FAQs:

What is CineCoup?

CineCoup is an innovative web platform-as-film studio model that will:

• Discover new talent or surface existing talent that has not yet developed a critical fanbase;
• De-risk bold narratives and franchises;
• Build audiences earlier and faster than ever before;
• Reduce barriers to entry and discovery costs for new filmmakers with original feature ideas;
• Measure all activity to better understand, target and build audiences.

Is CineCoup a contest?

CineCoup is not a contest, but a transparent independent studio that is focused on supporting filmmakers and projects that best connect with audiences. Yes, the process is competitive, but so is the “black-boxed” nature of the current film industry. CineCoup is different in that it plays out on the social web and designed to be as open as possible in terms of how we do business. There is no prize, there is only the certainty that we intend to finance and theatrically release in Canada at least one team and project that participates in our accelerator pilot.

What is a “Film Accelerator”?

The “Accelerator” concept is a model that is popular in the technology sector to find and support entrepreneurs with big ideas. In fact, CineCoup was a recent graduate of Growlab a-Vancouver based tech accelerator. Here is our CEO J. Joly pitching the concept in front of a room of investors at DemoDay. The basic concept of an accelerator is that a group of serial entrepreneurs, angel investors, and VCs select a group of strong startups to participate in a short, intense period of support, feedback, and mentoring, all designed to help them prove out their business model and get to market. The top entrepreneurs that emerge are capitalized in exchange for equity in the business. What normally would take an entrepreneur one to two years in terms of building their business, the accelerator model accomplishes in under four months. This accelerator concept we realized could be applied to film and was in-part the genesis for CineCoup particularly in identifying true film entrepreneurs. This model is not for everyone, as it is tough-love in nature and is designed to nurture and support the most well rounded filmmakers from a both a creative and entrepreneurial perspective.

What is a “film entrepreneur”?

CineCoup has been purpose-designed to challenge filmmakers to think like creative entrepreneurs. All participants stand to benefit from the experience of packaging their projects and building up their audience equity. We want to see not only how creative you are, but also how good you are at connecting with fans, and building an audience.

How long does the CineCoup Film Accelerator run?

Consult the detailed schedule within the Rules & Regulations. The basic overview:

• Application phase runs 10 weeks, December 7 through February 24
• Social Engagement Funnel runs 8 weeks (up to Top 15), February 28 through April 28
• Finalist Slate runs 7 weeks (Top 15 to Top Project), April 29 through June 12
• Accelerated Production Cycle (including post) runs about 6 months, June 24 through December

Who can participate in CineCoup?

• Any Canadian filmmaker that has reached the age of majority in his or her province or territory of residence;
• CineCoup will launch a French-language focused Film Accelerator as soon as an appropriate Quebecois partner is secured. It is our hope to secure this Quebecois partnership in early 2013. We are not stopping Francophones or Anglophone Quebec residents from participating in the current English-language pilot;
• If you wish to submit a non-English project, in any language, we recommend that you to subtitle your video submissions and present your project information in English as this year's pilot does not support translations. Subtitling is not mandatory but strongly recommended to engage audiences.

If my team doesn't make the Top 10, what are the benefits of participating?

CineCoup aims to give all filmmakers a quick “No” or “Yes” instead of a long string of “Maybes” that currently plague the industry. If your project is not selected for the Top 10, it is our hope your team can leverage your CineCoup experience to entice outside producers to support your project.
Here are the benefits to participating:

• Build an online pitch package for your project
• Build audience traction and filmmaker recognition
• Glean valuable feedback and support from fans
• Gain social media savvy and marketing experience

Where is the “up to a $1 Million” in financing coming from?

CineCoup intends to contribute a mixture of private investment and federal and provincial tax credits to the Top Project that is optioned by CineCoup. The reason we say “up to” is because depending on the jurisdictions where the production takes place, there are different levels of provincial support. CineCoup is also working to enrich the financing with valuable in-kind services from established industry providers (equipment providers, post-production services, etc.).

Why is the budget only “up to a $1 Million”?

CineCoup is a startup company and, this being our pilot year, we are currently only able to commit to financing and producing one project. This may change as we continue to raise more private equity.
The $1 Million is meant to be a manageable variable and, like the accelerated timeframe, a constraint to see what is achievable within that budget in order to measure and mitigate risk as we prove out this innovative model. For the Top 10 optioned projects there is an opportunity to enrich the budget via the crowdfunding round prior to the Final 5. If low-budget independence has taught us anything, it is that austerity breeds creativity.

Can we bring other sources of funding and distribution?

• CineCoup wants filmmakers focused on packaging their project and building audiences, NOT on securing funding. For the Top 10 projects optioned there will be the opportunity to further enrich their budget via a crowdfunding round that will go on top of CineCoup's financing should they be selected.
• The primary reason we are looking for projects that can be made within the prescribed $1 Million is to ensure we begin production without delay and maintain the “social contract” with the audiences to deliver the top film to theatres within the expected timeframe.

