The Quiet Maid: An NFT-Funded Movie
The European film “The Quiet Maid,” funded through NFT collection sales, will have its world premiere at the annual Black Nights Film Festival in Tallinn on November 3.
With the rise of decentralized finance, independent ventures now have a unique avenue to raise funds from a dedicated community. Capturing this trend, writer and director Miguel Faus harnessed the potential of NFTs to finance his cinematic vision, “The Quiet Maid” or “Calladita,” by launching an exclusive NFT collection.
After facing numerous funding rejections from film studios, despite the positive reception of his prior short film “Calladita”, Miguel Faus took an innovative route. He transformed scenes from the short film into a collection of NFTs. This creative venture attracted over 500 users, amassing nearly $800,000.
With the funding secured, Faus began production on a feature-length film. The story centers around Ana, a Colombian maid serving a wealthy family in an opulent mansion without a formal contract. A pivotal chat with another maid inspires Ana to envision a different kind of summer for herself, resulting in her termination. But before exiting the opulent residence, Ana devises a plan to access the family head's cryptocurrency wallet.
The initial spark for this full-length project was Faus's earlier short film. Critics immediately recognized its potential for a more extended adaptation. Faus deftly addresses pressing issues like class disparity and societal injustice while avoiding clichés. Further elevating the film's appeal, he brought on celebrated Spanish actors such as Ariadna Gil and Luis Bermejo.
After completing the film and its initial screening, the team received an additional $100,000 in support from renowned director, screenwriter, and producer Steven Soderbergh. He chose to back this indie project with a grant via the nonprofit blockchain company, Decentralized Pictures. Beyond financial support, Soderbergh also offered the team invaluable guidance and recommendations.
While appreciative of the support, Miguel Faus emphasizes that viewers should judge the film on its merit, not the story of its creation. He had originally planned for a decentralized management system for the NFT collectors, with a perpetual allocation of 50% of the film's revenue to its stakeholders. However, due to tightening cryptocurrency regulations, it's uncertain if Faus can actualize this vision without potential conflicts with international regulatory bodies.
Further complicating matters, Faus recently sold the film's international distribution rights to FilmSharks, under conditions that might hinder the formation of a DAO, especially if the contract contains certain restrictions. Regrettably, in such scenarios, the lack of clear regulations can be disadvantageous for users, leaving those who hold Calladita NFTs in limbo.
