Piracy, Is it a good thing??? (Jamin Winans INK illegally downloaded 100,000 times in 48 hours)

I was absolutely stunned this morning to find out that Jamin Winans and Kiowa Winans INK was illegally downloaded via bit torrent sites like Pirate Bay (INK was the #1 downloaded film ahead of major Hollywood releases) over 100,000 times.

We just had Jamin and Kiowa on our Film Courage radio show this past week. Their interview has shattered all records for our show from most listens, most downloads, and most page views. All of this in it's first week online. I believe it is a MUST listen. It is an in-depth case study on the money it took to make INK, their decision to retain the rights to their film and self-distribute and even highlights their deals with Blockbuster and Netflix.

Here is the interview: Jamin Winans and Kiowa Winans on Film Courage

So now, just two days away from wide-release on NOVEMBER 10th, 2009, on iTunes, Amazon, Netflix, Blockbuster (they even have Region 0 DVD's where it can be seen anywhere in the world) the pirates come thieving.

INK packs the house at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood on June 10th, 2009

This news has been sinking in all day. On one side it absolutely infuriates me and on the other I am completely overjoyed. I was on the phone with Jamin about 2 or 3 weeks ago and we talked about piracy and bit torrents. We know there is nothing we can do about it. To combat piracy, Jamin and Kiowa have done all they can to make INK available through all major outlets as fast as they humanly could. There is no major studio behind this release. As a matter of fact, if you listen to our interview with Jamin and Kiowa, you will hear them say that up until November 10th all DVD orders are being handled by them right from their house. This is their dedication to get their film out to their fans as soon as they can. I can tell you this, Jamin never imagined that his film would be so popular as to be the #1 illegally downloaded movie anywhere. He was obviously concerned about it being pirated but this is absolutely insane.

I am not a part of any bit torrent sites, so I am not familiar. How common is it for an Independently financed, independently made, and independently distributed film like INK to be in such demand through piracy??? Can you share with me any other specific examples? Is INK in unique territory? Is it just the INK phenomenon?

In our phone conversation, I was telling Jamin that I believe INK is going to be huge when it hits DVD. I never suspected this and I know that Jamin and Kiowa have to both be floored, both positively and negatively.

100,000 legal downloads is enough to instantly take Jamin and Kiowa out of debt. They would be able to pay back their investors which is something they are adamant about. This would immediately send them into the black. For those of you who are not aware, Jamin and Kiowa spent at least a year in pre-production, 80 days in production, almost two years in post-production, and almost a year semi-theatrically distributing the film across the country.

They have now received the ultimate validation on their work. Screw all the distributors and gatekeepers who said no to 'INK.' As a matter of fact Kiowa just wrote a great blog about this very thing on their DoubleEdgeFilms.blogspot site. It is one of the best film blogs out there. If you go back to the first blog and read through, you can be right in the passenger seat with them from the beginning of their the distribution journey.

I just want to urge all of you to see INK, but do it right way. I want to see Jamin and Kiowa Winans continue to make films. Let's support them in a way that enables them to do just that. Buy the film from their site http://www.doubleedgefilms.com/ where they offer an amazing package of an autographed DVD/Blu Ray, T-shirt and Poster for $34.99, or you can get INK from Amazon, Blockbuster, Netflix, or iTunes.

There has been tremendous discussion on piracy happening at the INK Facebook Fan Page
(The least some of you who illegally downloaded the film can do is 'Become a Fan')

So what do you think, is Piracy a good thing? Is it going to help Jamin and Kiowa more that they have received all of this 'free advertising?' Is this the best thing that could have happened to them? How does it make you feel?

Fans Taking INK to the Next Level

There is an extraordinary thing happening in the world of independent film right now. A new model for independent film distribution is emerging. Of course this has been evolving for some time now. Yet there is one story that hits very close to home for me.

As I am trying to figure out what to do with my first feature, Night Before the Wedding. I have had my eyes on the developments of Jamin Winans, Kiowa Winans, and the cast/crew of the indie phenomenon INK. I believe this passionate and courageous filmmaking couple and their team is at the forefront of where indie film is going.

I have gotten to know Jamin and Kiowa fairly well, as they have gotten to know Karen and I. This synergy has carried over to the casts of our respective films. INK cast members had a strong presence at our NBTW World Premiere last month. That love has been reciprocated by my NBTW cast members, many of whom have seen INK twice.

It's hard for me to understand why in the collaborative world of filmmaking that so many involved in independent film are so selfish. Most are out for themselves. You see few examples of independent artists championing and curating the works of others in the same shoes. The reality is that making it in indie filmmaking is so difficult, so strenuous, and so back-breaking. You would think that we independent filmmakers would know better when it came to marketing and promotion. You would think that we would know that we cannot make it alone.

