to the movie can be created by the producer themselves and minted to put on the movie website. The producer then has increased control when deciding how tickets are used to engage with their film audience. Consider gated access to premieres, loyalty programs for future film releases and tickets that act as gateways to other services. The business of movies can be reimagined using NFTs as access points.
Conclusion
The feelings invoked by masterfully produced films are almost impossible to replicate. The combination of carefully composed narratives, music and acting immediately puts the viewers into a trance. To have the skills required to stir up those emotions through the simplicity of a lens is an artform often undervalued and underestimated in terms of the experience or needed immersion to embody the knowledge. How
ever, with NFTs the artist and film-maker have a new way to collaborate. This evolving new industry is giving producers the right to retain intellectual curiosity at every stage of the creative process.
Visual storytelling through NFTs can help to rectify the filmmaking process and allow the audience to once again become a part of the creative process with engaged observation. Supporting and harnessing the value of individual contribution based on raw talent gives film graduates,filmmakers and film enthusiasts the time to seed ideas and grow with a super fan base.
