Imagine diving into an online game world, battling dragons, orcs, goblins, and wizards, collecting wondrous magical items and vast stashes of gold—all to fund your independent film in the real world. The economies of today's online games make this a tangible reality.
Many aspiring filmmakers spend years pitching their grand film projects to studios, often to no avail. Even those who attend prestigious film schools with hopes of breaking into the industry frequently find themselves unable to get their projects off the ground. The harsh reality is that the chances of an outsider getting a film into the studio system, through production, and into distribution are slim to none.
With the advent of digital filmmaking technology, many have chosen the independent route, creating their own film projects out of pocket or with small private investments. However, grand dreams often require substantial funding. So, how does one secure financing for a larger project?
The internet has been a powerful tool for generating marketing buzz and even securing financing for films. However, in our convergence culture—where movies, video games, and the internet increasingly blend together—there's an often-overlooked avenue for financing independent films: the economy of online multiplayer games.
Ailin Graef, a player in the massive multiplayer online game Second Life, started with a mere $10 account nearly three years ago. Using her skills as a designer, she has amassed a considerable fortune. In this online 3D world, she owns 36 square miles of virtual property, which she rents out to other players. She also owns virtual shopping malls and numerous in-game brands. Her holdings are worth an astonishing $1 million in real-world money (Source: BBC).
The currency in online game worlds has been rapidly gaining value against real-world currencies. This trend began years ago with one of the first popular online games, EverQuest. Players were selling high-level characters, magical items, and even stashes of in-game gold for thousands of dollars on eBay. According to IGPlace.com, a piece of gold in the massively popular World of Warcraft game is worth 18 cents. Players often camp in spots where the greatest monsters appear, kill them, collect their treasure, sell it for in-game gold, and then convert that gold into real-world money. Economist Edward Castronova discovered that EverQuest players earned more than $3 per hour in real-world value just by playing the game (Source: The Guardian).
For independent filmmakers, the key is that there are many ways to "cash out" of these online experiences and pocket the money. Imagine playing a multiplayer game all day, developing a high-level character with stashes of gold and tons of magical items worth thousands of dollars in the real world. What could be more enjoyable than slaying orcs and dragons as a way to raise the funds needed to complete your independent film project?
The convergence of online gaming and real-world economics offers a unique and innovative way for independent filmmakers to fund their projects. By leveraging the value of in-game currencies and virtual assets, aspiring filmmakers can turn their gaming skills into a viable source of financing. So, the next time you log into your favorite online game, remember that your virtual adventures could be the key to bringing your cinematic dreams to life.
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