Slacker, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and Goldman Sachs: SnagFilms Isn’t Just Docs Anymore → On Demand Weekly

Slacker, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and Goldman Sachs: SnagFilms Isn’t Just Docs AnymoreOctober 17, 2011

SnagFilms

Slacker, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and Goldman Sachs: SnagFilms Isn’t Just Docs Anymore
SnagFilms expands to offer scripted independent films to a wider array of platforms, mobile networks and its own ad-supported website that includes long form ads from Goldman Sachs.

- By Britt Bensen

SnagFilms launched in 2008 with a site offering fans of independent films free online streaming of nonfiction films, and a distribution network of over 110,000 websites and web pages. The film platform recently announced deals to expand its programming from documentaries to include fictional independent feature films and to make them available to more paid and ad-supported distribution partners.

Some of the new titles include DON’T ASK DON’T TELL, DRAGONSLAYER SPLINTERS and CONFESSIONS OF AN ECO-TERRORIST In addition, SnagFilms will offer digital release (initially for paid viewing) of fictional films such as TOO YOUNG TO DIE, WOMEN TALKING DIRTY, P.U.N.K.S. and TEKNOLUST. Their library is over 2750 films with 400 fictional (narrative) films (correction).

SnagFilms CEO Rick Allen

“Big studio blockbusters are available everywhere – why shouldn’t great independent films be just as ubiquitous?” asked SnagFilms CEO Rick Allen. “With our dramatic expansion of distribution channels and the enhanced SnagFilms.com website, SnagFilms can now also offer enthralling independent fictional films across free and paid platforms, from computers to TVs, tablets, game consoles, and smart phones.”

In addition to their current distribution partners (transactional: Xfinity, FiOS, iTunes, Amazon, Hulu Plus and YouTube Movies and ad supported: AOL, Yahoo, Starbucks Digital Network, to name a few), SnagFilms announced deals for their free-streamed movie distribution expands from iOS to Android And BlackBerry Mobile Platforms and their Pay-on-Demand titles have expanded to DIRECTV, Vudu, and Xbox LIVE.

“We began three years ago with a simple premise,” noted SnagFilms founder and chairman Ted Leonsis, “that new technologies could liberate audiences to enjoy great films that, because of a bottleneck in traditional film distribution, they might not ever get to see. With these remarkable enhancements to SnagFilms.com and the new distribution partnerships we’ve announced today, SnagFilms becomes a ubiquitous platform that will benefit consumers, filmmakers and communities.”

So current partners get access to a growing library and new partners can now offer SnagFilms titles to their consumers. Content on SnagFilms.com is available for free streaming online. Films are not in the pay and ad-supported windows simultaneously with commercially appealing films being made available transactionally on demand first.

And for the truly undiscovered gems out there, there is SnagFAST, an online submissions process for vetted film festival films to be considered by SnagFilms. Allen confirmed fifty (50) films have been accepted to date.

Adding to the diverse slate of programming is SnagFilms advertising partner, the notorious Goldman Sachs.

Many know the name (especially after the last few years of financial hardship Americans have faced while the banks like GS were bailed out that has led up to the recent Occupy Wall Street demonstrations), but not many know what Goldman Sachs actually does. Clearly Goldman Sachs felt the need to improve its public image with an ad campaign and selected a film platform known for iconic indie films such as SLACKER and controversial documentaries like DON’T ASK DON’T TELL. Interesting bed-fellows for the well-heeled Wall St. bankers.

The well produced,, long-form, sponsored ads focus on how Goldman Sachs raised money for strategic endeavors. They invested in the revitalization of a New Orleans community (inspiring), the building of a state-of-the-art arena for the basketball crazed Louisville, KY (interesting) and the creation of the YES Network by the New York Yankees (megalomaniacal?). As the feel-good ads were created in an effort to repair their image, I’m not sure who the latter appeals to anyone outside of Yankee Nation (fondly labeled the Evil Empire by non Yankee fans). Even your average New Yorker would probably not cheer this with all the financial woes recently. It’s not like Yankee games could not be found on TV and the YES Network saved the day. Today the YES Network has a greater valuation than the Yankees themselves. A potentially risky, yet shrewd move by the Yankees and Goldman Sachs back in 2002? Yes. A human interest story worthy of a paid TV ad campaign when fighting public allegations of greed? No.

When asked why Goldman Sachs chose to advertise on SnagFilms (a home to low budget, independent film), Allen replied his audience is “well educated” with a “high income.” He continued “Independent is a mindset. They (SF viewers) are looking for more engaging content. They tend to be leaders in their field.” A crowd home or away, Goldman Sachs would certainly want to appeal to.

SnagFilms’ name stems from encouraging online audiences to “snag” and embed films from the SnagFilms library on their own blog, social network or website.

The DC-based SnagFilms is beginning to catch a lot of attention. At a time when Netflix has misstepped, now may be the time for those looking for a new destination to curate current and past films to take a closer look at SnagFilms.

- Britt Bensen

Britt is the Editor-in-Chief and Co-founder of On Demand Weekly. He is the former head of Affiliate Marketing and VOD for Sundance Channel. Prior to Sundance Chanel, Britt worked for Miramax Films and BMI. He also on the Advisory Board of the Palo Alto Intl Film Festival.

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