That is something I have come to realize and that is why you have witnessed me reach out and connect with filmmakers like Jamin and Kiowa. Like Gary King, Paul J. Alessi, A.J. Rickert-Epstein, Jeff Grace, Steve Nguyen, Laura Russo, Rich Mbariket and a slew of others. Learning from them has been invaluable to me as I attempt to seek out the best path for my film career.

Having said that, if you are a filmmaker, I encourage you to not only promote your work, but promote the work of other independent filmmakers who's work you love and admire. Make connections with other filmmakers. On a very small scale, I have seen the results of my efforts in promoting INK. Some people have even gotten confused and thought the film was mine. (Jamin and Kiowa would probably argue with you that I am being too modest with the impact I have had. : )

What is that you say? You have no time? Well, if you have time to promote your own work, you can easily take a few moments and promote the work of another. Retweet a message on Twitter. Post a trailer on your Facebook page. Email a link to some friends. Encourage others to see the film in the theater or on dvd.

And if you are afraid that you will just be wasting your time. Please know that I have experienced an amazing return on 'investment' from my effort in promoting the work of others. I am often amazed by the generosity, as well as the lengths other filmmakers have put in for me during these early stages of promoting NBTW.

It is so easy for me to get a little off-track. This blog began because I wanted to highlight the current path of INK. It is one that I encourage you to learn more about and study. Fortunately, Jamin just wrote an amazing blog where he recaps his distribution strategies and why he has made some of the choices he has made. I believe this is a must-read, especially if you are a frequent reader of this blog. So, without further delay...

Fans Take INK to the Next Level

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PS - Their blog is one of the best ones out there. Subscribe today.

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PPS - And even bigger news, INK earns a theatrical run in Los Angeles beginning Friday September 11th. Jamin will be on hand for a Q&A that same night at the 10:15pm showing. I cannot recommend the film any higher. I truly hope you have the opportunity to see it in a movie theater.

You Are Invited to a Special Screening of Jamin Winans' Latest Feature Film:

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

7:30PM Showtime

Director, Crew and Cast Q&A to Follow

Egyptian Theatre

6712 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028

BUY YOUR TICKETS EARLY AT FANDANGO:
http://www.fandango.com/egyptiantheatre_aaofx/theaterpage?date=6/10/2009

Jamin Winans’ INK is an intricately woven distorted time drama set among a "Snow White meets Nine Inch Nails" original score and highly unique visuals. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to see INK at American Cinematheque!

Winans’ urban fantasy film debuted at the 2009 Santa Barbara International Film Festival to rave reviews.

His short film, SPIN, has shown in over 80 film festivals and has won over 40 awards.

INK Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4C5I1SavGyA

http://www.doubleedgefilms.com/

What others are saying:

"If you want to see something you've never seen before, INK is a must-see film." - Copernicus, Ain't it Cool News
http://www.aintitcool.com/?q=node/39874

"Epic in nature...it's a film that can stop your heart both with its story and with its look." - Cole Abaius, Film School Rejects

“Winans manages to morph the mundane and familiar into something utterly otherworldly, evoking the teeming atmosphere and dark imagination of everything from Terry Gilliam’s Brazil to Darren Aronofsky’s Pi.” – The Onion, Denver Decider

“Visually stunning…” – Santa Barbara Independent

Jamin Winans INK set to Open in Denver 3/13/09

For those of you who 'Follow' this blog, you are aware of Jamin Winans INK. If you are new allow me to recap by saying that INK is a must see film. Here is the full review I wrote not too long ago, http://filmcourage.blogspot.com/2009/02/jamin-winans-ink-is-one-of-most.html

This magnificent film is now poised to open in two days in Denver, CO. My encouragement to anyone reading this who is going to be anywhere near Denver from 3/13/09 to 3/27/09 is you have to get out and see this film in the theater. It will be well worth your time. This film is building positive reviews across the board and is destined to gather a huge cult following.

INK premieres in Denver, CO this Friday, March 13th at the Starz FilmCenter at the Tivoli and will play through March 27th.

For further ticket info, please visit http://www.denverfilm.org/filmcenter/detail.aspx?id=22444

For more on INK you can visit the official site, http://www.doubleedgefilms.com/

If for various reasons you cannot see this film during it's premiere run, yet are still interested in seeing this film, you can join the mailing list from the Official Site above and/or sign up as a Fan on INK's brand new Facebook Fan Page, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ink/55404284537 That way you can stay up to date on when it becomes available in your area.

And just for good measure, here is the latest trailer if you have not seen it.

