Creative America is now CreativeFuture, and independent film veteran Ruth Vitale has been named the rebranded coalition’s executive director.
The retooled venture promotes the value of creativity in the digital age, but also fights the thievery that naturally comes along with certain technological advancements.
“CreativeFuture’s mission is to educate and mobilize the creative community to speak up about the value of creativity in the digital age,” Vitale said in a statement. “Digital technologies present extraordinary opportunities for artists and audiences alike. Our industry embraces these technological advances – leading to innovations in storytelling that were once unimaginable and to expanded online access on a broad array of new, legal platforms, offering audiences content when, where, and how they want it.”
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“For too long, too many of us have been silent about the harm caused by commercial piracy – for lack of awareness or reluctance to get involved,” she continued. “We’re not talking about a couple of kids in a basement — that’s a common misconception. In fact, nearly every pirate website operates to make a profit, and many of them make millions of dollars a year from others’ stolen creative works.”
More than 65 film and television companies, independent production and financing companies, unions, guilds, talent agencies, etc. form CreativeFuture’s coalition.
These include: 21st Century Fox; Alcon Entertainment, American Film Institute, Anchor Bay, Bona Fide Productions, Brainstorm Media, Bruce Cohen Productions, CBS Corporation, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), Dada Films, DG Entertainment, Di Novi Pictures, Directors Guild of America, Disruption Entertainment, DreamWorks Studios, Endgame Entertainment, Equitable Stewardship for Artists, Escape Artists, Evolution Entertainment, Flashpoint Entertainment, Fredell Pogodin & Associates, Glaser Weil LLP, Gold Circle, Gran Via Productions, IATSE International, ICM Partners, Independent Film & Television Alliance, Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP), Killer Films, Laurence Mark Productions, Leonard Hill Films, Lionsgate, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, The Los Angeles Coalition for the Economy & Jobs and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation.
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As well as: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Millennium Films, MRC, National Association of Theatre Owners, NBCUniversal, New Regency Productions, OddLot Entertainment, Open Road Films, Original Film, Tom Ortenberg, Palomar Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Pariah, Resolution, Rhino Films, Ruby Film and Television, SAG-AFTRA, Screen Engine, Michael Shamberg, Shout! Factory, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, Slamdance, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Story Mining & Supply Co., UTA, Valhalla Entertainment, Viacom, Virgin Produced, The Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros. Entertainment, The Weinstein Company, WME, and Ziffren Brittenham LLP.
Vitale was the founder and co-president of Paramount Classics, and most recently the president of Fine Line Features. She also served as president of UBU Productions’ feature film division from 1988 to 1991.