March 19, 2013 update: Fans can now support their favourite filmmaker's bid to win $1 million in funding. Details at bottom of story.
Original story: If the return of the National Hockey League has proven one thing, its that Canadians love for and forgiveness of the sport knows no bounds. Unable to stay mad at the sulky millionaires on skates, viewers tuned into the first Hockey Night in Canada of the season in record numbers. Given this, its no surprise that 麻豆传媒映画media entrepreneur J. Joly is taking cues from CBCs flagship program as he looks to cure our countrys general indifference towards Canadian films.
ESPN and TSN all talk about scores and statistics. On Hockey Night in Canada, it always comes back to little Wayne Gretzky skating on the pond. Its the stories, suggests Joly. What I believe were lacking in Canada is that theres no story behind our filmmakers... What if Wayne Gretzky on the pond was a filmmaker?
Jolys other eureka moment came when he saw impassioned communities congregate around their hockey rinks as part of the Kraft Hockeyville competition (for which Jolys firm designed the online gamification elements). What if we could create that same sense of community around the theatre? he wondered. Other than an arena as a cultural institution in many small towns, what is the other one?
And so the pieces fell into place for Jolys newest enterprise, CineCoup, designed to discover new talent and build audiences. Until February 17, filmmakers can apply to CineCoup and upload a two-minute trailer. Theyre next assigned a series of challenges intended to build public support for their film. This summer, one project will be green-lit and receive up to $1 million. And, in early 2014, the finished film will receive a nationwide theatrical release.
I believe that austerity breeds creativity. That million dollars isnt a lot but its just enough, asserts Joly, who cites Roger Corman the maverick producer who mentored the likes of Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola as his personal hero. He identified that Hollywood wasnt making films for this new counterculture market... He went onto university campuses with four posters and said, Which one do you like?... He provided the opportunity, like Im doing, by giving directors their first chance.
Just as importantly, Joly wants to give the social generation (ages 18-35) the chance to get as excited about homegrown films as he was about My Bloody Valentine and Meatballs when he was a kid. Asserting that most Canadian features are now targeted at audiences over 35, he suggests, Weve lost two generations of Canadians. And hes certain that the key to getting them back is getting them emotionally invested in our filmmakers dreams.
1. Learn how fans play a key supporting role .
2. Sign-up to flex your fan influence
Go to and sign up with Facebook or email to become a fan.
3. Earn votes to help your favourite filmmakers advance
Registered fans earn votes by participating in weekly fan missions and promoting their favourite filmmakers. The more you do, the more votes you can earn.
Explore projects and add favourites to your Watchlist
Rate projects, comment on filmmaker missions, tag content to your personal favourites, take polls and more
Be social! Promote filmmakers across your social networks
4. Cast your earned votes
There are four scheduled social voting periods during the CineCoup Film Accelerator when fans cast votes to help their favourite projects advance:
Top 60 / Social Vote 1: March 21, 2013 - March 24, 2013
Top 40 / Social Vote 2: April 4, 2013 - April 7, 2013
Top 15 / Social Vote 3: April 25, 2013 - April 28, 2013
Top 5 / Social Vote 4: May 30, 2013 - June 2, 2013
5. Become a Superfan
The most active fans earn the most votes and will be recognized on the CineCoup Superfan Leaderboards. They also compete for a coveted seat on the final selection jury at the Banff World Media Festival on June 10, 2013.
Join CineCoup in the ether
Support this brave new model for filmmakers and their fans to advance the best ideas and talent to the big screen.
Mothership: www.cinecoup.com
Twitter: @cinecoup #cinecoup #bebrave
Facebook: Facebook.com/cinecoup
Instagram: instagram.com/cinecoup
Tumblr: http://cinecoup.tumblr.com
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/cinecoup
