Beyond the box office: Blockchain’s role in empowering indie creators

Streaming services overtake the box office but host problems for creators that blockchain can solve.

Streaming services expand access for indie filmmakers, but creators face visibility challenges. Vabble uses blockchain to boost creator control and monetization, adding social engagement.

The affordability of streaming platforms, combined with their convenience and accessibility, has fundamentally changed users’ viewing habits. Americans, for instance, spend an average of three hours and nine minutes a day streaming digital content, with 99% of all United States households subscribing to at least one streaming service.

While the shift toward streaming introduced convenience for viewers, it also put independent filmmakers, who strive for visibility among vast content libraries, in a tough spot. As the lifeblood of innovation and diversity in the cinema industry, independent filmmakers have limited access to audiences as major studios, which often act as gatekeepers, determine what content reaches the broader audience through a narrow selection process.

Reliant on theatrical releases followed by digital or home media sales, the traditional model further sidelines indie films, lacking the marketing clout or established distribution networks of major studios. This situation, combined with high distribution costs and opaque selection criteria, stifles the diversity of content and restricts filmmakers’ potential.

Blockchain for film distribution and monetization

As the film industry evolves, there’s a paramount need for alternative distribution models that offer more equitable opportunities for independent filmmakers while catering to the diverse tastes of global audiences.

Vabble, a streaming service designed to empower filmmakers, provides a solution to the challenges that have long plagued the film industry with blockchain technology. The platform offers content creators more control, wider reach and fairer revenue models, addressing the core issues imposed by major studios. Vabble’s streaming service is gearing up for its imminent launch, having already made its complete smart contract code available as open source on GitHub.

Hollywood experts go decentralized

Vabble’s efforts of charting a decentralized streaming landscape are helmed by a roster of seasoned industry experts. John C. Hall, the former executive vice president at Universal Pictures, brings his vast experience and experience in over 408 theatrical releases.

Barry Chamberlain, former president of sales at CBS Studios International, joined the board with his expertise in global sales and intricate deal negotiations. Chamberlain is responsible for selling ultra-popular titles such as NCIS, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, South Park and Yellowjackets globally to local markets.

Joining Hall and Chamberlain in the Vabble advisory board is Philip Groves, a former executive at Imax Corporation, known for his work as the writer and producer of the Imax documentary Asteroid Hunters.

Vabble’s advisory board additions include John C. Hall, Joanna Miles, Philip Groves and Barry Chamberlain. Source: Vabble

Last but not least, Joanna Miles is bringing her two decades of experience in the film industry — including major franchises like Hunger Games and Divergent — following her role as senior vice president of theatrical marketing at Entertainment One Films.

Snapchat meets Netflix in Web3

By integrating social elements into the film viewing experience, Vabble creates a unique blend reminiscent of combining the interactivity of platforms like Snapchat with the content library of Netflix. The platform fosters a social community, enabling users to create friend lists, chat and watch content together. Users can also host watch parties with friends from outside the platform, allowing them to enjoy specific content for free under the user’s invite.

Users can chat with their friends while watching movies in Vabble. Source: Vabble

Before making a decision, viewers can watch preview trailers and gather information about the content. Users don’t have to pay for content entirely upfront. Instead, they can pay incrementally every quarter of the total duration.

From viewer to content creator

The streaming service, which doesn’t take any percentage from proceeds generated on the platform, offers a peer-to-peer payment system that directly connects users to content owners, eliminating intermediaries. Studios and filmmakers can track their analytical functions, like financing proposals, film earnings and watch times, using Vabble’s Vab DAO Studio.

At the heart of Vabble’s ecosystem are the Vab DAO, a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) that enables the automatic distribution of earnings, and the VAB token, which facilitates subscription payments, governance and film financing.

Users can stake their VAB tokens to earn rewards and participate in governance. Source: Vabble

Vabble’s utilization of blockchain technology signifies a pivotal change in empowerment and equity for filmmakers, promising creators a future where creative control and fair monetization are within reach. Technological advancements in streaming can foster a more inclusive and diverse cinematic environment, reshaping how content is created, distributed and consumed globally.