Lionsgate has partnered with online film production network Massify to form the Lionsgate Incubator Project, or LINC. The goal of the partnership, announced Tuesday, is to tap into the pool of online creative talent to develop original film projects.
The deal enables Lionsgate to work with Massify’s talent pool to develop original film ideas, with the ultimate goal of parlaying them into feature films using Lionsgate’s development and production resources.
Massify, launched in 2008 and based in New York City, enables film professionals to develop projects, promote themselves and connect with each other.
The partnership’s first project, launching later this year, is expected to produce a high-concept, male-driven comedy short that Lionsgate then will develop into a feature film. The short will be based on a user-generated script, and a director, cast and crew will be attached through Massify’s online network, with Lionsgate’s feature film development team providing input throughout the process.
"Just as we are always looking for ways to monetize our content in a broadband environment, we are equally committed to using new media platforms as a source of new content," Curt Marvis, Lionsgate‘s president of digital, said in a statement. "Massify’s large and talented community of filmmakers make them an ideal partner to bolster our online initiatives."
"We’re thrilled to be working with Lionsgate, which has already established itself as the leading next-generation studio and an innovator in finding new ways to deliver content to its consumers in a digital world," said Massify CEO Geoff Pitfield. "We have great expectations for the partnership between the cutting-edge voices of our users and Lionsgate’s bold vision, feature film expertise and development, production and marketing prowess."
