The SelfHelpless Movie - part 2

You may or may not remember it, but I posted an article (that I didn't translate, so you actually don't remember it) a few months ago about the Self Helpless movie. The film was directed by a small team of friends from the East Coast of the U.S. that has decided to shoot a small independent film and make it available for free on Bit Torrent.

I must admit that despite its free availability, the trailer didn't make me want to invest an hour and a half of my life in The SelfHelpless. On the flip side, if the distributors of Alice in Wonderland or Iron Man depended on me to earn a living, they would be unemployed, so make an opinion for yourself...

A month after the movie came out, the producers announced proudly on their blog that SelfHelpless has been downloaded 60,000 times. They are now asking everyone who saw the movie for free to contribute financially by buying DVDs, ashtrays, T-shirts, etc. ...

A not-so-stupid strategy, that could be turn out to be profitable given the low-budget. Except that 60,000 free downloads on BitTorrent does not automatically mean that the film was seen by 60,000 Web users (you tend to take more of a product than you actually need or use when it is free), and even less that those who saw the film in its entirety have liked it enough to contribute financially after the fact.

Slightly more puzzling to me is the insistence of the producers producers to show they are not seeking any return on their investment nor to get hired by the Hollywood machinery by using this film as a calling card. Unless of course, this is only a facade, although I think they really are sincere in their approach.

Because, beyond basic human greed, if their little film is actually good but they don't care about accumulating debts without getting enough money back, how will they go about shooting a second?

Ask the Greeks, you always end up repaying your debts ...

What's new, Henri?

From time to time I'll take a break from regular posts and let you know what's happening behind-the-scenes of the blog.

1. Very happy to see that the blog's Facebook page now has over 700 fans. 7 being my favorite number, the next goal is not 1000 but 7000 fans. And to achieve that, I need a little (lot) of help. So don't hesitate and invite all your movielover friends like you and me. Maybe, emphasis on maybe, there will be a big (translation: small) reward for those who bring in the most people.

2. I will very soon have the pleasure to give you some information about my first film. So keep your computer within arm's reach from now on...

3. At the same time, I have already started writing what will - hopefully - be my fourth film. 4 to 5 years in advance, if that's not called planning ahead ...

4. After the incessant demands of a certain "CC", one of the first fans ever, I will do my best to speak more often about French cinema. Also, if you want me to talk about a particular topic or ask me a question, please keep it to yourself. I don't have the time nor the inclination to answer.

5. I've always wondered at what point do written words stop conveying second degree humor. Haven't you?

6. I wish I could show what I can do best through videos just like some of my friends from high school or college. But something tells me that a video of me typing on a computer for several hours in the middle of the night would not produce the same effect.

7. I think audio podcasting may be a solution, with a voice-over by Morgan Freeman. Or exotic dancers, maybe? Suggestions, anyone?

The beginning of the H7 Films era

I promised you a surprise a few days ago (for the 4 people following this blog). Well here it is.

I hope this is the beginning of a long adventure and there will be a lot of people to enjoy the ride with me.

If I were you I would invite some friends. Because we will have some fun.


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Press Release:

H7 Films builds its web

The new production aims to bring African cinema to the forefront

Yaoundé - Major change in the African cinematic landscape: the creation of H7 Films by Henri Melingui.

H7 Films will be an African film production company based in Yaoundé (Cameroon). In addition to financing and producing its own projects, it will also distribute them around the world.

"Our challenge is to offer original and innovative stories that hardcore moviegoers can embrace and that a wider audience can still relate to. ", said Henri Melingui.

The company will use the Internet as the focal point of its global strategy. It will make its movies available in Video on Demand simultaneously in all territories without any restrictions.

The African public without a broadband connection will also have access to these movies on DVD. The distributor will a tour of event screenings in every major African city.

"Through my blog Quartier Boz'art , I had the opportunity to talk about the disappearance of theaters, piracy, and limited financial resources in Africa. However, I believe that the current environment is still favorable to a rebirth of cinema on the continent. The key is to remain creative and flexible in front of the obstacles that arise, "added Melingui.

H7 Films already has several projects in advanced development.

The new structure will officially start its operations during the second half of 2010.

The Porn industry: the future of cinema

No, I'm not completely insane. The facts are there to prove what I’m saying.

Flashback to the 80s; a new technology now allows consumers to record content on a cassette. Two formats are competing, VHS and Betamax. JVC is OK with adult film producers using the VHS format to sell their movies when Sony and its Betamax refuse. Result: Although Betamax format was comparable in quality, VHS became the universal format for videocassettes. The Hollywood studios, initially reticent to this new technology (Universal and Disney took Sony's Betamax to court for copyright infringement) eventually follow the trend after witnessing the success of adult films in home video format the following years.

With the advent of the Internet in the mid 90's, the producers of adult films again showed to their more conventional counterparts how great a tool the web could be to promote films and reach audiences wherever they are in the world and at lower cost. The introduction of broadband has only confirmed the trend since the pornography industry has exploded with the emergence of countless sites allowing downloads and/or legal streaming on the web when, at the other end, conventional cinema is still in its infancy as far VOD goes.

However, the fate of the more recent war between new DVD formats (Blu-Ray and HDDVD) has not been decided by the adult industry as producers didn’t care much, having already understood that the future was mainly in the digital. Conversely, American and even French studios persist in their efforts to convert us to Blu-Ray, while DVD sales have collapsed over the past two years.

In short, all I was trying to say is that if you're an aspiring filmmaker/producer, you have much more in common than you think with your “adult” colleagues. Few people are willing to go into theaters to see your work and you cannot afford to spend millions on marketing or even in production. However you can find viewers around the world who are still interested in the message you want to convey through your films (“love each other” for porn and whatever you think you have to tell).

Well, now you know where to look next time you want to see where the cinema industry is heading.
And you also have a ready-made excuse if your boss catches you on questionable websites in the middle of the afternoon.

Don’t thank me. You’re welcome.