"Wannabe" is a comedy film starring Craig Robert Young, Octavia Spencer, Matt Dallas, Tate Taylor, Adam Huss, written by Craig Robert Young and Richard Keith and directed by Richard Keith. It’s being promoted as one of the only films to be released on Facebook. However, while that may be true, if one was to research the movie on the Internet, it is evident this flick was first produced back in 2005?
So why the resurgence in promoting this movie to FBers? What’s going to motivate them to watch a dated movie on Facebook August 10 2012? Well, apparently after 7 long years of being shelved in development hell, this project is finally going to see the light of day, beyond its limited indie festival circuit of 2006.
After an acquisition by Warner Brothers Television Studios, when Marta Kauffman, producer and creator of "Friends" decided to target television to transition the piece into a situation comedy, she too experienced delays and eventually no greenlight. When the rights were returned to the writers (Young & Keith), the film was picked up by Silicon Valley’s start-up company "FutureLeap."
Promoted as changing the movie distribution model, FutureLeap uses social media for major film projects that might not be able to afford traditional advertising. With "crowdfunding" from companies like IndieGoGo and Kickstarter, they are able to create and distribute quality content for online audiences — with Facebook the most obvious channel, complete with its 1 billion followers.
In picking the right film, Future Leap CEO, Marcus Lovingood told Brave New Hollywood: “Wannabe was a perfect fit for FutureLeap because we strive to stay on the cutting edge of digital tech. This film was made on an ultra-low budget and it attests to the capabilities that await low-budget indie filmmakers as we move further and further into the digital revolution.”
"Wannabe," billed as a ‘mockumentary about talent that should stay undiscovered,’ is a semi-autobiographical Craig Robert Young tale loosely based on Craig Robert Young’s experience in the cutthroat music industry.
The film follows the lives of a struggling boyband who are desperate to be discovered by Hollywood’s movers and shakers. As part of the once-popular UK chart-topping quintet Deuce, if anyone knew about the fleeting fame of boybands, it was Young.
In this scene, ex-boybander Steve Williams (Craig Robert Young) who aims for the big time meets cut-throat choreographer Lady Chanet Janney Jones performed by Octavia Spencer prior to her 2012 award-winning performance in "The Help". In this funny short clip, Spencer shows once again how she is able to turn the right material into a funny and memorable performance.
In justifying venues (online vs. theaters), FutureLeap, assisted by ChargePlay (another start-up firm) deduced that while most movie fans love the cinema, they will complain incessantly about having to park their cars and shell out for overpriced tickets. With access to Facebook online, similar to the TV revolution back in the 1950s, you can now enjoy a movie like "Wannabe" on your computer in the comfort of your office, den or bedroom (hell,wherever you have access to the Internet – even on the go with an iPad).
According to Brave New Hollywood’s Ben Scuglia, this new distribution channel allows "filmmakers the chance to set their own destiny in Hollywood without having to risk millions of dollars or hack their way through the Hollywood studio bureaucracy.
ChargePlay is an online payment technology for video content that allows viewers to seamlessly purchase premium content after watching a preview or trailer. On August 10th, the movie will be made available to its FB fan community in the form of a 48hr rental in return for a suggested donation of $4.99.
So head on over to "Wannabe" fan page, and instead of buying a traditional ticket, give it a LIKE and stoke up the popcorn. You’ll find me in the cheap seats up front!
