Three Cool Ideas: Streaming from the Set, OpenIndie, and "14 Islands"

I hear about way too much cool stuff via e-mail, and am constantly feeling guilty that I don't / can't blog about more of it.

So, if you are doing cool stuff (whether or not you have been letting me know about it), please keep it up! You're awesome.

For now, just wanted to share three cool ideas that have popped into my inbox this month:

1. Australian marketing and distribution consultant Simon Britton e-mailed to let me know about a cool live streaming project he is involved with that takes place on November 4th, to help generate awareness for a feature film about sharks called 'The Reef.' From his post:

In what we think is a world first, the production company will provide all-day live stream from the shoot in Hervey Bay on November 4th.

Viewers will be able to see [director] Andrew [Traucki] and the cast in action (and probably in the water) as a video crew follows him around on the day.

It's live coverage and a making-of rolled into one, featuring interviews with cast and crew as the action unfolds. Viewers will be able to ask questions in real-time.

Simon tells me via e-mail that he "will be be going to location for the stream, doing some camera work and editing. In typical Australian style, everyone on the team does whatever is required!"

2. OpenIndie is a new distribution project from Arin Crumley and Kieran Masterson which hopes to raise $10,000 from 100 filmmakers this month. (They are about half-way there.) Eric Kohn serves up the details on IndieWire, but the gist is that they'd like to have independent filmmakers pool their e-mail lists of people interested in seeing their film (or in putting on screenings), and then be able to collectively use the people in that database to understand where the greatest demand is for a given film, organize screenings and fill theaters (or house parties.)

3. I love this contest for filmmakers in the UK: "The 14 Islands Film Challenge." From the PR e-mail I received:

The 14 Islands Film Challenge (http://14islandsfilmchallenge.co.uk/) is an initiative to find 14 of the best young filmmakers in the UK - to send to the 14 islands of The Bahamas, where each director will create a movie of any genre, on their own island with the help of a local team. They will be there for 14 days and once they return there will be a BAFTA red carpet screening where a grand high winner will be selected by public vote and a panel of judges to win, yes, £14,000!