Invisible Threat (documentary)

[brimstoneSalad]

OK, so this isn't very new:

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/invisiblethreat/64521691

Looks like a great documentary. It bothers me that it costs $5 to watch, though.

I have no real need to watch this, but I would refer others to it -- however, the people who most need to see these kinds of things certainly aren't going to pay $5 to do it. What do these people think they're doing trying to commercialize an important message like this? Very counter-productive for this not to be free. It's like if Earthlings cost $5 to watch. That would put a serious dent in my outreach methods.

[Volenta]

I agree that it's important that it's free in price. I also think that certainly content like this should be released under a free license (free as in freedom).

It reminds me of Gary Yourofsky who gave away copies of his speech for free, while PETA wanted to charge $10 for each DVD. Charging money just doesn't seem to work.

And it should also be said that there are now many methods to get such movies financed anyway—crowdfunding being a major one.

[brimstoneSalad]

That would be a great idea, if they started a Kickstarter or Indiegogo or something to raise the funds to cover their costs and time and make them comfortable with making it free.

I wonder if it's possible to contact them to suggest it, if nobody has before?

[Volenta]

I think it's much harder to do now that they already produced a movie. It's usually better to raise money to actually produce the documentary; I guess people will be more attracted to it.

I'm not that sure that they are willing to throw out there current business model with something as risky as crowdfunding. Of course they can keep it paid if it doesn't work out, but I wonder whether it does any good for their marketing and publicity.

[brimstoneSalad]

I think it's much harder to do now that they already produced a movie. It's usually better to raise money to actually produce the documentary; I guess people will be more attracted to it.

Very true.
Although they could raise money for distribution, to get it into theaters. That would be a goal people would really understand.

Of course they can keep it paid if it doesn't work out, but I wonder whether it does any good for their marketing and publicity.

Yes, that was what I was thinking; worst case, they just stick with the old model. I think it could be good for publicity, because the campaign itself would help with awareness.