When it comes to the world of entertainment,
Ron Brown has got it covered. As an actor, he has appeared in
several films as well as various on and off-Broadway performances.
He has completed two feature-length screenplays, A Perfect
Fit and Splinters, and has won a slew of awards for
his film A Bedtime Story, which has shown at more than
30 festivals the world over. When he’s not conquering the
film industry in the real world, he’s helping to create one
of the Web’s most visited movie sites, FilmFilm.com. Here,
Ron talks with MovieMaker about the future of Internet
moviemaking and what FilmFilm.com has to offer both aspiring moviemakers
and fans of film.

Scott Essman (MM): You
are, first and foremost, a moviemaker. What made you decide to
take on the challenge of producing an Internet movie site like
FilmFilm.com?

Ron Brown (RB): Probably
because I had to do it all on my own, and I learned a lot while
I was doing it. I felt a desire to help others so that they could
benefit from what I had learned. Also, the Internet’s maturity
into something that could accomplish my vision happened at the
right time.

MM: There are a lot
of Websites out there right now that promise the world to aspiring
moviemakers. What does FilmFilm.com have to offer?

RB: I am attempting to
give undiscovered filmmakers a chance. For too long, talented
people were overlooked because they didn’t have a connection
to the Hollywood club. The Internet helps to level the playing
field so that, now more than ever, the cream will rise to the
top.

MM: What do you think
the web offers above traditional outlets, such as festivals, as
a place for young moviemakers to gain exposure?

RB: Simply, we have the
world as our audience. My short film had a very successful festival
life, playing at over 30 film festivals worldwide. If the average
audience was 150 people, that means the film was seen by 4,500
people in its entire festival run. I can tell you that that same
film has had single days where it was screened by more
than 4,500 people. It’s no contest.

MM: FilmFilm.com is
broken into two parts: the “make ’em” side and
the “watch ’em” side. What does FilmFilm.com offer
for those who are looking to make ’em?

RB: The “make ’em”
side has lots of opportunities for filmmakers. If you have a project
idea or a completed screenplay you can, in our “pitch to
the world” section, or our SpecScript Superstore, find a
producer to get your film off the ground. If you are in the beginning
stages of production, you can apply to become a FilmFilm.com hosted
production (which will be launching soon). Here, you have a fantastic
opportunity to create a complete website for your film. Unlike
other sites that offer a couple of pages, this is an in-depth
site that has great potential for promoting your film. The make
’em side can also help out in the production of your film
if you take advantage of the worldwide production guide and our
casting utilities.

MM: On the “watch
’em” side of things, how do you see your site developing
in terms of a user watching a film? Is it up to the user to get
the best equipment-DSL, large screen, sound card-to
view films on FilmFilm.com, or are there procedures on your side
to help deliver the best possible quality?

RB: Certainly the better
your connection, the better your experience. Right now, streaming
video for dial-up connections is shaky, at best, but the technology
is improving all the time. However, if you have a fast connection,
the world of video on the Internet opens up to you in a big way.
Most of our films are encoded so that broadband users can enjoy
excellent quality streams at just about full-screen size. FilmFilm.com
is currently beta testing a feature that will allow even low bandwidth
users to see our films at an extremely high, almost DVD quality.

MM: You are in the
process of launching a bunch of unique features such as casting
and crew calls. How do you think this will go over with your audience?

RB: I expect it to be
a big thing. Already, we have hundreds of productions that have
expressed an interest in being a part of this. They recognize
the power of the Internet for promotion, and want to take advantage
of FilmFilm.com’s unique offer.

MM: Do you believe
that there is a community of nascent moviemakers on the Internet
at this point in time? If so, do you think this community will
continue to grow?

RB: Yes, there is. And
as the cost to produce a high quality movie continues to drop,
more will want to see if they can do it. And that is a good thing.
The cream will rise to the top, and money will no longer be an
issue.

MM: What advice would
you give to independent moviemakers who are looking to maintain
their foothold of producing and distributing their material on
the Web?

RB: Don’t sell your
rights for next to nothing. You worked hard for what you have
produced, so don’t give it away.

MM: What can a young
moviemaker with a good finished project do to promote his or her
film on the Internet?

RB: Join us at FilmFilm.com,
and we’ll deliver their film to the world.

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