Community & The Faces of IndieFlix - A Social Experiment

Consumers Are People but we commonly refer to them as "users", "subscribers", "IP's" and "emails" as if they're humanoids devoid of wants or needs, as if they’re just robots using a service. So, I got this urge to do a social experiment. I wanted to put a face on our community. I want to know who they are and what they look like. So, I called my very talented photographer friend, Coco Knudson, pitched my crazy idea and she immediately signed on. Coco has the ability to capture someone's essence and put it into a 2 dimensional format like no one else. I then called the extraordinary, Kathleen McInnis at the Palm Springs Int'l Shortfest, again pitched the idea and she too rallied and embraced this social experiment of community building. 

This experiment, the idea of it has been gnawing away at me for months. There’s no concrete agenda. I just want to celebrate our community and learn a little bit about the people who make up this fabulous world of film. I know the filmmakers and many of the festivals but I want to know the audience. In the end we might make a coffee table book, put up an art installation or create a web-series featuring stories about real people from the filmmakers to the film lovers and everyone in between. There are so many people that make up our community and they are all important. Everyone plays a role. I want to celebrate them. I want to celebrate you.

Faces of IndieFlix is a new section on our website devoted to the people that make up the film community throughout the world.  

Chicken to Crowdfund

I have no desire to go sky diving. I don’t need to rock climb or free fall. I’m not someone who enjoys going outside my comfort zone; I really like my comfort zone. What I am interested in is finding something that needs improvement and jumping in headfirst to make it better. And sometimes that means having to sky dive. 

We at IndieFlix, are getting ready to launch our first ever crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo. It’s going to be big and exciting and a lot of work for a great cause, but I’m terrified. It is way outside my comfort zone. But it’s for the sake of improving the way we find and watch movies and that is something that absolutely needs to happen. So we’re jumping in.

We’ll be crowdfunding to build and launch our own App that is fun and useful for anyone in the world to discover and watch movies.  Everything in my life is based on certain parameters when making a decision. From what I wear, to what I eat, to what I watch, I choose all of it based on how I’m feeling. I think most of us do no matter where we are in the world. Since IndieFlix streams its content globally, this kind of universal recommendation system makes a lot of sense.

Movies can be hard to sift through; trying to find the right one to watch can be very difficult. Independent film can be especially challenging, since many movies don’t have recognizable names in them. This app is a no-brainer for me. It’s something that I absolutely must have, so I’m going to build it but first I must raise the money. I'm going to crowdfund it and I am terrified. It’s an ego-based fear; I’m afraid of failing. Doing this publicly is a really daunting concept, but this is a project that I absolutely believe in and I can’t do it alone. 

I tell filmmakers to crowdfund all the time. I have told them that it’s the best way to learn about their project so they can make it the very best it can be. If they don’t succeed in crowdfunding, if they can’t raise the money, then there’s something big that they need to work on and fix. I'm chicken to crowdfund but I need to follow my own advice. Going through the process of crowdfunding will give me better perspective and a lot more information to share with others. It will help me when working with filmmakers and storytellers around the world because I’ll know firsthand what they’re going through. I want my journey to be helpful to anyone who needs it. So, I’m starting with full transparency, here: It’s happening and I’m terrified. But I’m also excited. We’re going for it, and whatever will be, will be.

Cash for Cannes

Cash was critical at the Cannes film festival, well it’s critical everywhere. But let's just talk about Cannes for a minute.  How much do you really need for the film festival? If you had Euros life was easy you could negotiate taxi’s to t-shirts.  American money was not as easily accepted and credit cards meant you were charged up to 25% more in many places.  But how much cash do you really need?  I made daily visits to my ATM to pull out Euros and then had the task of spending the remainder in the airport at 6am, which by the way only food carts were open.  I boarded the plane with a food baby from the many pain au chocolate.  I reviewed my MINT app which showed how I averaged 50 Euros per day, that's not too bad but it is tight.  I found free espressos, sponsored drinks at gatherings and protein bars everywhere.  Walking saves on taxi's which take too long anyway and meals can be reasonable throughout the city other than in the hotels.  Cannes is doable. Don't think you need a lot of money to go to Cannes. You can be creative and go, so go!  There's no other festival like it in the world.

COO Kristie Lanum and why we're going to win.

I love the weekdays.  I look forward to going to the office and working side by side with IndieFlix COO, Kristie Lanum.  She epitomizes dedication, commitment and forward thinking. We are so in synch. It's scary.  It's a blessing and a privilege to work with people you trust.  Kristie and I have been through a lot running IndieFlix.  We've learned a ton and we are excited to experience more.  Knowing I have Kristie and others like her at IndieFlix reassures me that we will make it across the goal line not just once but several times over and win this game; for us, the investors, the audience and the filmmakers.  We're in it to win it.   Thank you Kristie for your nurturing leadership, great attitude and unwavering, dedication.  Thank you for all that you do every day.  You are truly one of the best things about IndieFlix.

Cannes

The Cannes Film Festival is the most prestigious festival in the world. If you love movies you must go just once. There’s no other festival in the world like it.  I actually started speaking and dressing differently. I ate more bread than ever and met incredible people from all over the world.  The festival is one big water cooler moment that runs for about 10 days. Everyone is talking film, from the actors to the money to the distribution and of course the story.  If you love movies you will love Cannes, just don’t stay too long. Too much of a good thing does wear on you.  As much as I loved it and accomplished a lot I am happy to be heading home.  Jusqu'à l'année prochaine!

Cannes on a Carry On

Two very dear, fashion, savvy friends of mine started a company called ClosetRx and insisted I travel to the Cannes Film Festival and fit my entire wardrobe in a carry on.  I informed them I had 3 panels, 4 lunches, 5 dinners. 6 parties and 52 meetings to attend over the course of 7 days.  Impossible!  Well, I did it.  In fact I had clothes I never wore and could have stayed another week with a new outfit every day.  I am amazed. Less is more. Merci!

I'm now headed out of town for two days of wedding festivities.  I'm thinking I could fit everything into my purse... :-)​