Debtocracy A Greek Documentary about the financial crisis

   There is the traditional way to make movies (find producer, get money, shot the film, released), and there's crowdsourcing. In the world of crowdsourcing users from every corner of the Earth or financially support any project or exchange information and contribute to completion, depending on their skills, as a peculiar puzzle of the electronic era. The film world, and particularly the independent scene, it soon adopted the habit - at this year's festival Sundance even premiered the documentary «Life in a day», a collage of short videos users YouTube. In most cases, however, the contribution of public money is (so called and provided crowdfunding), and cases such as the documentary «Corporation» and «The Age of Stupid», have already managed to secure distribution through donations.

   Successful attempts crowdfunded longer one and the "Chreokratia" documentary journalists Mars Hadjistefanou and Katerina Kitidi on the economic crisis and debt of Greece. The two journalists, along with the production team they framed, decided to avoid the traditional mintiakes platforms and released their work initially only on the Internet through websites such as YouTube, Dailymotion and through torrents .

   The profile of the documentary, which presents an alternative view from those discussed in the dominant media, may dictate the choice, which helped them to avoid any interference in the content of parties, agencies or other donors. " If it was given information, we did not want to put a great deal to teach people a different view. We wanted to spread as much as possible, mainly to stimulate discussion. For these purposes, just the production should be free and without rights [use or reproduction] , "he said in an interview with one of two directors, Katerina Kitidi.

   Once shown a small sample of their work and invited the public to fund the effort, the response has surpassed expectations of: € 8,000 for the basic costs of production were collected within 14 days from 300 individuals, clubs and associations that have may appear as co-producers in the end credits. Your account has been closed since gathered twice in total amount, which includes the cost of distribution. A detailed list of fees and charges are posted on the official website , which, as he and Mrs Kitidi is vital for such a project. " What I think it helped that there were all the items available on the Internet. If you follow this model in the future should take care of the financial part "Under this policy, even Mrs Kitidi stresses that the extra money, which so far are heading for a future documentary team returned unless announced plans over the next six months.

    After the online premiere of the evening Wednesday, April 6 , which was promoted through social networking sites and blogs, the documentary has been featured in academic schools, clubs, and local channels in the province, while the players have already agreed to distribute the film in Athens and individual views on the rest of Greece. Prepare also has completed the subtitling in English, French and Portuguese, to distribute the film abroad , primarily through organizations such as CADTM, the Committee for the debt of Third World countries, and then possibly and festivals. Even in the face of these developments, however, the production team is prepared to withdraw from cyberspace because " especially when we turned to the public, we would just have to give back to the public. This project does not belong to us but the world was paid , "said Mrs Kitidi.

    Apart from the way they have chosen to cover their investment, notable is the web presence of "Chreokratia." factors have made ​​dynamic use of modern information and networking and the resulting numbers are impressive : the film has seen a total of over than 680,000 times the references to Google exceed 1,000,000, the official website has 320,000 unique users visit, and the film's page on Facebook has 12,780 friends and Twitter 1.500 members.

The authors continue to participate actively, not only to promote the film, but the debate that has arisen from it. The research team collected the most important questions raised by viewers, the replies and posted on the website, unity, according to Mr. Kitidi will continue to be renewed. In their plans, too, is to enrich the content of the website with additional material that could not fit in the final result, which will be integrated into a mini theme documentaries, in addition to the main work. At the same time have already posted " a new version of the script, which will link to specific words that refer to our inquiry: what sources were consulted, or what other material you find on the specific word of the script. So, not only the content but the search will be available to the public . "

   But this kind of journalism is a long term viable proposal in front of the undeniable crisis, economically and effectively, the mainstream media? Mrs Kitidi believes that " the situation has now reached the media, what is needed is to find a way be able to have independent information without commitments or political institutions or from commercial companies, because a greater commitment in our times is towards the operator or entity, which is opposite to the advertising department. To be able to have independent information, perhaps the best way is to finance the public. "