I started Black Web Fest in 2016 after seeing their was a gap for Black creators with technology. I create programming that helps Black creators (filmmakers, writers, musicians, visual artist, etc) learn new skills, network and share their work. I see there is a big opportunity to educate Black creators about alternative web monetization. I want to leverage some of the platforms already established to help. Anyone interested in chatting about their creative platforms to my audience?
For further actions, you may consider blocking this person and/or reporting abuse
Top comments (20)
I'd be pleased to, Victoria. I started look into alternate ways of funding for our own web series, which is how I stumbled upon Web Monetization.
I've also been building a resource library to make it easier for people to find both Web Monetized resources and content.
Here's the Resource Library: storytogo.ca/web-monetization-stan... and the Content Library: storytogo.ca/web-monetization-stan... I've also started compiling tutorials here: storytogo.ca/web-monetization-stan... and will be creating an open online course in Web Monetization.
If you see anyone in there that you'd like an introduction to, if they are someone I know, I'd be happy to make you an introduction.
Thank you Erica for responding. I will review everything and definitely get back to you. Do you have a link where I can check out your web series?
Absolutely. The web series pre-dates Web Monetization, but we are planning a re-release of it to Cinnamon Video and hoping to work on some future series with that as a part of the model from the start. You can find it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpV4uIM1kg4&list=PL3A91ZSWvSVUcu8R38xrg9Foc4I5id-5b&index=1$T
You might also want to check out our Sustainable Funding Series as a resource for your community, as it's designed to explore alternate ways of funding your creativity: storytogo.ca/podcasting-with-my-ca... Loads more videos and case studies to come to this series, including a number of creators using Web Monetization as a part of their funding model.
Hi Erica,
Your series is very well done. I am learning a lot about Canada and you're a great host! I plan to dig a bit deeper into the sustainable funding series soon.
Thanks again!
Thanks Victoria. That means a lot.
Naturally Ours is the series that prompted us to begin the Sustainable Funding Series, as despite receiving a number of nominations and awards, we kept hitting walls through the regular funding streams for Naturally Ours. I think at the end of the day, on that series, we will hopefully find a solution for future seasons through partnerships with parks and tourism boards and with patronage if I can build a sizeable enough campaign that would involve the full variety of our creations. This pushes me out of my comfort zone, as asking for money is not my strength, but something I need to get better at so my team and I can continue to build projects around social good and cultural understanding. I am then looking at the Web Monetization for our projects as Royalties for everyone involved. So far with our early experiments I am discovering that we are making more Royalties from Web Monetization than we are from the broadcast streaming sites that have picked us up.
Wow I think the royalties experiment is interesting. Definitely could be informative research for the media industry, especially independent creators. I know when I started in 2015 filmmakers wanted to be on TV. Two years later they were excited about streaming opportunities. Web monetization could be that game changer for underserved and overlooked creators. For my community, I definitely want to introduce them to web monetization and opportunities available here for them to build sustainable careers. I plan to reach out to the Cinnamon team to see if they would be interested in collaborating in some way because my inital focus is independent Black filmmakers.
Absolutely, Web Monetization holds potential to be a game changer for creatives. To be clear though, the earnings at present from Web Monetization are cents - dollars / day, and that is if you are engaged with people who are Web Monetized and creating new content that draws their eyes. This is why at the moment from a professional filmmaking production perspectives this is a royalties bonus that can easily be divided up between key creatives automatically. There are not enough earning here yet to fund production.
There are however some funds that are designed to build the Web Monetization community and encourage others to adopt it that are enough to fund production. Specifically in that bent I am thinking Grant for the Web and Coil.
Coil announced at Sundance Collab that they are looking for filmmakers for their Coil Experiments. You can find the details on what they are looking for and how to pitch them, here: collab.sundance.org/catalog/Webina... The person to reach out to is Tom McLeod. Message me if you need his email.
In terms of Grant for the Web, they currently have a Call for Proposals out: grantfortheweb.org/blog/next-publi... It strikes me that your goals with your community align well with theirs, and you could pitch a project that involves workshops and events involving Web Monetization, as well regranting of funds to your community. Checkout @creativelivingfordancers (Briana Stuart) as she did this with the dance community. You can discover more of what Briana built here: creativelivingfordancers.com/ I'd also recommend seeing if there is a way of utilizing current Web Monetized tools within your application, like perhaps hosting some of the events to your community via Skittish - skittish.com/ Experimenting with utilizing their space next week for a Game Dev Camp that I am doing with kids - happy to share how that goes afterwards.
In terms of Cinnamon, I believe their backers are Coil (could be wrong there). This past year they were giving out bonuses monthly to the most active members of the community - both in terms of content and engagement. That's stopped now and the team is on a bit of a summer hiatus, but they are planning something new for the Autumn. Not sure what, yet. That's another thing for your community to checkout - many of the Web Monetized platforms have been offering early adopters incentives as they grow their communities. At present the platform that I am aware of that is doing that is mg.social with their next incentives coming up in October.
Another platform to have your community checkout is Fireside. It is podcasting but forward thinking and fostering a community to utilize storytelling to spark positive change in the world. They are currently not Web Monetized, but are working on putting funding models in place for their creators and I have nudged them in the direction of the next Grant for the Web Call for Proposals. In the meantime, creators can do what I am doing, which is Web Monetizing their recordings from their podcasts on Fireside in other places. Here's their online splash page while in private beta firesidechat.com/ and a look inside, via my profile: firesidechat.com/ericahargreave They are working on an Android App, but are currently only available via iPhones and iPads. If you want an accelerated admittance code, let me know and I can send you my link for my show guests.
Okay, that's everything that was swirling around my head just now.
Thank you, thank you. This is all amazing information. You're such a wealth of knowledge. That Sundance project is super cool.
My intention is to apply for the next Grant for the Web Call for Proposals. I'm hoping to connect with Briana soon to learn more about her work. I will definitely reach out to the team at Skittish and see if hosting some live streams would be possible. And I will check out mg.social as well.
Firesidechat sounds interesting. I would greatly appreciate your link. :)
Thaaaaaaaaaaaaank you!
Yeah, I’ve been having fun on Fireside. Will dig up my guest invite code and DM you shortly.
Briana is all kinds of awesome.
Looping in @mateoxrp who runs mg.social and @andybaio who runs Skittish.
You are most welcome.
On the train and not having much luck in figuring out how to DM you from my smartphone, so will just share my guest invite code here: f.chat/j9Ly
That will allow you to access the platform and be a part of the live studio audience on there. To become a creator in the space, click the fire symbol in the bottom corner and fill in the form. I suspect they will approve you to creator status quite quickly.
Aww sorry to inconvience you. Thank you. I will make sure to sign-up on my ipad asap.
No inconvenience, whatsoever.
Would love to hear more about Black Web Fest and your programming. Sounds like a great initiative.
Hi Erika,
My apologies for the delay. I some how missed this message. Well yea if you're open we could set-up a call soon. Feel free to email me at hello@blackwebfest.org or I can set-up a zoom.
Best, Victoria
No inconvenience, whatsoever.
@ericahargreave Might be a good person to connect with both to speak with your creator community and point you in the direction of others. She is a WM Super Node!
Thank you so much!!!
Thanks Chris. Yes, I'd be happy to speak and to point you in the direction of others, Victoria.
Welcome Victoria, welcome and glad you are here.
Thanks Chris