Type | Private |
---|---|
Industry | Film |
Founded | 2012 |
Founder | Philippe Caland |
Key people | Forest Whitaker (co-chair) |
JuntoBox Films was a Santa Monica-based independent film production company that focused on micro-budget films.[1] It featured a social media platform where creators could share ideas and collaborate to make their ideas into films, and where members could vote which screenplays would be financed by JuntoBox.[2][3] JuntoBox Films has been inactive since 2014/2015.
History
Philippe Caland founded JuntoBox in 2012 and officially launched it at that year's South by Southwest.[4][2] The partnership with Indiegogo, a crowdfunding website, started upon its foundation.[5] Actor Forest Whitaker was announced as co-chair in March 2012.[2] The company's name was taken from Junto, a mutual improvement club started by Benjamin Franklin in 1727.[2]
Structure
JuntoBox allowed actors, directors, producers, and writers to share ideas via a social media platform so they were able to collaborate with those without an agent or previous professional experience.[5][2][6] Site users then voted on which films they thought JuntoBox should support, both as a financer and as a mentor.[2][5] Those chosen still go through a vetting process, including traditional auditions for the chosen actors.[6] The first films green-lighted by JuntoBox were Passenger, Sacrifice (2014), Anthem, and Sharon 1.2.3. (originally Sharon is Caring).[5][4]
In 2013, JuntoBox partnered with the Slamdance Film Festival to increase the winnings of the festival's annual screenplay competition. Along with the usual $10,000 prize money, JuntoBox committed at least $50,000 towards production of the winning screenplay.[7]
In 2014, JuntoBox Films launched a three-month long workshop series called the Feature Film Incubator that sought to bring screenplays into the development phase.[8] This included "one-one-one meetings with industry professionals-including story analysts, casting directors and line producers."[9] Those selected to participate in the program "receive[d] budgeting and distribution consulting" and other financial and mentorship resources.[6][8] At least one of the films created during the Incubator was expected to be funded following the pitch session that marked the end of the program.[9][8][10]
Films
In total, JuntoBox has sponsored the following films:[10][6][5][11][12]
- Passenger - written/directed by Tony McGrath, produced by Alex Malt
- Sacrifice (2014) - written/directed by Michael Cohn, produced by Jeanine Rohn and Joseph Sememse
- American Anthem - originally Anthem; written by John Carr
- Sharon 1.2.3. (2018) - originally Sharon is Caring - written by Wesley Mills, directed by Mark Brown
- Repentance (2013) - written by Shintaro Shimosawa and Philippe Caland, directed by Philippe Caland
- The Driver - written by George Richards, directed by Alex Ardenti, produced by Philippe Caland
- Operator (2016) - co-written/directed by Logan Kibens
- Die Like a Man (expected 2022) - written/directed by Eric Nazarian, produced by Javier Chapa
- God Loves Stu - written/directed by Aldo Velasco, produced by David Allen Cress
- Letters from the President - written by Tony Tambi, directed by Michael D. Olmos
- The Locksmith - written by Blair Kroeber, produced by Ted Kroeber
- Mullet - written/directed by Rafael Del Toro
- White Mice - co-written/directed by Simon Arthur, produced by Katie Holly and Claire Mundell
- The Sweet Life (2016) - originally Good Humor; written by Jared Rappaport, directed by Rob Spera, produced by Bonnie Curtis and Julie Lynn
References
- ↑ "Forest Whitaker Discusses New Film Collaborative JuntoBox Films at SXSW (Video)". Shadow and Act. 2012-03-12. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Marc, Graser (2012-03-01). "Forest Whitaker to co-chair JuntoBox Films". Variety. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
- ↑ Robbins, Caryn (2014-11-17). "JuntoBox Films Casts Two Leads for Upcoming Feature Film THE DRIVER". Broadway World TV. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
- 1 2 Lange, Maggie (2012-03-14). "SXSW: Forest Whitaker's JuntoBox Project To Crowdsource New Films (Video)". IndieWire. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Hall, Gina (2012-11-05). "Indiegogo, JuntoBox Films aim to crowdfund indie films". LA Business First. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
- 1 2 3 4 Miller, Sean (2019-11-04). "No Representation? No Problem With JuntoBox Films!". Backstage. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
- ↑ "Slamdance, JuntoBox partner for screenplay competition". Variety. 2013-01-18. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
- 1 2 3 Miller, Sean (2019-06-06). "Forest Whitaker's JuntoBox Films Accepting Submissions". Backstage. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
- 1 2 Sollosi, Mary (2014-06-23). "Attention Filmmakers! Apply Now to JuntoBox Film Incubator Program". Film Independent. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
- 1 2 Kay, Jeremy (2014-09-03). "JuntoBox names Incubator participants". Screen Daily. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
- ↑ Simon, Brent (2014-03-03). "Repentance". Paste Magazine. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
- ↑ "JUNTOBOX FILMS NAMES SELECTIONS FOR FEATURE FILM INCUBATOR". Creators Faire. 2014-09-04. Retrieved 2022-07-04.