You can now embed "The Cat Came Back" into your blog or social profile. Today the National Film Board of Canada launched a new online streaming video service worthy of an ovation. 700 titles from their incredible collection of Canadian films are now available, online, for free at
NFB.ca. For the first time you can now share your favorite NFB shorts quickly across the internet, using both links and embed codes across blogs and social networking profiles. "Blackfly", "The Log Driver's Waltz", "Neighbours" they're all there in a format that matches YouTube or Vimeo, in fact better because the NFB includes companion clips that feature artistic commentaries, biographies, and curator's comments. Clearly, the NFB understands that the power of such technology is to get work of this nature seen and they have mastered the way to do so. Yes, the films are still for purchase, in fact icons are included within the online player software for you to order them on DVD, and soon there will be the option to also purchase the films through download, but the most important goal for an organization who supports the production of bold, original, Canadian (and so unknown) films is to introduce them to general audiences. People who know and love films will buy them, but unless you're distributing "Spider-Man 4" it's hard to achieve that first step.
The NFB's Online Screening Room will change that. In addition to this first wave of 700 films, representing work from all regions of Canada and going back to 1928, there will 100 more titles added in the near future plus an additional ten each new month going forward. The site also includes trailers for upcoming NFB releases and cross-references all works based on keyword links and user recommendations.
The most important advancement here are the embed codes. I can tell you about a great NFB film. I can even send you the link, but unless I stick it under your nose with a play button attached to it, most people won't bother to track it down. It's more important that people see these films than it is for some antiquated sense of artistic compensation or copyright be respected. When I discuss these issues with young animators and film makers I point them towards the advice written by animator Trey Parker of South Park fame who in the book "Make Your Own Damn Movie" by Lloyd Kaufman relates how he and his partner Matt Stone learned one of the most important lessons in their careers when their first film "Cannibal: The Musical" was picked up for distribution. They made no money on the deal and were told so up front. What they were promised was that the movie would make it into rental stores, where it would take years to turn a profit if lucky, but would at least get seen. Isn't why Matt and Trey made the movie in the first place? Yes, the sudden realization hit them, it was and although they made no money, it was seen, it was sent to rental stores, and that first foothold helped them gain awareness in the industry to later create South Park.
Keep Your Mouth Shut, by animation pioneer Norman McLaren warns Canadians against wartime gossip
Most of the NFB's films and artists are like Cannibal: The Musical, well, in status if not content, and so have the same needs in that they simply need to be seen. The National Film Board's new Online Screening Room removes all the obstacles that could block that goal.
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