Ironically in the film world, the most revered and respected source for information and legitimacy is essentially a user-submitted database…the almighty IMDb. The industry has adopted this site as it’s number one resource for identifying and tracking creative talent and success. However, with great power…wait for it…comes great exclusivity. An article today describes the site as “skirting the issue” of regularly including Webseries in the database. However, can you blame them?
Wikipedia is a great tool, but it’s open platform makes us second guess and fact check constantly. Originally facebook was a place to share debaucherous photos – now people get fired from work and even my Mom has an account! Imagine if every hampster video on YouTube felt entitled to be included in the entertainment industry’s most respected database…
We have been submitting Squatters to the site for over six months. To date, we have been rejected just over a dozen times. But instead of being discouraged, we have used it as an opportunity to analyze what makes our show different from regular network shows and either embrace those differences or make changes. We have invested our energy not shaking our fists at the IMDb gods; but instead patiently resubmitting and we are now thrilled to announce: We have officially been added to the Internet Movie Database!
The best part of this victory is that our cast and crew who worked so hard can now enjoy the credit they deserve. Especially in this medium, you can never pay people what they are worth. But you can feel inspired to make a show that they will feel proud to include on their resume. Check it out! You can see the amazing wealth of talent that has made Squatters possible! And hopefully you’ll understand not only why I’m so excited and proud…but also that sometimes exclusivity serves a purpose.
Looking over our list, I’m humbled by the opportunity to bring all these exceptional, accomplished people together in one room and let them play. For those of you creating your own work, keep doing it! The naysayers will eventually say yes! I think that’s worth more than a hampster video – hopefully you will agree.