The Film industry is broken.
...and deep in the woods there is a cult creating a solution.
Through the support of our members we can offer the following:
Pre-Production
Production
Post Production
Developing a project that solves the restricted access to post production facilities
COMING SOON
A mutual-aid project that solves the problem of indie distribution for our community
COMING SOON
Culture
Ethical Filmmaking Journal / Zine
Collecting thoughts, ideas and current practice surrounding ethical filmmaking
COMING LATER
Industry is destroying our film culture.
The mistreatment of bodies, relationships and minds is a requirement of the film industry.1This has resulted in a weak diversity in our film culture, both in its makers and its explorations.Filmmaking remains an elite artform inaccessible to the majority.
We must empower ourselves to reclaim filmmaking.
We are building and maintaining a real-world alternative to the mainstream film practice through our self-sustaining community.We support projects that challenge how we access the tools, the knowledge, the capacity and the community needed to create films.Through accessible, diverse and healthy filmmaking we can nurture the voices and stories locked out from this medium and evolve the art form.We must provide for ourselves the alternative through which to contribute to our cinematic culture.
Become a cult member
⭐ Be involved in our decision making
⭐ Activities & opportunities
⭐ Events, meetings and workshops
Keep us anti-corporate
⭐ Get cool art
⭐ Spread the word
⭐ Support our work!
Donate
⭐ Support alternative filmmaking
⭐ One-time and recurring donations
Fair Film PROJECT
Facilitating and Sustaining Healthy Film Projects
But Why?
Films do not need to be made under the current practice of overwork, stress and exclusivity. It is necessary they are made instead in a healthy sustainable way for the artform to become universally accessible.The more people we have practicing the artform, the more diverse, insightful and transformative the films will be! The happier our filmmakers will be also :)
And How?
The cult has begun the initial discussions on this project.
We are trying to gather the resources and money to launch this project, please consider supporting with a donation!
The Film Cult
Equipment Share
Film Equipment For Everyone
What we are doing:• Making the tools of filmmaking affordable to everyone!• Facilitating the creation of independent film projects• Reducing waste and promoting sharing
Together we've saved creators:
£30,581
By pooling our resources for common good the expensive filmmaking ladder has been brought down a peg or two!
By providing access to:
£96,412
worth of film equipment rented out since our launch.
Supporting:
115 Projects
since launch!
Support the pay it forward fund!
Some of our community still cannot afford to access our equipment. We have a pay it forward fund for anyone struggling to afford equipment for their project.Those of us with more means can support the fund through the 'pay it forward' account on the share website.Email us to see how we can support you if you are struggling!
F&Qs
Where is the equipment share?
The Nexus Room
9, St Peters Buildings,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9PG
The Film Cult
MEMBERSHIP
Advisory Member
FREE
⭐ Free to access so anyone can get involved
⭐ Be part of decision making
⭐ Monthly round-up newsletter
⭐ Stay informed of opportunities, events, projects etc.
Supporting Member
£3+ / month
⭐ Welcome pack including members handbook, stickers, posters and personalised certificate
⭐ 10% off the equipment share
⭐ Support the groups work!
The Film Cult
MEMBERS HUB
Get Involved!
NEW? Attend an orientation to meet the group and hear what we are all about!Support what you believe in and find a project/subgroup you are passionate about and sign up to get involved.If you can't commit to a role, join our helpers list and get notified when we are looking for additional help on an ad-hoc basis.
Decision MAKING
Anyone can submit a concern, proposal or idea for discussion at the monthly spokescouncil.Each subgroup has representatives at the spokescouncil to communicate between their subgroup and the spokescouncil until consensus is found on each proposal.*New project ideas can be submitted as a proposal!
Struggling?
We agree to things and then end up busier than we originally thought. We all experience this and understand it will happen to others. This is a voluntary role which should not be prioritised before personal wellbeing.What is important is that if you can see a busy spell approaching that you take action to pass the work around to ensure that the task still takes place.
Things to try:1. Delegating the work to someone else yourself, communicating this shift of responsibility to the relevant people2. Share your role with another, or multiple members if possible to reduce workload3. Notify us of unavailability and we can organise cover, through this fast and easy form:
Useful Links
Help build something new
Support the world you want to live in and show there is a desire for a more progressive and sustainable world of filmmaking.
Why Donations?
Our commitment to find solutions without waiting for government support makes it harder for us to secure funding than other charities and non-profits. This means we rely on, and are beholdant to the people who make up our community.
Our Track Record and Numbers
A small amount goes a long way with us. We managed to start an equipment share, a project which should have cost us 10-30K for a much smaller £3,000. This project is on track to save indie filmmakers £41,600 by September by providing access to £148,164 worth of equipment - a serious impact.See our Transparent Spending
What we will spend it on
After the successful launch of our equipment share our resources for other projects are pretty much at zero. We have started our Fair Film project but will need support in order to pull it off.
Other Ways To Support:
🔨
Resources
We are on the hunt for:
- Film Equipment
- Anything else we might be able to use!
🤝
Solidarity
If you are part of a group, organisation or business with simular principles or goals we would be keen to create solidarty with you!
💡
Skills
You could support us by offering your valuable skills - are you in the industry? Trained in something? Or an experienced community organiser?
Monthly Support
We've reached a point where our small numbers are bottlenecking what we know we can do.By spreading a donation across a regular interval it allows the group to become resiliant and sustainable enough for us to plan our next big moves.
Keep us anti-corporate by buying some art :)
Here's this years run down:
RESOURCES
Tools and materials to aid the alternative.
BRAND RESOURCES:
We're stronger together, use the graphics as you please!
INDUCTION PACKS:
Information on how we organise, roles and values.
Digital Launch Zine
Cult Members Handbook
The Film Cult Manifesto (coming soon)
What is my role? 🧚 Responsibility Packs
PROPOSALS:
Ideas for change within the cult.
CONSENSUS RESOURCES:
Consensus Agreement Explained - Seeds for Change
How Consensus Democracy Works - Andrewism Youtube Video
^^ These first two resources are a great intro to consensus
Community Organising Guide - Neighborhood Anarchists
^^ A series of zines on consensus and conflict resolution
On Conflict and Consensus: a handbook on Formal Consensus decisionmaking
^^ The consensus bible, any questions still? This is your answer
Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis (and the Next) - Dean Spade
^^ A book on community organisation and mutual aid groups
USEFUL REPORTS:
Looking Glass Report 2022 - Film and TV Charity
Production is Broken Report
Albert (Sustainability in Film and TV)