Mofilms -- Looking for reduser perspectives

[Jack Cooper]

I saw a couple of threads mentioning Mofilms on Reduser. I took a look at their website.

Is the reduser community aware of this concept (I had only recently come across it).

If so, what do you think of the idea. Are you inclined to submit, and what is the motivation...?

I was a bit confused because of the "grant" model mentioned.

Is this site widely know to redusers...?

Thanks in advance.

Redusers who have shot

http://www.reduser.net/forum/showth...quot-Engage-the-Unknown-quot&highlight=mofilm

http://www.reduser.net/forum/showth...kpad-commercial-red-scarlett&highlight=mofilm

 

[David Carstens]

I've done three entries to MoFilm (won two of them).

The production grants are a nice motivator, since it gives me an opportunity to produce/direct something without going as far out of pocket. (the grants are reimbursements, FYI) So, even if I don't win, I still end up with a decent addition to my portfolio.

I've had another filmmaker dig into me about how they're taking advantage of filmmakers by having them produce concepts, then paying them peanuts if they like it. The way I see it, YMMV. Of course, the same filmmaker who criticized me on that point ended up producing her own after I won

I've found MoFilm to be very worthwhile myself.

 

[Bob Gundu]

+1 on Davids comments.

 

[Ivan Kovax]

Well, it is genius on behalf of the Agency (being mofilm) and the brands. They get some of the worlds best untapped talent, 10,000 completely done video pitches... instead of paying an agency 100-200K (if not much more in most cases) they get away with paying 10K to the winning idea plus the sole rights to 100 other ideas they can use on subsequent campaigns. The fillmaker is happy because they get a chance to "break in" to the industry, and the brand is very happy because they got an amazingly cheap ad, discovered a new talent, and somehow managed to convince the world that they are trying to help out unknown filmmakers.

The thing is, I have several friends who won... all of whom were professionals, with a professional cast and crew and all semi-established in the industry already. They treated it like an actual job, which is a large part of why they won.

As to the morality of this, I am not sure. In some level it is extremely exploitative as it exploits filmmakers insecurities with the lure or greener pastures and recognition as a substitute for proper pay, but on the other hand many people entering this would not have the possibility to pitch to an agency to begin with so it is a very real opportunity...

So there are 2 sides to this, and I guess this is the leverage that MoFilm uses.

I have never done one myself, and I don't know if I can as I am too busy trying to get work that will actually pay my rent... maybe someday if I have the time, for shits and giggles... but we'll see...

 

[Jack Cooper]

David.

I'm a bit confused on the mofilm term "grant"...is this paid post-submission regardless of if it "places" or not...

Mark Kern ran a similar project to get some 4K material for a company he was working with...

http://www.reduser.net/forum/showth...onsoring-short-films&highlight=mark+kern+game

OR........ Is the mofilm "grant" really a "prize package" for placing....? (like first prize, second prize, etc)

I'm afraid I am not totally clear on which one of these processes applies to the mofilm concept....

 

[David Carstens]

The grant is separate from any prize winnings. You submit expense receipts and invoices along with your entry, and you are reimbursed 60 days after the competition ends.

Note that Stage5 is not holding a contest. Rather, you pitch them an idea, and if they like it, they give you $10k to do deliver the project.

 

[Sandro Klopfstein]

we've been looking into the whole mofilm thing swell and after careful consideration, I absolutely second ivan's opinion. I think it's a backhanded rip-off laced in sparkly diamonds to lure people to do stuff way below the price the job's actually worth. but if my bank account was flooded with money that I wouldnt know what to do with it, I'd say it'd be fun to waste a bunch on producing stuff for them.

 

[David Battistella]

I have seen this version as well. Not sure if it is the same thing.

basically you produce the stuff on spec and hope to win? That is how I am understanding it. I find it all a bit pimpish.

http://www.userfarm.com/en


david

 

[Jack Cooper]

David,

Thanks for the clarification on mofilm. That is interesting. So depending on how many "grant" producers they approve, this would drive the internal cost structure up at the mofilm level.

Yes, our managing director spoke with David directly. I too understood it was not a contest. They were approving scripts and paying for finished content up to the 10K cap level. That seemed like a pretty good situation for producers who were gaming enthusiast with creative ideas.

The grant is separate from any prize winnings. You submit expense receipts and invoices along with your entry, and you are reimbursed 60 days after the competition ends.

Note that Stage5 is not holding a contest. Rather, you pitch them an idea, and if they like it, they give you $10k to do deliver the project.

 

[Jack Cooper]

Ivan.

I had a similar thought as to the dynamic you reference in the digital still days.

With the proliferation of DSLRs, you saw incredible supply flood the market. All those "newly minted" photographers had a great deal of insecurity and needed a point of differentiation. We saw some of these concepts emerge.

At the end of the day, I witnessed photographers who were on catalog shoots and getting paid $0 just to have the client's brand as a reference in their portfolio.

As mofilm comes to the US, I wonder if their business is sustainable, long term.

Well, it is genius on behalf of the Agency (being mofilm) and the brands. They get some of the worlds best untapped talent, 10,000 completely done video pitches... instead of paying an agency 100-200K (if not much more in most cases) they get away with paying 10K to the winning idea plus the sole rights to 100 other ideas they can use on subsequent campaigns. The fillmaker is happy because they get a chance to "break in" to the industry, and the brand is very happy because they got an amazingly cheap ad, discovered a new talent, and somehow managed to convince the world that they are trying to help out unknown filmmakers.

The thing is, I have several friends who won... all of whom were professionals, with a professional cast and crew and all semi-established in the industry already. They treated it like an actual job, which is a large part of why they won.

As to the morality of this, I am not sure. In some level it is extremely exploitative as it exploits filmmakers insecurities with the lure or greener pastures and recognition as a substitute for proper pay, but on the other hand many people entering this would not have the possibility to pitch to an agency to begin with so it is a very real opportunity...

So there are 2 sides to this, and I guess this is the leverage that MoFilm uses.

I have never done one myself, and I don't know if I can as I am too busy trying to get work that will actually pay my rent... maybe someday if I have the time, for shits and giggles... but we'll see...