✎ Written by AZA 21M: sharp mind with a creative soul, living a nomadic lifestyle for many years now, member of the BFF team.
Whether you’re a complete cinephile, a casual viewer, or someone who barely cares about movies, you’ve surely heard of the biggest players in the industry, at least when it comes to streaming services. Just to put a few – think of how often you see their logos or hear names like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+… And let’s not forget YouTube, which, although not specifically a movie platform, has been dominating the media services space, including video streaming, for years.
What do all these have in common? From my “freedom-fighter” perspective, or more specifically, a Bitcoiner’s view, the common thread is that none of them take Bitcoin’s potential seriously, especially in Layer 2 (i.e., the Lightning Network). They also don’t seem to share my values—see the ‘freedom fighter’ mentioned above.
I won’t dive into the nuts and bolts of issues like censorship, exploitative algorithms, or the way these platforms monetize user data while undercompensating creators. Suffice it to say, these platforms drain both audiences and creators, by wielding their monopolistic power to suppress alternatives.
Let’s shift the focus to something different—a platform that breaks free from the monopolistic model: the IndeeHub Studio.
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That’s the first thing you’ll see when you visit the platform.
Join the cinematic (r)evolution. IndeeHub is a cinema-centric streaming platform that has re-imagined the relationship between artists and audience members.
Sounds interesting, right? But what does it really mean, and why do I believe it’s the polar opposite of the monopolies mentioned at the beginning of this article?
In a nutshell, not only does it open up space for independent filmmakers, which gives them creative freedom, but also actively rewards their work through its business model.
IndeeHub gives independent filmmakers the creative freedom to thrive while rewarding them through a ‘pay-for-performance model’. Every time you watch something, streaming transactions are triggered, paying creators directly for their content—no views, no payment. Simple.
What’s in it for you, the viewer?
Quite a lot, even though IndeeHub is still in its early stages. The platform already offers a wide variety of content: short films, feature-length movies, episodic formats, and music videos.
🎞️ Here are just a few titles that stood out for me:
- STRANDED: The award-winning mini documentary from Alana Mediavilla; a DIRTY COIN short (2024).
- SEARCHING FOR SATOSHI: The award-winning documentary from Paul Kemp (2024).
- PROJECT, PROJECT: Comedy, experimental short from Michael Oshins. Sure a 7-minite film you won’t forget (2024).
- GODS OF THEIR OWN RELIGION: Genre-breaking movie by Naeem Mahmood that will make you think… from human nature to the future you might not want to live in (2023).
- FEAR ME: A hypnotizing song + a music video (2024).
Why to give it a try?
Probably I could write a whole article just on these reasons alone yet let me put just the key points:
- If you join the platform you can actively support creators whose work you enjoy, which helps them produce more. “Join the (r)evolution” – remember their entry phrase? Yes! By using IndeeHub, even just occasionally, you really get a chance to help shape the future of the streaming industry.
- This platform is Bitcoin-friendly! Not just because its founder is a Bitcoiner, but also because those triggered transactions happen in sats.
- From what I know, as part of its focus on fan-creator relationships, IndeeHub will introduce some cool features to help build and strengthen these connections over time.
- There’ll also be unique bounties (however ‘fiat’ it sounds, they definitely won’t be just gimmicks).
- Last but not east, the main reason people love streaming platforms—to watch good content whenever and wherever you want.
What can you expect when you sign up for IndeeHub?
Jot this down: You don’t have to pay anything just to browse the content once you create your account. However, if you find something you like, you can either chose the subscription model to get access to available content or make a one-time payment and to watch exactly the thing you want using ‘screening room.’
I have to add that the platform is still in beta. But that doesn’t mean you can’t use it—quite the opposite! While not all features are active yet, their plans are ambitious, with a low-time-preference approach typical of Bitcoiners—it’s already good enough to enjoy!
What’s my role here?
I’m sharing all of this because I know how much effort goes into creating video content. Seeing how the current industry only makes it harder hurts. I also know many of you, just like me, are fed up with the shallow, selected narrative-driven content on the big platforms but aren’t yet aware of alternatives like the IndeeHub Studio.
To wrap it up, let me leave you with a quote from Zack, the creator of this platform:
The revolution is in payments, but the evolution is in the business of filmmaking. (…) We hope that audience members appreciate the value of their time, and that filmmakers are rewarded for the effort you spend watching their work. This exchange of value is unique and fundamental to the experience.
Please tell me know what you think, especially if you get a chance to check out IndeeHub from inside, i.e. after you’ve set up your account.
Cheers!
Sela
If you enjoyed this piece, send me some sats. No amount is small: aza21m@getalby.com