Do I give up all my rights to my project by entering CineCoup?

No. Only if your team advances to the Top 10 you will be presented with an option agreement for your script that is negotiable (see below). By participating in CineCoup, we do ask for the non-exclusive rights to use any materials you upload, filmmaker likenesses, editorial content, etc. The intent is for CineCoup to be able to use this uploaded material for press releases, broadcast, marketing, etc. to help promote the filmmakers and their films.

Tell us more about the Option Agreement...

If your team advances to the Top 10 you will be presented with an option agreement for your script that is negotiable. CineCoup will offer the Top 10 Teams a renewable 1-year option on their script for $2500 (CDN). The Top 10 teams will elect a single legal representative that will negotiate the details of the option on all of their behalf with CineCoup. If you choose to accept and execute this agreement, it will describe what rights are optioned and on what terms teams will participate financially and creatively in the production and exploitation of the project. It is anticipated that filmmakers will be entitled to a favourable 50/50 net revenue split on Canadian theatrical after CineCoup recoups its original investment and costs.

Who controls the rights of the Top Project?

For the top project selected for financing and production by CineCoup, there will be a negotiated long-form contract that will address worldwide rights, fees for the filmmakers and a favourable 50/50 net-revenue split on Canadian theatrical after CineCoup has recouped original investment and costs.

What do we need to participate in CineCoup?

• $150 admin fee (early bird rate); a team of three; a two-minute trailer for an original feature film with a clean Chain of Title; a Facebook page and a Twitter account for your project.
• There are no unwieldy forms and CineCoup does not ask to see the feature-length script until the Top 50 phase. The script deadline is currently slated for April 21th, 2013.

Why is there an administration fee?

The admin fee is designed to accomplish two things:

• Eliminate noise and spam that detracts from the efforts of dedicated filmmakers participating in CineCoup.
• Cover basic costs to manage and host a microsite with a dedicated URL for each filmmakers participating in CineCoup for 2 years. This microsite or “Project profile” is where teams package and demonstrate traction for their project. If a project is not one of the Top 10 optioned for development, the team can continue to leverage their microsite as a pitch tool to attract potential producers and financiers.

Is the administration fee refundable?

CineCoup may consider petitions for refunds in extenuating circumstances, but ultimately it will be at the company's sole discretion.

Tell us more about the team requirements...

• To participate in CineCoup you need to apply with a team of three - no more, no less.
• Thinking like an entrepreneur, CineCoup encourages teams to envision themselves as creative founders, collectively responsible for the development, packaging and marketing of their project to advance through the accelerator process. Think beyond typical film roles, maybe you have a writer, director and social strategist as your power trio.
• Teams are encouraged to work with others outside the trio to complete missions and boost marketing.

What are you expecting in terms of the trailer?

• We're looking for a 90-second to 2-minute trailer (HD quality / 720p) that best represents your vision.
• “Faux Trailer”, “Concept Trailer”, “Teaser Trailer”, “Coming Attractions Trailer”... Whatever you call it, we are looking for an idea prototype that best represents your vision. The ultimate goal of the trailer is to get audiences excited about your film. Look at it like your first impression and lasting hook that showcases your team's talent, creativity and ability to build an audience for your feature project.
• For trailer traditionalists, the finished product does not need to feature your final cast, locations, etc. it is more important that it conveys your ability to tell an original story and overall narrative potential that fans can expect from the finished feature. The goal for filmmakers in terms of the strategy they pick for their trailer, is to avoid spoilers while building excitement for the fact that your feature film may be produced and delivered based on audience demand and enthusiasm.
• Teams are expected to edit short CineCoup branded bumpers at the front and end of their trailers. The CineCoup bumpers are available for download within the application process in the “Assets” tab.
• CineCoup filmmakers must use original, licensed or pre-cleared tracks for all video submissions. We've partnered with award-winning music licensing library, Jingle Punks, to provide CineCoup filmmakers free access to 35,000 pre-cleared tracks for use in your trailers and weekly mission videos. Get more details

Are there any genre guidelines (documentary, drama, sci-fi, etc.)?

• All genres and subgenres are invited to participate in CineCoup Film Accelerator.
• Intensive feature-length animation, CGI-heavy features and documentaries that follow a subject over a long period of time will have to demonstrate they can meet the budget and scheduling constraints in order to be considered at the Top 15 in order to be optioned for development.
• CineCoup is not interested in being a censor, but we do expect filmmakers to use common sense in terms of the subjects, themes and values they choose to explore within their films. Projects should not exceed an NC-17 rating for their theatrical release. A “Director's Cut” of the film that goes beyond the NC-17 rating for VOD and BluRay will not be discouraged.
• CineCoup is not interested in supporting blatant pornography or narratives that promote hate or obvious intolerance against a specific group without any redeeming value.

