LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In an effort to discover and support emerging talent in the film industry, Steven Soderbergh’s production company Extension 765 is launching a financing award in partnership with blockchain-powered non-profit Decentralized Pictures (DCP). Founded by Roman Coppola, Leo Matchett, and American Zoetrope’s VP of Production, Michael Musante, DCP is dedicated to elevating the voices of undiscovered independent filmmakers through a fair and transparent blockchain protocol. As an Academy Award® -winning producer and director, Soderbergh’s commitment to supporting rising talent will spur others in the film industry to make Hollywood more accessible to those without connections or financial backing.
Soderbergh’s $300,000 Andrews/Bernard Award will support multiple filmmakers with finishing funds for fiction features or shorts, and is open to anyone who submits an English-language proposal via the DCP platform at decentralized.pictures. Additionally, anyone in the world can sign up to review proposals and earn digital tokens called FILMCredits on DCP’s blockchain (T4L3NT Net) which powers the financing and support app that film projects are submitted.
As a longtime champion of leveraging innovative tech and creating new opportunities for filmmakers, Soderbergh quickly recognized the potential for Extension 765 to create an award with DCP’s democratic film fund. DCP’s online community of creatives, film fans, and industry professionals will together decide which films will get made, and in addition to funding, DCP will provide filmmakers with mentorship and introduction opportunities to agencies, production partners and other critical resources to bring creators’ visions to the screen.
As Steven Soderbergh comments, “Working with DCP is a logical extension of my belief in supporting people who are just starting out, and exploring technology that provides more economic transparency. That being said, you have to be careful not to disturb the ecosystem of emergence. A filmmaker needing funds to FINISH a film has already exhibited a highly valuable skill set: they got something MADE on their own. Now they just need a little help getting across the finish line, which is where we come in. Hopefully filmmakers interacting with DCP today will become the household names of tomorrow.”
DCP co-founder Roman Coppola notes that “Making a film can be a complicated and costly endeavor, by giving support we can kickstart opportunities for people who might feel left out of the usual ways of financing. Mr. Soderbergh’s award is an extraordinary resource for new generation filmmakers to express themselves. We feel that he represents the highest bar in the world of independent and experimental cinema along with remarkable experience in the traditional Hollywood studio film. To DCP, he exemplifies the very best in adventurous creativity in the world of filmmaking and we’re very grateful that he is sponsoring a new generation of film artists."
Decentralized Pictures has also recently released the world's first FILMCrew NFT collection to raise awareness about the project and its mission to support artists. To see the collection check out the listing on Rarible.
About Steven Soderbergh
Extension 765 company president Steven Soderbergh is a writer, director, producer, cinematographer, and editor. Since his own beginnings in independent cinema with his feature film directorial debut, the Palme d’Or-winning sex, lies, and videotape, his support of independent and emerging filmmakers has been a career-long priority. Beginning in 1993, when he executive produced David Siegel and Scott McGehee’s Suture, he has produced or executive produced early films for acclaimed filmmakers including Greg Mottola (The Daytrippers, 1996), Anthony and Joseph Russo (Welcome to Collinwood, 2002), Christopher Nolan (Insomnia, 2002), and Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton, 2007), among many others. Through Extension 765, Soderbergh executive produced the 2016-2021 Starz series The Girlfriend Experience, featuring the work of series writers and directors Amy Seimetz, Lodge Kerrigan, and Anja Marquardt.
About Decentralized Pictures
Decentralized Pictures (DCP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization composed of filmmakers, film fans and artists whose mission is to support independent filmmaking with additional focus on artists from underprivileged and underrepresented backgrounds. Started by a network of industry leaders, DCP aims to open doors for those without connections or monetary backing through a fair and transparent blockchain protocol with the goal of determining the most deserving artists.
By leveraging the platform’s decentralized community voting, voter data insights, and a robust rewards system to incentivize participation in the curation process, DCP aims to assist budding talent in realizing their films and launching their careers.
Web: www.decentralized.pictures
Discord: https://discord.gg/Wjq8GH3JSG
Twitter: @DCP_Foundation
Instagram: @decentralized_pictures
Medium: @DCP_Foundation