Jamin Winans releases 2nd Trailer for "INK"

As you may or may not know, I have interviewed Filmmaker Jamin Winans twice over at my Film Synergy Blog (here is the "INK" Interview). It was from the interaction back and forth on this second interview where I learned that Jamin's 2nd Feature INK was going to have it's World Premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

My fiance Karen and I made the trip up to Santa Barbara to support Jamin and see his latest work. Though the first trailer for INK is amazing, there is no way I could anticipate the impact that his film had on me and on Karen. It caused me to write this blog, Jamin Winan's INK is one of the most inspiring films I have seen...

Upon reading my write-up, Jamin said he was speechless.

Well, now Jamin has released his 2nd Trailer for INK, and he has taken MY QUOTE on his film and put it in the Trailer. Now I am the one who is speechless.

As if you didn't already need to see this 2nd Trailer anyway, now there is additional incentive.



Jamin recut the trailer because they were getting a lot of feedback that it was playing like a Horror film, which it is not. So this trailer gives us more of the overall vibe. He also told me that he has cut 9 minutes down on the overall run time. Not that the version I saw dragged by any means. But I believe that only can help the overall film.

Man, I cannot wait to see INK again!

Jamin Winans 'Ink' is one of the most inspiring films I have seen...

Where do I even begin? I hope you follow along because Jamin Winan’s, Ink, is one of the most inspiring films I have seen and I am excited to share my thoughts about it with you.

As I begin to write this, please note that I am not a Film Critic. I am just a Film Fan as well as a Filmmaker. I am a growing storyteller also, so please allow me set up the story which will help me convey my full thoughts to you.

Back in 2005 I came across Jamin’s short film Spin. I can’t remember exactly how I came across it but I thought it was one of the more creative and just plain cool shorts I have seen. I wanted to know more about the film and the filmmaker so I contacted Jamin and ended up doing an interview with him through my Film Synergy blog (Interview with Filmmaker Jamin Winans)

I thought it was a great interview and I liked Jamin’s style of filmmaking so I continued to monitor his work. Now this will probably get me in trouble, but I believe it is important for me to mention. As I have studied films in the indie world, I got around to seeing Jamin’s first feature film, 11:59. Though that movie does finish strong, I came away feeling let down. It’s not anything I am going to dwell on here. Yet there may be others out there who may read this who have seen 11:59 and may not be willing to give Ink a chance and I am here to let you know that would be a big mistake.

Most recently, Jamin emailed me the trailer to his second feature film, Ink and I was amazed. Want to see why? Click here Ink Official Movie Trailer HD

Of course I had to follow up with a second interview via Film Synergy. Interview with 'Ink' Filmmaker Jamin Winans


From our correspondence I learned that Ink would be Premiering at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. My fiancé Karen loves Santa Barbara so it didn’t take much convincing to arrange a trip that included seeing the film. And as I began to mention that I was going to see it, dozens of people began to hit me up wanting to know my thoughts.

On the train ride to Santa Barbara, I pondered what will come of my own film, Night Before the Wedding. How I wished I wasn’t just traveling up to see another filmmaker’s film but to see my own as well. I thought about what kind of success lies down the road for me…And I was hit with a revelation that I will share with you soon.

When we arrived in Santa Barbara, we had lunch, and then walked to the theater to buy tickets. The box office wouldn’t sell them to us. Said we had to wait for all the festival-goers with festival passes. After they were let into the theater, they would then sell general admission tickets. So we wouldn’t be able to buy the tickets until 15 minutes before the screening. We made one more attempt to buy the tickets early that night and they still wouldn’t sell us the tickets. I mention this because when I was finally able to buy the tickets just before the screening, they were $11 plus a $4 service charge. If you want to charge $15 for the tickets, just charge $15. Get rid of that insulting $4 service charge. I just thought it was ridiculous but funny. Especially the service.

Minutes before the screening, I saw Jamin and introduced myself to him. We went back and forth on a few things before he was called away by one of the festival organizers.
What’s funny is Jamin called me his biggest fan. Because of the interviews (from above) I have conducted with him along with other updates I have published on his behalf. I found that pretty funny. I guess more than anything, it is great how appreciative he is and I must thank him for his graciousness. But don’t let Jamin fool you, millions of people have seen his short film, Spin. And I will tell you this, after seeing ‘Ink’ I can confidently say that Jamin is going to win over an abundance of new fans.

I have to be honest, I was of course excited to see Jamin’s new film but I was doing my best to hold my expectations in check. As with most movies, I wasn’t sure it would be able to live up to its own movie trailer. (I even posed that question to him in my interview. Even others have come to me and asked me the same question.)