What are the social network requirements and expectations for each team?

• During the application phase, all teams are required to create a Facebook page and Twitter account for their feature film project. Teams will connect those accounts to their CineCoup “Project Page”. During the “Social Selection Funnel” and the “Finalist Phase”, every team is expected to maximize the potential of those networks by promoting and building audience support for their project.
• In addition, CineCoup encourages teams to link and leverage other social channels (i.e. Tumblr, Instagram, IMDB, etc) to their “Project Page” to drive further audience discovery and engagement.
• Finally, there are your real-life social networks. We expect teams to bootstrap support for their projects through friends, family and the communities they live in. If you stage an event in your community we will want to know about it. If you get coverage on your local radio station we want hear about it.

What is the “Social Selection Funnel”

After the filmmaker application deadline, the CineCoup platform launches to the public and the “Social Selection Funnel” runs 8 weeks from Thursday, February 28 through Sunday, April 28. It's designed to engage audiences and identify the strongest talent and ideas by combining:

• A series of weekly filmmaking and marketing missions designed to develop, package and market the projects
• Social voting windows and advancement gateways into the “Top 60”, “Top 40”, “Top 15”
• Script submissions that are required to be eligible for the Top 15 due Sunday, April 21.

What are missions?

Throughout the Social Selection Funnel and Finalist Slate, teams will participate in weekly filmmaking and marketing missions.

• Filmmaking Missions are short video assignments designed to package and market your project while showcasing your filmmaking skills and creativity. Teams will have a maximum of six days to complete each mission from the time they are announced.
• Marketing Missions are designed to help teams promote their projects and build audiences on CineCoup, across their social networks and in their communities on an ongoing basis.

What happens if my mission videos don't upload before the deadline?

It is ultimately the filmmakers' responsibility to allow reasonable time and contingency for uploads. If a team waits until the last possible minute to submit their mission-related video and there are uploading issues (on the client or server-side) their content will NOT be published.

What is social voting?

• Social voting is an indicator of your audience support and it contributes to your advancement through the accelerator.
• There are three voting periods during the Social Selection Funnel when fans cast online votes to help determine the Top 60, Top 40 and Top 15.
• There is one social vote in the Final Phase to help determine the Top 5.

How do projects advance into the Top 60, Top 40 and Top 15? What are the criteria?

Teams will advance based on the strength of their project package, their marketing efforts and their audience engagement and support.

• Specifically, teams with the highest combined performance indicators on filmmaking missions, social marketing missions and voting results will advance through the funnel.
• To prevent attempts at gaming the process, CineCoup is unable to publish specific data, algorithms and weight allocations for any given criteria.
• While audience support is a key element to success, CineCoup is not a popularity contest. Our performance analytics are designed to reward qualitative engagement over quantitative values by measuring factors such as sentiment, trends, reach and retention achieved across the social web.

What are wildcards? How do they work?

At advancement gateways for the Top 60, Top 40 and Top 15, CineCoup reserves the right to advance a specified number of projects at its sole discretion, regardless of a project's performance indicators and social voting results. These projects are considered “wildcards”.

CineCoup's wildcard allotments are as follows:

• The Top 60 is made up of the Top 50 projects (as determined by performance indicators + social votes) + up to 10 wildcard projects (at CineCoup's discretion).
• The Top 40 is made up of the Top 30 projects (as determined by performance indicators + social votes) + up to 10 wildcard projects (at CineCoup's discretion).
• The Top 15 is made up of the Top 10 (as determined by performance indicators + social votes) + up to 5 wildcard projects (at CineCoup's discretion).


• If CineCoup elects not to use all or any portion of its wildcard allotments, the positions are determined by a project's ranking (performance indicators + social votes) relative to other projects.
• If a project misses the advancement cut at the Top 60, the team has the option to continue participating in weekly missions to build their project package and fan base. Fans cannot vote on these projects during the Top 40 voting period, but the projects are eligible for wildcard advancement at CineCoup's sole discretion. CineCoup reviews their performance indicators and evaluates their mission content independently to decide if they should advance to the Top 40. If a project advances as a wildcard into the Top 40, fans will be able to vote for them again in the Top 15 voting round.
• If a project misses the Top 40 cut, the team has the option to continue participating in weekly missions to build their project package and fan base. Fans cannot vote on these projects during the Top 15 voting period, but the projects are eligible for wildcard advancement at CineCoup's sole discretion. CineCoup reviews their performance indicators and evaluates their mission content independently to decide if they should advance to the Top 15.

When do you want to see our script?

