Luke: I can't believe it.
Yoda: That is why you fail.
I want to let you in on a little secret. The big movie studios are afraid of Jessica Stover. Afraid of her and others like her. Those who are in tune with such things know that there is change in the wind. The way that media is conceived, produced and distributed is changing daily. One need only look to iTunes to see an example of this. It used to be you had to listen to the radio, figure out what songs you liked, go out to the store and find the album, buy it, then bring it home to listen to it. Today, with a computer and your index finger, you can preview music and purchase it instantly from your own home. And you need only buy those songs you want. The power is shifting from big business and going instead to the artist and the consumer. If you are a student of history, this shouldn't really come as a surprise.
Bear McCreary, the composer of the music for Battlestar Galactica said it well in his blog entry An Open Letter to the New Patrons:
"For centuries, artists have balanced the need to express themselves creatively with the need to sustain their livelihood. We’re all aware of the cliched starving bohemian artist; its a cliche because its true. But, even successful composers struggle with this balance daily. J.S. Bach’s incredibly influential canon of contrapuntal works were originally composed for weekly church services. Mozart had his royal patron, Emperor Joseph II, and the vast majority of his music was essentially written for pay. Indeed, were he alive today Wolfgang Amadeus would be writing music for film and television to pay the bills. Shostakovich wrote Stalin-approved music for the tyrannical Russian state, literally writing for his life."
Patronage for the arts used to come from the elite of society. They commissioned portraits, musical compositions and funded the theatre. Today, with the advent of the Internet, the power to support artists and their work has been given to all of us. We can give our money to those things which we value, rather than letting the big studios tell us what we want. But as with all power, it can cut both ways. Bear recognizes this as well:
"Unlike the radio and television audiences of the past, our relationship is symbiotic. Like all artist / patron relationships, ours has the potential to be incredibly rewarding for all involved. But, if you download the show illegally, you sacrifice your role in the relationship. You’re no longer a patron of influence, but a spectator from the sidelines, a political pundit who doesn’t vote."
Apathy is easy. It requires nothing. No effort. No money. No action. Unfortunately, what you get as a result is the status quo. If we don't express with our voices and our wallets that which we want, we will continue to get more of the same. Spider-man 3. Rambo. Episodes I through III. American Pie: Stifler Does the Retirement Home.
I opened with a quote from Star Wars because George Lucas is one of the best examples of cinematic storytelling at it's best, and at it's worst. The original trilogy was independant, innovative, and ground-breaking in it's execution. It was idealistic and passionate. George Lucas was Luke Skywalker. By the time the second trilogy came out, though, he had become Darth Vader. The movies were unimaginative, formulaic and cold. It was a stark portrayal of what happens when creativity goes corporate.
Jessica Stover, and those like her, are trying to bring the magic back, but they can't do it alone. I've mentioned it here before, and I'll do it again, because it is important. Jess is in the pre-production stage of a short film called Artemis Eternal, which she has written. Unfortunately, Jess is not independently wealthy, nor does she have the luxury of investors with very deep pockets. She's just a girl in L.A. struggling to realize a dream. And she wants us to dream with her. To support her. To fund her. For as little as $1, you can buy a film credit, interactivity, and involvement in a film to be proud of.
Now, while I've prattled on about these things, it should be noted that the filmmaker says it much better herself. So, here is what is important.
1. There is a new website for Artemis Eternal. I ask that you go there and check it out. You won't be disappointed. It will not only inspire you, but help you to realize that this isn't some elaborate scheme to part you and your money. This is a real project, that will see real results.
2. On Wednesday at 9:30 EST (6:30 PST), Jess will be appearing on CU@USC which you can watch live on the Internets. She will be sharing the same seat once occupied by George Lucas and Patrick Stewart, and talking about her film projects....and maybe even jump off some stuff. You are encouraged to check it out.
3. Join the Facebook group to support the project. Invite your friends.
4. Donate $1 or more to the project. It may feel like nothing, but every little bit counts.
5. Spread the words. Tell your friends. Blog it. Digg it. Participation is the engine that powers this train.