There is talk out there that Ink is a “low-budget” independent film. I specialize in low-budget films. I make them and I watch them. I don’t want to hear people say this is a low-budget film because I’ll tell you that no matter what the budget was, this is one of the most inspiring films that I have seen. I was blown away by what Jamin has pulled off.

If I had to put it all into one quote it would be this, “Ink is the greatest combination of ambition, imagination, and execution I have seen in independent film.” It is a masterpiece that will continue to inspire me for a long time. It has already influenced me as I begin to make my next film. Jamin poured his heart and soul into this project and I could literally feel that with each and every scene. He pulls out his whole bag of tricks. This film makes me want to become a better filmmaker.

The sound design is as good as it gets. The main theme to the film (original music by Jamin) is one that I could listen to all day. I love the song. I am referring to the music that kicks in at the 53 second mark of the trailer.

It is mind-boggling to think how many levels this film hits a home-run with. From the writing and storytelling, to the directing, cinematography, lighting and sound design. The payoff at the end of the movie is beautiful and makes it all worth it. I love seeing an independent film that knows how to deliver in it's ending. It's something I work really hard at and something I know is one of Jamin's strives to perfect. So often indies don't deliver at the end. Well not just indies, but it is more glaring in smaller budgeted films.

I am sitting here writing about this film and it is even hard for me to believe how much I am gushing over it. I can tell you this, it was certainly not my intention when I was on that train ride to Santa Barbara. I did not expect this at all.

This is a film for filmmakers to see. I firmly believe that I will not be the only filmmaker who will be inspired by this movie. It raises the bar for all of us. It is also a film for film fans across the board to see because more than anything it is a great story told in a riveting and exciting way. From start to finish. Karen who is not typically a fan of these kinds of films absolutely loved Ink. We both sat there stunned. She was equally blown away.

For those of you wondering where and when you can see it, there may be some good news. Jamin and his wife, Kiowa are currently working on distributing the film as soon as possible. Here is the update from their blog, Ink to see distribution soon? I can tell you this, even having already seen it, I cannot wait to get my hands on a DVD copy and be able to watch it again. Jamin, let me know when and where it is available and it is a done deal.

Oh yeah, and if you couldn’t guess, the film itself is far superior to the trailer. It’s not even close.

Picture Lock and the Santa Barbara International Film Festival

Today was the monumental day for my first feature film, Night Before the Wedding. After several hours of polishing various scenes, I turned to my editor and nonchalantly let him know that we were done or I should more appropriately say 'Picture-Locked.' That means no more picture editing. It is now onto Sound Design, Color Correction and Music.

Although it was a low key moment. I am feeling great. I know my film is not perfect. After all the countless hours I have spent on it, I am fully aware of each and every flaw. Yet I can also take satisfaction in knowing that I have made it into the best film that it can be. It is easily my best work and something I am quite proud of. Now I know there will be plenty of people who hate it, but at the same time, there are going to be just as many people who love it.

My current goal is to wrap production on it and have the film completed in February. Just in time to submit it to the Los Angeles Film Festival. Speaking of Film Festivals, I am heading up to Santa Barbara tomorrow to see Ink, which is Independent Filmmaker Jamin Winan's second feature. It has it's World Premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. This is something I have been looking forward to for the last month. For those who haven't seen it, I highly recommend you read over this interview I conducted with Jamin a couple of weeks ago. Film Synergy Interview with 'Ink' Filmmaker Jamin Winans. There have been quite a few of you who have been anticipating my thoughts on Ink. I look forward to sharing them with you upon my return.

For those of you who want to stay updated on Night Before the Wedding, please 'Become a Fan' on our Facebook Fan Page which we have just started. NBTW Facebook Fan Page And if you are really courageous, maybe you will be the first or one of the first to become a 'Follower' of this blog off to the right.

My new Film Synergy Interview with 'Ink' Filmmaker Jamin Winans

On this awe-inspiring inauguration day where many of us feel a new hope, I am proud to unveil this new interview with a filmmaker that I admire, an artist who is passionate about his craft, and one who raises the bar for all of us in the world of independent cinema.

Jamin Winans has just completed his second feature film, Ink, a Sci-Fi/Fantasy Action Thriller about the people who come out at night and give us dreams and nightmares. It is the allegorical story of good and evil and those trapped in between. No matter how safe you feel, evil may find you. But no matter how far you've fallen, redemption is possible. (To really understand what this all means, the Must See Movie Trailer is Below)

Ink premieres January 23rd, 29th, and 30th at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. It is one of a handful of films in competition. For screening information, please click here, Ink Showtimes

Filmmaker Jamin Winans on the set of Ink

For the full interview, please visit Film Synergy Interview with 'Ink' Filmmaker Jamin Winans