• Teams that advance into the Top 40 will be required to submit a first draft of their script to CineCoup. The script will not be published in any form, but will be used internally by the CineCoup jury to evaluate the project's overall quality, originality and viability in terms of budget and schedule constraints.
• If your project is selected as the Top Project, the production schedule allocates four weeks to intensive script development with mentors.
• Scripts are due Sunday, April 21.

What is the “Finalist Slate”?

The “Finalist Slate” runs from the announcement of the Top 15 to the Top Project. It combines:

• Legal negotiation of an Option Agreement
• Evaluation to select the Top 10
• Top 10 crowdfunding campaigns
• Weekly missions
• Social voting window and evaluation to select the Top 5
• Finalist panel where an industry jury will evaluate the Top 5 Projects and select one for financing

How do projects advance from Top 15 to Top 10?

CineCoup will evaluate the Top 15 projects and select the Top 10 based on the following criteria:

• Overall performance during the Social Selection Funnel including filmmaking missions, marketing missions and social voting results.
• First draft of project script (submitted during the Top 40 phase) and it's overall quality, originality and viability to be produced within the prescribed production budget and scheduling constraints.

How are the Top 10 projects optioned?

• Teams will have an opportunity to choose and consult with legal counsel that will negotiate the Option Agreement with CineCoup on behalf of all Top 10 teams before executing.
• The Option Agreement will be based on a renewable 1-year option for their script for which CineCoup will pay the team $2500 (CDN).

Tell us more about the crowdfunding campaigns...

• During the finalist phase, crowdfunding campaigns will be measured for quality of audience engagement along with ability of teams to achieve their financing goals. To clarify, many smaller donations from across a teams' aggregated fanbase is better than a few big donations from a team's immediate network.
• Once the Top 15 projects are announced, each team will be required to design a crowdfunding campaign to supplement their projected $1 million budget.
• Only the Top 10 teams selected will be required to deploy and run their campaigns over a four week period on CineCoup's IndieGogo page. This is optional for the other five teams.
• If a team is selected as the Top Project, all crowdfunding monies raised will be applied ON TOP of the CineCoup financing budget awarded to the Top Project.
• If CineCoup exercises its option under an Option Agreement to produce any of the other Top 9 projects, the crowdfunding monies raised for that Project will contribute to financing that project's budget.
• Team projects that are not optioned by CineCoup can pursue crowdfunding strategies after the Top 5 are announced.

What is the Marketing Pitch?

• If your project advances into the Top 10, you will be required to submit an original marketing pitch video.
• The Marketing Pitch is an original, strategic idea your team proposes to deploy to help market its feature film should it be selected as the Top Project. Each Top 50 Team will submit a Marketing Pitch (maximum 2-minutes) that outlines their marketing strategy. Teams are encouraged to be creative and resourceful in developing their strategy which could be based on a social media campaign, transmedia campaign or “stunt”, viable merchandising or creative affiliate marketing program.
• Further details and the deadline will be published before the Top 15 voting period.

How do projects advance from Top 10 to Top 5?

A final social voting period will determine three of the Top 5 Projects
An evaluation by CineCoup and its designated representatives will determine two of the Top 5 Projects based on the following criteria:

• Combined performance indicators and voting results throughout the Social Selection Funnel Period and Finalist Slate Period
• Success of crowdfunding campaign as a measure of the quality of audience engagement, not necessarily total value of raised contributions
• Draft of project script

What is the evaluation criteria through which the Top Project selected?

The Top 5 will be flown to a finalist event at the Banff World Media Festival where the teams will pitch themselves and their project to a select Jury for review and deliberation. The jury will consider all of the following in their evaluation and decision-making:

• Strength of the team presentation and interview at the jury.
• Overall performance during the Social Selection Funnel and Finalist Slate including filmmaking missions, marketing missions and social voting results.
• First draft of project script (submitted to CineCoup during the Top 40 phase) and it's viability to be produced within CineCoup's production budget and scheduling constraints.
• Marketing pitch (submitted to CineCoup during the Top 10 phase) based on it's originality, innovation and viability to execute within budget and production schedule.
• Crowdfunding campaigns as a measure of the quality of audience engagement, not total value

Who is on the Top 5 Jury Selection Panel?

• The CineCoup jury will be announced in advance of the Top 15
• The jury will be made up of esteemed recognized professionals from both the business and creative sides of the Canadian film community.
• One CineCoup Superfan will act as advisors to the jury.

Can we shoot anywhere in Canada?

Yes, any provincial jurisdiction that has an established and recognized film infrastructure. If your team happens to be situated in a region of Canada that lacks the traditional resources needed to execute your feature film in a timely professional manner, your team will need to demonstrate a well-conceived plan to deliver on-time, on-budget and at a production level that meets CineCoup's quality expectations.