The Hyde Tube

Paris-based production company Mr. Hyde has launched an interesting new initiative, The Hyde Tube, which invites directors anywhere in the world to submit their work for possible inclusion in a juried online “film festival.” That in itself is nothing new. The twist comes here:

Clients will contact The Hyde Tube in order to pass on a project to a specific director, who is then free to decide whether or not to accept it. If accepted, the director will write a treatment or make an animated test within 3 to 5 days. For this work you will receive approximately 500€.

If the client is happy with the treatment and decides that the director will make the film, The Hyde Tube will connect the director with the client, and Mr Hyde or one of its affiliate studios will oversee the production until the film delivery.

The director’s fee will be 10 percent of the budget, the first half payable on the first day of production and the rest upon delivery of the finished film.

By putting all the terms up front, including a guaranteed (though modest) pitch fee, it seems like Mr. Hyde is earnestly trying to cover their bases. Of course, this all relies on transparency regarding the budget, without which the 10 percent number is meaningless. It seems that in order for this work well for everyone involved, the budget will need to be disclosed from the very start.

Another potential snag: The Hyde Tube is launching with 100 directors, and they plan on adding many more. What client is going to sift through all that? There’s no mention of a sales team, which would normally steer potential clients toward relevant (and available) talent.

What do you think? Are there other concerns this might raise? Or is this a win-win scenario for up-and-coming directors?

Stu Maschwitz

By now, most of you have probably heard that The Orphanage has suspended operations. (Co-founder Stu Maschwitz explains further on his blog.)

This is as good time as any to appreciate Stu’s recently updated directorial reel, which shows off his finely developed acumen for storytelling and compelling visuals.

It should be noted that Orphanage Animation Studio, headed by Genndy Tartakovsky, is unaffected by The Orphanage’s closure and is still hard at work on The Power of the Dark Crystal.

NOTE: This post was amended to correct an attribution error. Thanks to JuanBreton for his helpful email.

Nath Milburn: How to Make Freeze Pops

Cute illustration style in this how-to video from SCAD student Nath Milburn

Laurie Hill takes a trip through the photo archives

Laurie Hill takes a trip through the photo archives (winner of Getty Images and Short & Sweet short film challenge)

Romain Segaud/Paranoid US for Lays

Romain Segaud/Paranoid US for Lays

Vinicius Costa “Special Guest: The Journey”

Brazilian director Vinicius Costa shows off some mixed media chops in his new short, “Special Guest: The Journey.” There’s a suitcase as cabinet of curiosities with flapping airplane, piano keyboard parking lot, and pink neuron climbing through a Dali-inspired landscape. It’s an endless, playful, stream of consciousness loop that rewards repeated viewings (are those people dancing in the front yard?).

Costa’s debut film with 1st Avenue Machine-sibling Special Guest is in the studio’s tradition of having new directors create a film based on their idea of The Special Guest. From Costa: “It occurred to me that just looking at someone’s luggage could tell you a lot about the owner’s personality.”

Credits

John Cherniack: New Reel

3D artist John Cherniack updates his reel