We Are Colony launches crowdfunding campaign
David Farnor | On 12, Feb 2016
Netflix’s share prices have rocketed in the years since it began as a DVD rental company. Now, though, a new streaming platform is stepping up its own unique challenge to the VOD crown: We Are Colony.
The pay-per-view site, which provides films for rent and purchase, offers something different to fans by focusing on behind-the-scenes content to accompany its titles.
The venture-backed global site aims to revive the lost experience of the DVD special edition by providing a destination for the film extras that giants such as Amazon and Netflix have all but forgotten. When We Are Colony users buy or rent feature and short films they also gain access to rare behind-the-scenes material including making-of documentaries, cast and crew interviews, bloopers, deleted scenes and audio commentary. They can also view exclusive galleries of images, storyboards, biographies and original scripts.
Oscar-nominated and BAFTA award-winning filmmaker Sarah Tierney, now founder and CEO of We Are Colony, says: “Online streaming is an exciting, rapidly-evolving sector but, as a consumer, the experience has not moved on. We are building a global destination for engaged audiences, and know that film fans want earlier, deeper, behind-the-scenes access to titles and talent that they love. We’ve seen tremendous growth and appetite for the platform since we launched the beta last February. Now we want to focus on more exclusive deals and building relationships with the major studios, to help expand the catalogue.”
So far, the unique offering has proved popular with consumers, filmmakers and investors alike. The company has attracted £1.4m funding to date, including backing from one of Europe’s leading early stage investors, Seedcamp, and funds including Firestartr and Archer Gray. Its ever-expanding VOD collection already draws customers from 115 countries worldwide.
“We Are Colony is a breath of fresh air for filmmakers, as a platform to connect directly with your audience. They were essential in getting The Muse made and I look forward to more collaborations as they grow,” comments Oscar-winning filmmaker Mia Bays, producer of Six Shooter, The Muse and Backstreet Boys: Show ‘Em What You’re Made Of.
Now, the indie start-up is inviting fans and investors to join its equity crowdfunding campaign on Seedrs.
“We’re inviting our user base, our networks, film fans and everyday investors the opportunity to become part of our journey through this equity crowdfunding campaign, and invest alongside venture capitalists and established funds like Archer Gray, Firestartr and Seedcamp,” she adds.
“We hope to raise at least £500,000 to accelerate us to the next stage of growth.”
The new capital will help We Are Colony build out its product offering: it currently has more than 60 titles on the site, including award-winning independent films and shorts starring Oscar-nominees Benedict Cumberbatch, Felicity Jones and Tom Hardy. It plans to acquire 100 new titles in 2016 and is working with more than 40 licensors, including BBC Films, Picturehouse Entertainment, Alchemy and Film4, to deliver a global reach of unique, premium content.
“VOD is an incredibly important market for independent filmmakers. It’s the one area we can (almost) compete with the Big Boys,” says Jon Drever, award-winning director and producer of SuperBob, as well as a co-founder of Grain Media (Oscar-nominated Virunga). “I’m sure We Are Colony will continue to grow as a business and, as a filmmaker I can vouch for their positive support and genuine love for the projects they take on.”
To find out more and support the campaign, visit www.seedrs.com/wearecolony