Gumroad Picks: Films
Film-specific features like subtitle support and streaming on any device make Gumroad a powerful tool for filmmakers. In addition to filmmakers using these features, here are some of the trends we’ve noticed:
- Pre-orders: Filmmakers Muris Media and Emily Diana Ruth offered their audience the opportunity to pre-order their films. Pre-orders of The Water’s Fine helped Emily Diana Ruth finish the production of her film and fund entry into film festivals. Muris Media is currently using a discount to incentivize pre-orders of their new film, Maker.
- Screeners: Viewers who want to host a screening of Design and Thinking or The Hooping Life can purchase the right to do so. Design and Thinking offers both educational and corporate screening products. The public screening version of The Hooping Life gives buyers the right to charge admission when screening the film.
- Bonus Content Bundles: Along with their film, the team behind The Hooping Life offers viewers merchandise and bonus content. Bundling items together can be a great way of reaching super-fans. For example, in the case of The Hooping Life, aspiring hula-hoopers can choose The Hooping Life Bundle Special, which includes a “How To Hoop” DVD and a collapsible hula hoop.
Now grab some popcorn, make yourself comfortable, and enjoy these five awesome films, all available on Gumroad.
Design and Thinking, produced by Muris Media, is a documentary that explores how people are changing the world with their own creative minds. The film explores the meaning and power of design thinking, as told by social change makers, businessmen, designers, and other influencers. Featured individuals include David Kelley, founder of Stanford d.school and IDEO, Zachary Rosen and Matthew Cheney, founders of Mission Bicycle Company, and Jennifer Pahlka, founder of Code for America.
The folks at Muris Media are about the release a second film, Maker, which looks at the new wave of “Do-It-Yourself” and “Do-It-Together” culture. Viewers who loved Design and Thinking can pre-order Maker on Gumroad today.
The Big Picture: Reframing Dyslexia
The Big Picture, directed by James Redford, is a documentary about the dyslexic experience. Through interviews with dyslexic children and their parents, iconic leaders with dyslexia, and medical experts, the film clears up common misconceptions about dyslexia, painting the condition as an obstacle that can be overcome.
Digital downloads of The Big Picture are sold through Gumroad. Viewers inspired by the The Big Picture can visit the film’s website to learn more about taking action and helping to reframe dyslexia.
Written and directed by Emily Diana Ruth, The Water’s Fine is a short film about a young woman’s return to the family cottage where she spent her childhood. After years of family estrangement, Josie expects a big family reunion at the cottage but instead gets a series of disappointments.
Production of The Water’s Fine was initially funded through an Indiegogo campaign, with pre-orders of the film sold on Gumroad after crowdfunding ended. While making the film, Emily built and engaged with her audience through a video blog series. All 14 episodes of The Making of the Water’s Fine can now be watched on YouTube.
Hula-hooping is back, according to The Hooping Life, a documentary about the rise of modern hula hooping subculture. Filmed over six years and introduced by Shaquille O’Neill, the film documents the early days of the hula hooping movement and how individuals are transformed through commitment to the hoop.
In addition to selling a DVD of the film on their website, The Hooping Life team offers premium content and merchandise for super-fans.
The Boy Who Flies, a documentary by Canadian paraglider Benjamin Jordan, tells the story of Benjamin’s trip to Malawi, where he meets Godfrey, a young man who has always dreamt of flying. Together, the two set off for Malawi’s highest peak to attempt a flight that will make Godfrey Malawi’s first paragliding pilot.
The Boy Who Flies was featured at numerous mountain and adventure film festivals, including the Banff Mountain Film Festival. Digital downloads of the film (in both English and French) are now sold via Gumroad. Today, Benjamin and Godfrey are channeling the success of The Boy Who Flies into raising funds to build The School of Dreams, Malawi’s first paragliding school.
Want help selling your film directly to your viewers? Email us and tell us more about what you’re working on. You can also check out Gumroad for Films to learn more about the features we’ve added specifically for filmmakers like you.
When compiling the Gumroad Picks lists, we look for creators who have had recent launches, lots of sales, or success using Gumroad in an exciting way. From there, we hand-pick creators whose work is especially innovative or creative. We hope to see you on this list in the future!