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Making a Difference in Media

Victoria Coker on August 04, 2021

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 (f...
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Erica Hargreave

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.

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Victoria Coker

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?

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Erica Hargreave

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.

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Victoria Coker

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!

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Erica Hargreave

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.

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Victoria Coker

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.

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Erika

Would love to hear more about Black Web Fest and your programming. Sounds like a great initiative.

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Victoria Coker • Edited

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

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Erica Hargreave

No inconvenience, whatsoever.

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Chris Lawrence

@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!

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Erica Hargreave

Thanks Chris. Yes, I'd be happy to speak and to point you in the direction of others, Victoria.

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Victoria Coker

Thank you so much!!!

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Chris Lawrence

Welcome Victoria, welcome and glad you are here.

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Victoria Coker

Thanks Chris