Screen Australia invests in Thomas Mai and Josh Pomeranz’s FanDependent
Thomas Mai and Josh Pomeranz of Spectrum 2.0 are the recipients of Screen Australia’s latest round of the Innovation Distribution program.
Mai and Pomeranz’s FanDependent is a platform to support low-budget screen content that doesn’t fit into the traditional distribution and exhibition model.
The platform will partner with 10 filmmaker teams over two years to help build an audience and raise finance through crowd-funding.
Selected teams will then be supported to market, sell and release their low-budget project to maximise commercial potential and audience.
To a wider audience, video blogs and workshops will be available. Screen Australia’s funding for the program will span over two years, 2012-2013, by which time FanDependent is expected to be self-sustainable.
When Encore spoke with Mai in October he said the concept of being an ‘independent’ filmmaker is over. “You are ‘fan-dependent’. Now with social media you have a two-way conversation with your fans. [And] You can build on that database from film to film.”
He said on the announcement of Screen Australia’s support: “FanDependent will be looking for audience-focused filmmaker teams with strong projects, ideally with an existing or growing fan base. We will then assist producers to finance, complete and commercialise their projects, without them having to give away any of their rights.”
Mai consulted on The Tunnel and forth-coming Iron Sky and previously worked as a sales agent for Lars Von Trier’s Zentropa Films.
Pomeranz is managing director of post house, Spectrum Films. Pomeranz said: “We are thrilled to invest alongside Screen Australia to provide opportunities for talented market-conscious filmmakers. We believe the added experience and intelligence Thomas brings to Australia is inspirational. He’s a unique voice and very well respected in the international filmmaking community. We are thrilled to have him with us and to launch FanDependent in 2012.”
Kathleen Drumm, Screen Australia’s head of marketing said: “A true hybrid incorporating marketing, development and production, the FanDependent Entertainment model promises real outcomes for filmmakers including visibility of films, support for low-budget content, revenue, a greater understanding of audience, tailored marketing support and the deployment of innovative release strategies.”
