IPG January Updates!

Welcome to 2024!

We have some quick updates for you as the new year starts!

IPG Seminar & Information Streams Start!

The IPG has had periodic online meets since the beginning, sometimes using the ‘Chatham House Rule’ designed to encourage frank and open discussion of controversial topics.

We are beginning these again in 2024, and formalizing them into a regular schedule.

Information seminars and industry panels will always be free, but will usually require you to pre-register to get the link (which will change for each date). See the current seminar calendar and sign up at https://producersportal.com/seminar-calendar

Over the remainder of January 2024 we have scheduled two live seminars for those interested in the FilmPods and Media Royalty Tokens. We have our first official UK/International IPG Information presentation on January 27, 2024 at 5pm UK time, 9am Pacific. This one will be addressing the recent advances in so-called “AI” as it impacts acting talent and producers, as well as an overview of the changing distribution environment and how the IPG mission can help independent filmmakers. Your attendance and participation is welcome! It is a great opportunity to e-meet and network with real industry from across the pond!

IPG Interviews - Set Your Calendar!

I was interviewed recently by the Global Film Exhibition, and it will be published shortly. This was a great opportunity to start 2024 on an upward trajectory for the IPG public profile. The text will be included on the Guild website this week, and on my new blog on ProducersPortal.com, after it is published by Gobal Film Exhibition.

In addition, I will be a live guest of Juhl Media on Youtube on January 10, 2024 at 2pm Pacific. The topic will be Independent Film Directing & Producing and is expected to generate a lot of viewers. Juhl Media is a small (6K+) but growing independent film channel. Of course the IPG will be front and center in my discussion. MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND WATCH THE LIVE STREAM ON YOUTUBE HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff6TuSuUBKc

Make sure you have YouTube notify you of the stream, and of course share the link with everyone!

FilmPod Alpha - Media Royalty Tokens

The FilmPod program is being designed as a set of tools that help filmmakers get their project to a global, paying audience without the involvement of parasitic middle-men or giving it up to mainstream distribution. When the FilmPod platform is operational properly, which is expected to be next fall, there will be a reasonable cost assessed for the use of those tools.

IPG members in good standing will have their basic FilmPod fees waived. However, the FilmPod Alpha members, who are participating in the development by giving us their feedback and testing the tools as they roll out, will also receive a free MRT with which to monetize their title, and all fees, including premium add-ons, will be free forever for FilmPod Alpha Members. They will also get priority in listings and FilmPod marketing efforts.

A FilmPod Alpha membership is free until March 9, 2024. After that the Alpha membership will close forever. YOU MUST APPLY FOR YOUR FILMPOD ALPHA MEMBERSHIP, IT IS NOT AUTOMATIC EVEN IF YOU HAVE A FILMPOD TITLE ALREADY. Do that at https://producersportal.com/filmpod-alpha

IPG Opportunities & Goals On Into 2024

Remember this is your Guild and your industry. As the IPG grows, it creates more opportunity for you to learn from other film creators around the world. You also have the chance to affect your industry for the better of your own self and for others.

As with all things in life, as with all things democratic, you get out of it what you put into it. Those who participate have a great impact on the way things get done, and the direction things go. If you sit back and let others do it, you only get what you are given. That said, the IPG board welcomes your participation and especially so if you have a hands-on initiative you want to undertake through the Guild.

If you just want to help out where you can, we have need for researchers, administrative support, fundraising and outreach, writers and social media mavens. We need permanent offices, people willing to work as mentors and teachers, and more. At this time, as you know, most all these functions are on a volunteer basis; the board is unpaid. As the IPG grows in membership and relevance, we anticipate a budget for these and other functions.

Get in touch with Leigh Ariana Trifari (for UK/EU) at [email protected] or myself Shadow Dragu-Mihai (North America and rest of world) at [email protected] to get involved.

There are a lot of things on the horizon! FIlmPods, MRTs, Virtual Theatrical, Skills Program, Pension & Health Plans, workshops, seminars, film productions and so much more! Stay in touch! In the meantime, Happy 2024!