Participatory Culture

I love being alive at a moment in filmmaking when private persons (previously known as "the audience" or "the public") no longer act as consumers only. With a DSLR camera and an Internet connection, your expression can be shared and appreciated - you don't need anyone's permission to be a contributor or an artist.

And filmmaking isn't the only artform that is expanding thanks to participatory culture.

The dream of stepping into the spotlight and thereby moving and connecting with strangers, recently became tears-staining-your-cheek real for amateur musician Rayna Ford. As described by Bob Boilen for NPR: "During a show in Toronto on May 7, 2011, Rayna Ford, a fan from Newfoundland, called out for [Paul] Simon to play "Duncan," and said something to the effect that she learned to play guitar on the song. In a moment of astonishment and disbelief, Paul Simon invited her on stage, handed her a guitar and asked her to play it for the crowd."

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Randy Finch's Film Blog:

Thoughts from a film producer about making and distributing films.