New Anthony Hopkins film will be released as NFT. Is it the future in film distribution?
Cutting-edge technology could be the future in film distribution. First, there was celluloid, then Betamax and VHS, DVDs, Blu-ray, and streaming. Now, non-fungible tokens could be the future in film distribution.
Two time Oscar-winner Anthony Hopkins’ next full length feature film Zero Contact will be released as a NFT. It is a big leap and a first for a full-length feature film in Hollywood.
“(We’re) nervous as to what the industry might expect of this and how we’re breaking new ground, but definitely excited,” said Rick Dugdale, CEO of Enderby Entertainment, who produced and directed the film.
Dugdale, a B.C. native from Enderby and Alberta-born Cameron Chell are behind the project. They have launched a blockchain platform called Vuele.io, where anyone can sign up to buy the release along with extra digital content.
“There’s a real demand for digital collectibles,” explained Chell, Vuele co-founder and chairperson of CurrencyWorks, a fintech company utilizing blockchain.
NFTs have recently gained popularity in the sports world with digital trading cards. The NBA has gotten into it as well. A digital collectible of a LeBron James dunk sold for $208,000. Digital art collectibles and the first ever tweet have commanded big bucks as well, in the millions of dollars.
Zero Contact was shot in 17 countries, features 84 actors, and will have extra digital content that can be sold, auctioned and traded on the Vuele platform. Vancouver actor Aleks Paunovic, who has worked with Hopkins before, is co-starring in the film and is excited to part of history in the making.
“That, to me, is something so innovative and new and to be a part of that even though I don’t understand it fully, it has been such a riot. It has been such a great ride,” Paunovic said.
Anyone can sign up on Vuele and pay for content using any method they want. Consumers will drive the price depending on demand and the amount of digital content that is available for sale within the blockchain.
“We could see the demand anywhere from, you know, a million dollars for the rarest NFT down to $20 for the most common NFT,” explained Chell.
The blockchain ensures authenticity and uniqueness and provides the buyer with a digital receipt.
“In the film business, this allows another barrier against piracy, because every NFT will be encrypted and encoded and we can track and see where it’s gone and who has it,” added Dugdale.
The planned drop for the first content for Zero Contact will be late July or early August.
Will NFT release be the next big thing? Dugdale is banking on it and all eyes in Hollywood are watching.
“If NFT distribution becomes the future, what film was the first film released as an NFT? Our Hopkins film,” he said. “I think our competitors and our colleagues are looking at this as a whole new world as a revenue stream in Hollywood.”
And what is next after NFT release?
“What’s next after NFTs? I’m still trying to figure out NFTs man,” Paunovic said chuckling.
There was hesitation about streaming when it first appeared. It took a while for the public to wrap its head around it. Remember the public outrage when Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings decided to stop mailing DVDs and switch to streaming? The stock fell dramatically. Now, streaming is commonplace and Netflix stock is trading at more than US$500.
For streaming services, you pay a subscription fee, but for NFTs, you own it. Blockchain lives forever. However, there is still concern about ensuring that the digital content remains accessible and that means proper management of the digital space. In addition, there is plenty of talk in the tech world about establishing standards and regulations around this emerging technology.
Click here to learn more about Zero Contact
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.