Seed&Spark, the independent film crowdfunding platform, announced on Wednesday the launch of its latest entertainment initiative, #100DaysofDiversity, which is described as a movement that’s joining creators, audiences, brands, festivals, and organizations to actively increase representation in entertainment in 100 days starting January 20th.
The crowdfunding platform stated that the #100DaysOfDiversity initiative is to showcase America’s diversity and the power of storytelling to increase inclusion and empathy through curated films, crowdfunding campaigns, guest bloggers from the film community and ongoing conversation on social media using the hashtag #100DaysOfDiversity. The goal is simple of the initiative is to get more inclusive work made and watched in 100 days. Seed&Spark has already gathered dozens of film organizations together to provide incentives for both filmmakers and audiences to join the movement. Emily Best, Seed&Spark founder and CEO, shared:
“Right now is a put up or shut up moment for all of us in the business of the arts. We know that entertainment is so much more than just that — that who we put on the screen, who works behind the scenes, and the stories that are told profoundly shape our cultural landscape. Moving pictures are everywhere: they are our national pastime and our most powerful export. While the forces at work in our government seem to be to reject the plurality of modern society, we as artists, arts organizations, and arts businesses have a moral imperative to create an inclusive visual landscape for our national audiences and business landscape for our colleagues. counteract those forces with our work. The thing is: it’s really easy to make inclusion a part of entertainment. All you have to do is do it. We hope with the groundswell of support from our partners, we will achieve the tipping point after which the diversity numbers steadily (and quickly) increase.”
Those partnering with Seed&Spark on the initiative reportedly include The Black List, Tribeca Film Institute, Picture Motion and Askwith&Co, Film Tools, G-Technology, Teradek, Fiilex, AVID); to festival fee waivers (such as True/False, Oak Cliff, Sidewalk, and New Orleans. Filmmakers who launch campaigns during the #100DaysOfDiversity will be eligible for filmmaker perks worth more than $20,000 in total from the partnering brands.
The initiative is set to close on April 29th and will have seven themes that explore and celebrate the very real diversity of our nation with curated films available to watch and crowdfunding campaigns active during that time. Additionally, Seed&Spark will contribute $1 to the It Gets Better Project for each new subscriber during the Modern Love theme (February 17th-March 2nd).
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