JuntoBox Films

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JuntoBox Films
Company typePrivate
IndustryFilm
Founded2012
FounderPhilippe Caland
Key people
Forest Whitaker (co-chair)

JuntoBox Films was a Santa Monica-based independent film production company that focused on micro-budget films.[1] It featured a social media platform where creators could share ideas and collaborate to make their ideas into films, and where members could vote which screenplays would be financed by JuntoBox.[2][3] JuntoBox Films has been inactive since 2014/2015.

History[edit]

Philippe Caland founded JuntoBox in 2012 and officially launched it at that year's South by Southwest.[4][2] The partnership with Indiegogo, a crowdfunding website, started upon its foundation.[5] Actor Forest Whitaker was announced as co-chair in March 2012.[2] The company's name was taken from Junto, a mutual improvement club started by Benjamin Franklin in 1727.[2]

Structure[edit]

JuntoBox allowed actors, directors, producers, and writers to share ideas via a social media platform so they were able to collaborate with those without an agent or previous professional experience.[5][2][6] Site users then voted on which films they thought JuntoBox should support, both as a financer and as a mentor.[2][5] Those chosen still go through a vetting process, including traditional auditions for the chosen actors.[6] The first films green-lighted by JuntoBox were Passenger, Sacrifice (2014), Anthem, and Sharon 1.2.3. (originally Sharon is Caring).[5][4]

In 2013, JuntoBox partnered with the Slamdance Film Festival to increase the winnings of the festival's annual screenplay competition. Along with the usual $10,000 prize money, JuntoBox committed at least $50,000 towards production of the winning screenplay.[7]

In 2014, JuntoBox Films launched a three-month long workshop series called the Feature Film Incubator that sought to bring screenplays into the development phase.[8] This included "one-one-one meetings with industry professionals-including story analysts, casting directors and line producers."[9] Those selected to participate in the program "receive[d] budgeting and distribution consulting" and other financial and mentorship resources.[6][8] At least one of the films created during the Incubator was expected to be funded following the pitch session that marked the end of the program.[9][8][10]

Films[edit]

In total, JuntoBox has sponsored the following films:[10][6][5][11][12]

  • Passenger - written/directed by Tony McGrath, produced by Alex Malt
  • Sacrifice (2014) - written/directed by Michael Cohn, produced by Jeanine Rohn and Joseph Sememse
  • American Anthem - originally Anthem; written by John Carr
  • Sharon 1.2.3. (2018) - originally Sharon is Caring - written by Wesley Mills, directed by Mark Brown
  • Repentance (2013) - written by Shintaro Shimosawa and Philippe Caland, directed by Philippe Caland
  • The Driver - written by George Richards, directed by Alex Ardenti, produced by Philippe Caland
  • Operator (2016) - co-written/directed by Logan Kibens
  • Die Like a Man (expected 2022) - written/directed by Eric Nazarian, produced by Javier Chapa
  • God Loves Stu - written/directed by Aldo Velasco, produced by David Allen Cress
  • Letters from the President - written by Tony Tambi, directed by Michael D. Olmos
  • The Locksmith - written by Blair Kroeber, produced by Ted Kroeber
  • Mullet - written/directed by Rafael Del Toro
  • White Mice - co-written/directed by Simon Arthur, produced by Katie Holly and Claire Mundell
  • The Sweet Life (2016) - originally Good Humor; written by Jared Rappaport, directed by Rob Spera, produced by Bonnie Curtis and Julie Lynn

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Forest Whitaker Discusses New Film Collaborative JuntoBox Films at SXSW (Video)". Shadow and Act. 2012-03-12. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Marc, Graser (2012-03-01). "Forest Whitaker to co-chair JuntoBox Films". Variety. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
  3. ^ Robbins, Caryn (2014-11-17). "JuntoBox Films Casts Two Leads for Upcoming Feature Film THE DRIVER". Broadway World TV. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  4. ^ a b Lange, Maggie (2012-03-14). "SXSW: Forest Whitaker's JuntoBox Project To Crowdsource New Films (Video)". IndieWire. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
  5. ^ a b c d e Hall, Gina (2012-11-05). "Indiegogo, JuntoBox Films aim to crowdfund indie films". LA Business First. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  6. ^ a b c d Miller, Sean (2019-11-04). "No Representation? No Problem With JuntoBox Films!". Backstage. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  7. ^ "Slamdance, JuntoBox partner for screenplay competition". Variety. 2013-01-18. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  8. ^ a b c Miller, Sean (2019-06-06). "Forest Whitaker's JuntoBox Films Accepting Submissions". Backstage. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  9. ^ a b Sollosi, Mary (2014-06-23). "Attention Filmmakers! Apply Now to JuntoBox Film Incubator Program". Film Independent. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  10. ^ a b Kay, Jeremy (2014-09-03). "JuntoBox names Incubator participants". Screen Daily. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  11. ^ Simon, Brent (2014-03-03). "Repentance". Paste Magazine. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  12. ^ "JUNTOBOX FILMS NAMES SELECTIONS FOR FEATURE FILM INCUBATOR". Creators Faire. 2014-09-04. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
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