Tugg Inc. was a film-based collective action and crowdsourcing platform that enabled individuals to create film screenings at their local cinema.[1] Tugg ceased operations in January 2020.[2]

Tugg inc. Logo

Incorporated in 2011,[3] Tugg was officially launched in 2012 at SXSW by co-founders Nicolas Gonda and Pablo Gonzalez.[4] Headquartered in Austin, Texas, it offered services for promoters, filmmakers, and theaters.

Services

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Promoters

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Screening "hosts" selected a movie from Tugg's library of studio and independent films, chose from available theaters, dates, timeslots, and set other event details like ticket price; then, a set number of people needed to commit to attend before the event was actually on, in order to crowdsource the viewing.[5] Tugg provided promotional resources and tips, but the promoter was responsible for publicity.[6]

Tugg allowed filmmakers to show their films in movie theatres, allowing consumers to select the movies they wanted to see.[7] This distribution method, credited to Gonda, was "supposed to complement existing distribution methods".[5]

Tugg, Inc closed shortly after Distrubber. With these avenues gone, independent filmmakers must seek other way to get their films out to the world.[8]

Tugg EDU

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Tugg had a department focused on Educational and Non-Theatrical communities, TuggEDU. It sold screening licenses to "effectively monetize the non-theatrical interest in a film".[1]

In 2016 Tugg launched the film The Last Gold in partnership with USA Swimming,"[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b "About Us – Tugg Edu". eduhome.tugg.com. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
  2. ^ "Do-It-Yourself Releasing Platform Tugg Pulls the Plug". Variety. 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
  3. ^ "Tugg Inc.: Private Company Information – Bloomberg". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
  4. ^ "Our Story | Tugg". resources.tugg.com. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
  5. ^ a b Ha, Anthony (22 February 2012). "Tugg Lets Audiences Choose What's Playing In Theaters | TechCrunch". Retrieved 2017-07-28.
  6. ^ "10 Lessons Learned From My First Tugg Screening as Promoter". No Film School. 2013-04-07. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
  7. ^ Faughnder, Ryan (2016-10-27). "The studio behind 'The Hunger Games' wants to turn YouTube gurus into movie stars". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
  8. ^ "Is DIY Film Infrastructure on the Brink of Collapse?". No Film School. 2018-02-18. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  9. ^ "USA Swimming and Tugg To Showcase "The Last Gold" Film Screenings Nationwide – Swimming World News". Swimming World News. 2016-05-26. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
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