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]
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
Promoters
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 EDU
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,"[8]
References
- 1 2 "About Us – Tugg Edu". eduhome.tugg.com. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
- ↑ "Do-It-Yourself Releasing Platform Tugg Pulls the Plug". Variety. 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
- ↑ "Tugg Inc.: Private Company Information - Bloomberg". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
- ↑ "Our Story | Tugg". resources.tugg.com. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
- 1 2 Ha, Anthony (22 February 2012). "Tugg Lets Audiences Choose What's Playing In Theaters | TechCrunch". Retrieved 2017-07-28.
- ↑ "10 Lessons Learned From My First Tugg Screening as Promoter". No Film School. 2013-04-07. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "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.