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Netflix picks up an Oscar nomination for “The Square”, a documentary

65 points by 0cool 13y ago

smackfu 13y ago
Documentaries are a smart direction for Netflix. They can actually afford to license the best ones for streaming. Of the five Oscar nominated documetaries that were announced today, three are already streaming on Netflix and the one Netflix produced comes out tomorrow. Given that the actual movie studio distribution of these movies must be minuscule, it makes a lot of sense for Netflix to just buy them directly.
- hkmurakami 13y ago
  I've seen a trend lately of my friends increasingly referring to "this documentary XYZ that I saw on Netflix". It seems to be a great way to build mindshare in a segment that isn't as interested in mainstream TV shows (somewhat akin to their approach of producing critically acclaimed TV Dramas)
  - supersystem 13y ago
    As far as I know they don't actually produce shows, which might even have something to do why they are critically acclaimed. "The money went not only to the talent involved but to the look and feel of the show which is much more cinematic than most things you’ll watch on TV. That’s because MRC, the production company behind House of Cards, insisted that Fincher and his crew be given final cut — something that is virtually unheard of in the world of TV where everything is produced by committee." http://www.forbes.com/sites/dorothypomerantz/2013/07/18/the-producer-behind-house-of-cards-on-how-netflix-offered-creative-freedom/ http://www.forbes.com/sites/dorothypomerantz/2013/07/18/the-...
  - prawks 13y ago
    It's neat because the barrier to entry to Netflix is so minimal. Previously, when someone said "I saw this documentary XYZ", you basically had to say "Oh that's neat, wish I could watch it..." Even outside Netflix really, documentary and lower-budget films are much, much more accessible, which is a great thing.
deleted 13y ago
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- datr 13y ago
  I wonder what the employee perks are like at Netflix? Any chance of getting an invite to the awards ceremony? Was there the opportunity to meet Kevin Spacey when they were filming House of Cards? I'd find stuff like that to be a huge selling point if so!
  - psaintla 13y ago
    Kevin Spacey is a notoriously private person because he feels that it makes his acting more believable. The chance of him agreeing to meet employees at Netflix is pretty low but it would kind of cool.
kyro 13y ago
Rightly deserved. It's an incredible documentary and I suggest everyone watch it when it's released. I hope Netflix continues in this direction. It seems to be a great platform for documentaries to reach mass consumption, like we saw with Blackfish.
- supersystem 13y ago
  This might actually hinder 'mass consumption' in Europe if Netflix decides it doesn't want to license broadcasting rights to public broadcasting, which often have their own online services. I think we should be at least somewhat skeptical of the rights-holder also controlling distribution channels.
  - netrus 13y ago
    Fun fact: If you have a private German TV broadcast license, you are required to give a certain amount of airtime to independent companies. And you are required to air news-segments - the quality may vary :)
- altrego99 13y ago
  Have you already seen it? If so, how?
  - kyro 13y ago
    I was fortunate enough to catch a viewing in New York. It was shown at a handful of theaters nationwide, for only a week in each city.
brenschluss 13y ago
To be clear - The Square wasn't created by Netflix. The Square is an independent documentary started a few years ago, boosted with a successful Kickstarter (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/noujaimfilms/the-square-a-film-about-the-egyptian-revolution http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/noujaimfilms/the-square-...) last year, and finally picked up by Netflix. That said, much credit goes to Netflix for recognizing and promoting independent documentaries.
socrates1998 13y ago
Why can't I get this documentary on my Netflix?
- bredman 13y ago
  It came out in theaters first, they acquired the rights to it after it had been released there. The best I can find about availability on Netflix is "early this year".
- supersystem 13y ago
  "It will premiere on Netflix tomorrow (January 17)"
altrego99 13y ago
Here's the link to the Netflix documentary - http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/The_Square/70268449 http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/The_Square/70268449 It's not yet available to public but you can watch the trailer and save it to your list.
puravida 13y ago
I've always found Netflix to be a great source of documentaries. Especially now The History channel and discovery channels play mostly reality shows now. Its also great to see their own productions are decent to watch. They may have a chance to become an HBO type provider.

