YouTube just launched its new “ScreenÂing Room,” and there’s a good chance that the SunÂdance Film FesÂtiÂval will nevÂer quite be the same again.
The ScreenÂing Room presents high qualÂiÂty, indeÂpenÂdent films to YouTube users and promisÂes to roll out four new films every two weeks. GivÂen YouTube’s immense reach, these indies will immeÂdiÂateÂly find a vast interÂnaÂtionÂal audiÂence. Then, to sweetÂen the deal even furÂther, YouTube will offer filmÂmakÂers a major cut of the adverÂtisÂing revÂenue genÂerÂatÂed by the viewÂing of each video. Plus, hard and digÂiÂtal copies of the films can be sold as well. If this new venÂture gains tracÂtion (and you have to think it will), YouTube could sudÂdenÂly find itself the cenÂter of gravÂiÂty for the indie world, disÂplacÂing SunÂdance along the way.
The first four films feaÂtured in The ScreenÂing Room are hardÂly duds. The DanÂish Poet won the 2007 Oscar for best aniÂmatÂed short; Love and War won the same award at the Los AngeÂles Film FesÂtiÂval; Our Time Is Up got an Oscar nomÂiÂnaÂtion in 2006; and then there’s MiranÂda July’s “Are You the Favorite PerÂson of AnyÂbody?. The next batch of films comes out July 4. For more info, see this piece in the LA Times.
AddenÂdum: I have since stumÂbled upon this video that promotes/tells you more about the ScreenÂing Room.