10 Indie Filmmakers Making Moves In The NFT Space
NFTs, aka non-fungible tokens, are those super cool digital stickers we just can’t get enough of. They’re all about showing off who owns that one-of-a-kind digital treasure, be it a mind-blowing piece of art or a heart-pounding movie! But what’s so amazing about NFTs for artists and filmmakers? To start with: filmmakers can use NFTs to tokenize and sell their epic creations, giving them more control and money!
Grab your popcorn and hold on to your seats, because we’re diving into the world of indie filmmakers in NFT and the NFT film industry. These 10 trailblazers are shaking up the scene, and we can’t get enough of their innovative ways.
1. Kevin Smith
Let’s talk about some NFT-powered movie magic! Kevin Smith, our beloved indie film guru, is embracing NFTs for indie filmmakers with KillRoy Was Here. Not only is this horror anthology a must-watch, it’s also a pioneer in movie NFTs. By fusing the world of tokens with the magic of cinema, Smith is truly pioneering a new era in filmmaking. And who better to lead the charge than the man who brought us Clerks and Mallrats? Talk about a game-changer!
2. Mila Kunis
Bringing animation and NFTs together, Mila Kunis, the multi-talented actress and producer, is taking the animation world by storm with her NFT project, Stoner Cats. It’s an adult animated series where tokens unlock episodes.
Get this: during the initial NFT sale for Stoner Cats, a whopping 10,000 NFTs flew off the digital shelves in under 35 minutes! Each one went for a cool 0.35 ETH (over $800 at the time). The sale raked in an impressive $8.4 million, and guess what? These NFTs can even be resold on secondary markets. Now that’s a hot ticket item.
This innovative concept not only brings together fans of animation and cryptocurrency, but also opens up a world of possibilities for content creators. Imagine a future where your favorite show is brought to life through the power of NFT for movies!
3. Niels Juul
Blockchain pioneer, Niels Juul, has launched Cinemarket, his blockchain-based movie production platform. It streamlines movie distribution and financing, so indie filmmakers can focus on what they do best: creating epic stories!
By eliminating traditional barriers, Juul is empowering a new generation of filmmakers to bring their visions to life. With Cinemarket, the possibilities are endless, and it’s fascinating to see what this groundbreaking technology has in store for the future of indie cinema.
4. Anthony Hopkins
In October 2022, Oscar-winning actor Sir Anthony Hopkins released his debut NFT collection, “The Eternal Collection” – and it sold out in under 10 minutes flat!
Hopkins created 1,000 unique cinematic art pieces based on his legendary performances. These one-of-a-kind NFTs come with a random mix of goodies, from signed art books showcasing the actor’s paintings and drawings, to Zoom chats with the man himself, or even personalized NFTs with a message from Hopkins sent straight to the buyers’ wallets.
With visuals and animations like The Jester, The Lover, The Ruler, The Rebel, The Giver, and The Eternal, each piece highlights a different iconic role from Hopkins’ Hollywood journey. The collection’s 1,000 cinematic art pieces are an amazing tribute to the actor’s award-winning career.
5. Jennifer Esposito
Get ready for a splash in the NFT scene, as award-winning actress Jennifer Esposito takes the plunge! You may know her from Spin City, Crash, Taxi, and more, but now she’s stepping into the director’s chair and the crypto-art world with her feature-length film NFT, Fresh Kills.
Aiming to uplift underrepresented voices and empower artists, Esposito dived headfirst into the wild world of NFTs. The Fresh Kills NFT collection was up for grabs on OpenSea between Feb 3–5, 2022, showcasing female-driven content created by female directors.
Teaming up with the talented Barcelona-based NFT artist Gala Mirissa and platinum award-winning musician and producer Mike Gonek, this collaboration definitely made waves!
6. Roman Coppola
Decentralized Pictures (DCP), a blockchain-based nonprofit created by Roman Coppola, Leo Matchett, and Michael Musante, launched a one-of-a-kind film NFT collection on Rarible in April 2022.
Ten exclusive decks were up for grabs and the first 560 people who signed up had the chance to score a FILMCrew NFT. The funds raised from the NFT sales would boost DCP’s mission to help independent filmmakers, particularly those from underserved and underrepresented communities.
7. Rona Walter McGunn
Film writer and producer Rona Walter McGunn is convinced that NFTs are the future of indie filmmaking! She’s the mastermind behind Toxica, the first-ever feature film to be totally released on the blockchain. McGunn thinks movie NFTs have rolled out the red carpet for a new way of film distribution, setting the stage for sustainable filmmaking.
Now, here’s the scoop: McGunn and her production crew, Serenity Pictures, initially aimed to make a flick for the traditional movie market. But just three days after wrapping up their shoot, the UK went into lockdown! So they switched gears and started thinking about releasing their masterpiece on streaming services – talk about a plot twist.
8. Adrian Grenier
Get ready for a fun fact: Entourage star Adrian Grenier is not only famous for his acting chops in movies like Drive Me Crazy and The Devil Wears Prada, but also for being a major blockchain enthusiast. He’s all about the ways blockchain can create opportunities, protect the environment, and put the brakes on social media’s harmful side.
The coolest part? Grenier had an NFT up for grabs at the BSV Blockchain NFT Auction!
The actor and filmmaker is all about eco-friendly NFTs and making the world a better place. His platform, ReCUR, focuses on sustainable NFT creation, letting artists and fans enjoy the NFT craze without hurting Mother Earth. High-fives all around for this planet-loving initiative.
9. Steven Soderbergh
In April 2022, Steven Soderbergh threw down $300,000 for a grant to explore the potential of blockchain film financing through the Decentralized Pictures network. And guess who snagged that grant? The NFT-funded movie Calladita.
Flash forward to January’s Sundance, where the Film3 on the Mountain conference was all about innovative film financing. Calladita, directed by Miguel Faus, took home the Andrews/Bernard Award (which, by the way, was established by the legendary Steven Soderbergh and Decentralized Pictures). This award offers a cool $300,000 in post-production funding for up to three filmmakers with outstanding English-language films and shorts.
10. Lena Waithe: NFTs, Indie Films, and Diverse Voices Unite
Award-winning writer and producer Lena Waithe is shaking things up in the NFT film world by championing underrepresented filmmakers. With the power of NFTs and blockchain partnerships, she’s giving diverse voices a chance to shine on the big screen.
Alongside the co-founder of Hillman Grad, Rishi Rajani Waithe collaborated with Huma House, an LA-based nonprofit organization, on a recent NFT project. The project, titled Been Free: Incarcerated Artists NFT Project, shows Lena’s passion for supporting the needs of currently and formerly incarcerated people through art and creativity.
The project spotlights the work of four incredible artists – Kenneth Webb, Gary Harrell, Asia Johnson, and Kush – who have all experienced incarceration and now use the power of art to tell their personal stories.
Featured image by Myke Simon on Unsplash
