It has become a common belief that cinemas are dominated by big franchise blockbusters. But whereas this used to be a whimsical concern, it is now an accepted fact. Plus, we see a more diverse range of on-screen and off-screen talent. Web3 has something to say about both.
A UCLA report found that women and people of color have made substantial gains in the film industry over the past decade. Since 2011, non-white actors have played lead roles and received writing credits. The number of people of color sitting in the director’s chair also tripled during the same period.
The percentage of women in leading roles also doubled during that time. But the heartening statistic was that in 10 years the number of women directors had increased five times. A statistic that is nothing short of a surprise for many movie lovers. talents like Greta Gerwig (ladybird, little woman) and Chloe Zhao (Eternal, The Rider) have become industry headlines over the past half decade.
But, with the rise of socially conscious film-making, there has also been a rise in blockchain-based projects with similar goals.
Using Blockchain to Make a Difference
Astrolucha, a utility non-fungible token (NFT) collectible designed to aid film, TV series, and other media for marginalized groups, is one such project. They feel that there is a need for better representation. In 2021, official statistics stated that 19% of the US population is Latino/a. It doesn’t take a statistician to see that it doesn’t match what’s visible on the screen.
“Astrolucha came into being out of a deep desire to see more diversity in entertainment,” says Moises Zamora, one of the project’s co-founders. “I wanted to create a solution to a decades-old problem: why can’t people of color be the heroes of their own stories?”
Zamora is also the creator of the Netflix series selena, a biographical series on the charismatic queen of Tejano music, Selena Quintanilla. A widely acclaimed series that helped solidify Quincilla’s place in the canon of Mexican-American musical culture.
Its intellectual property and aesthetic are based on the concept of luchadores. Professional, free-flowing wrestlers who also double as colorful superheroes. From that concept, they have created a trading card game and intend to develop a live-action series. “Hollywood loves IP, so that’s what we’re doing – creating IP,” he says. “We want to make sure we are set up for success, so creating a DAO and a community that is encouraged to collaborate and help each other will help us succeed.”
In his conversation with BeInCrypto, it is clear that the goals of his project are more reformist than revolutionary. “Astrolucha doesn’t aim to replace Hollywood, only expand it, and give more opportunities to Latino/a and other marginalized creators.”
Democratization of Filmmaking
For context, last month, in a shocking move, former Disney CEO Bob Iger made a surprise comeback. His short-lived predecessor, Bob Chapek, presided over a period of business turmoil. Nevertheless, in 2021, Disney films accounted for 25% of the entire film market in the US and Canada. Because, despite a global pandemic, owning one-quarter of one of the world’s biggest movie markets just wasn’t enough. Of course, there were other reasons why Chapek was canned. But it’s deeply telling that even that metric wasn’t enough to save him.
But, in the spirit of Web 3, there are projects whose mission is to level the playing field. The inherently decentralized nature of blockchain can be used to democratize film. Unlike studio mega-producers like Marvel’s Kevin Feige, film industry DAOs can provide a healthy counterweight.
Of course, the very nature of movie attendance – butts on seats – is a form of democracy. But according to Lauren Magura, co-creator of Film.io, we can go even further. For them, a decentralized funding structure is an opportunity to build an inclusive decision-making fan and creator community. “Blockchain technology enabled us to develop our proprietary Vault Lock technology that protects your original ideas by recording all entries in your project on an immutable public record,” she says. “Blockchain also by its very nature ensures fairness and transparency, which has obscured the filmmaking industry for so long.”
However, with traditional top-down industry structures, some producers will always distance themselves from their audience. By democratizing film through blockchain, we can see films that better reflect their audiences,” she says. “Human beings are regular creatures … if one dominant gender and/or race is calling the shots. , then we’re going to see a prominent gender and/or race on screen.”
giving talent its fair share
Although many blockchain projects share similar goals, they are certainly not the same. Kino co-founder Austin Worrell had a circuitous path in the film industry. Classically handsome, he tells BeInCrypto that he wants to be a film actor when he grows up. However, when he was still young, his family business suddenly and violently exploded. “There were a lot of lawyers involved; I remember that very clearly. But I remember why the lawyers didn’t fix it?”
Driven by a sense of injustice and angered by the fogginess of the legal system, Austin decides to become a lawyer himself. After studying at the University of Miami and the London School of Economics, he co-founded Elongate. A philanthropic Web3 company that took its name from a Musk-based meme. Half a million people invested, and they soon reached a market cap of half a billion. “That’s how I experienced the amazing power of this new age online digital presence.”
After a mix of passion, years and experience, Kino was born. One of the main criticisms of the project was that only a few workers were rewarded by the film’s success. Others worked just as hard, working glamorously long hours without ever seeing any residual income. “You put your heart and soul into creating this amazing story, and a select few receive percentage points and ownership.”
Be it a big star or a budding actor, cameraman or production designer, blockchain can give you ownership, he says. Somebody needs to defend the middle class of Hollywood. By using a trustless economic system, we don’t have to depend on the goodwill of the powerful. “Blockchain gives the ability to have that transparent, immutable, accessible ledger.”
Web3 is the best solution for many
Unsurprisingly, blockchain was fundamental to everyone BeInCrypto spoke to for this article. Over the past decade, crowdfunding has become a popular grassroots way to fund projects. Why do you do this? After all, involving myself in the web3/crypto space can be controversial at best. Why not make it easy on yourself and completely transform this place?
For many, the principles are more important than the optics. Lauren of Film.io added, “The very nature of blockchain speaks to solving these problems.” “All metrics for support and funding are stored on a transparent blockchain ledger, providing immutable security and a transparent record of your project’s development.”
Tech and theory aside, this community has an infectious and palpable ambition. A broad and sincere belief that good work and good principles can produce great things. “In five years’ time, I want to see a Kino movie at award ceremonies,” Austin says. “In some ways, it’s not really about the technology; It’s just another way of making great movies.
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