65 points by 0cool 13y ago

Documentaries are a smart direction for Netflix. They can actually afford to license the best ones for streaming. Of the five Oscar nominated documetaries that were announced today, three are already streaming on Netflix and the one Netflix produced comes out tomorrow. Given that the actual movie studio distribution of these movies must be minuscule, it makes a lot of sense for Netflix to just buy them directly.

hkmurakami 13y ago
I've seen a trend lately of my friends increasingly referring to "this documentary XYZ that I saw on Netflix". It seems to be a great way to build mindshare in a segment that isn't as interested in mainstream TV shows (somewhat akin to their approach of producing critically acclaimed TV Dramas)
- supersystem 13y ago
  As far as I know they don't actually produce shows, which might even have something to do why they are critically acclaimed. "The money went not only to the talent involved but to the look and feel of the show which is much more cinematic than most things you’ll watch on TV. That’s because MRC, the production company behind House of Cards, insisted that Fincher and his crew be given final cut — something that is virtually unheard of in the world of TV where everything is produced by committee." http://www.forbes.com/sites/dorothypomerantz/2013/07/18/the-producer-behind-house-of-cards-on-how-netflix-offered-creative-freedom/ http://www.forbes.com/sites/dorothypomerantz/2013/07/18/the-...
- prawks 13y ago
  It's neat because the barrier to entry to Netflix is so minimal. Previously, when someone said "I saw this documentary XYZ", you basically had to say "Oh that's neat, wish I could watch it..." Even outside Netflix really, documentary and lower-budget films are much, much more accessible, which is a great thing.

deleted 13y ago

[deleted]

datr 13y ago
I wonder what the employee perks are like at Netflix? Any chance of getting an invite to the awards ceremony? Was there the opportunity to meet Kevin Spacey when they were filming House of Cards? I'd find stuff like that to be a huge selling point if so!
- psaintla 13y ago
  Kevin Spacey is a notoriously private person because he feels that it makes his acting more believable. The chance of him agreeing to meet employees at Netflix is pretty low but it would kind of cool.

kyro 13y ago

Rightly deserved. It's an incredible documentary and I suggest everyone watch it when it's released. I hope Netflix continues in this direction. It seems to be a great platform for documentaries to reach mass consumption, like we saw with Blackfish.

supersystem 13y ago
This might actually hinder 'mass consumption' in Europe if Netflix decides it doesn't want to license broadcasting rights to public broadcasting, which often have their own online services. I think we should be at least somewhat skeptical of the rights-holder also controlling distribution channels.
- netrus 13y ago
  Fun fact: If you have a private German TV broadcast license, you are required to give a certain amount of airtime to independent companies. And you are required to air news-segments - the quality may vary :)
altrego99 13y ago
Have you already seen it? If so, how?
- kyro 13y ago
  I was fortunate enough to catch a viewing in New York. It was shown at a handful of theaters nationwide, for only a week in each city.

brenschluss 13y ago

To be clear - The Square wasn't created by Netflix. The Square is an independent documentary started a few years ago, boosted with a successful Kickstarter (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/noujaimfilms/the-square-a-film-about-the-egyptian-revolution http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/noujaimfilms/the-square-...) last year, and finally picked up by Netflix. That said, much credit goes to Netflix for recognizing and promoting independent documentaries.

socrates1998 13y ago

Why can't I get this documentary on my Netflix?

bredman 13y ago
It came out in theaters first, they acquired the rights to it after it had been released there. The best I can find about availability on Netflix is "early this year".
supersystem 13y ago
"It will premiere on Netflix tomorrow (January 17)"

altrego99 13y ago

Here's the link to the Netflix documentary - http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/The_Square/70268449 http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/The_Square/70268449 It's not yet available to public but you can watch the trailer and save it to your list.

puravida 13y ago

I've always found Netflix to be a great source of documentaries. Especially now The History channel and discovery channels play mostly reality shows now. Its also great to see their own productions are decent to watch. They may have a chance to become an HBO type provider.