The Paley Center for Media, formerly known as "The Museum of Television and Radio", and "SnagFilms", recently announced a first of its kind collaboration between a leading cultural media institution and an Internet start-up to help documentary producers break down the barriers to reach fresh audiences for their films. Through a shared passion for expanding access to documentaries, the Paley Center, an important convener of documentary film community, and SnagFilms, a groundbreaking Internet documentary distribution platform, are working together to help filmmakers discover alternative opportunities for getting their creative works in front of an expanded audience around the world, while in the process, helping them generate new financial resources.

CEO of SnagFilms, Rick Allen, is dedicated to the cutting edge of bridging the divide between filmmakers and fans worldwide who have an appetite for high quality documentaries but have very limited access through theaters and television. SnagFilms finds films that people want to see rather than the films the industry wants the viewer to see. He answered the following questions:
Q: Tell us about the Alliance between "The Paley Center For Media" and "SnagFilms".
A: "SnagFilms was set up almost a year ago as a way of connecting filmmakers and enthusiasts discover alternative opportunities for getting their creative works seen. Traditional distribution strategies are drying up, and we looked to online as best distribution platform to allow people to see great films for free. There is no registration, no fee, it is an ad supported model." www.snagfilms.com
Sharon Abella reports

Q: How many films in the library?
A: "Currently there are 450 films in the library, which is very easy to search, and there will be 700 films by the end of the year."
Q: Do you think the Wall Street Crunch will affect film production and distribution?
A: "The crunch will affect American society in general. It is harder and harder to get financing. You will see what is called Filmanthropy on our site, which is that everyone of our films is connected and directly linked to a charity. We made the site easy and free of charge."
Q: What are some of the features?
A: "Films from The Hamptons Film Festival, "Haze", "End of America", and "Inside the Bubble", "Snag the Vote", PBS and National Geographic shows.
Q: Is the site accessible worldwide?
A: "Currently it may only be viewed in the US, however, by the early part of next year, it should be viewed abroad as well, with many foreign films added to the library."


Sharon Abella