The Cideshow in Place Program
Creators, performers, and other filmmakers
At a time where we all have to take a hiatus from filmmaking, Cideshow is running its Cideshow in Place, where you can create safely from home, be put on our platform, and get paid from it.
How it works
First come up with a concept for an original series (that has the potential for several episodes/ installments) that you can create from your shelter in place location. Once approved, you make it, and we put it up on the site. Viewers, who all have spendable credits, donate those credits to any show they like. Show creators get ALL the profits the show receives (equivalent to the amount of Candy the show receives). You make another episode. Rinse, repeat.
If you're doing well financially, and you wish to waive your payment, we will donate it to the Rauschenberg Emergency Grants, a nonprofit who gives grants to the artists hurt by COVID-19. Alternatively, we can also donate it to any charity of your choosing.
To do this, all you need is a way to record (computer or phone are fine), and an imagination. Use any resources available: Zoom backgrounds, actors recording from their own shelter in place locations, stuffed animals you have lying around the house, etc. See examples.
Also, you completely own your show, so you can put it up on any other platform your heart desires.
The rules
We ask that you abide by a few rules for this program:
You MUST make this within your shelter in place location. We will not accept or put up any production that is breaking social distancing guidelines and placing others in danger. All other actors must live with you or must record their parts from their own social distancing locations.
The series should have a genre attached (ie. horror, game show, interview series, etc), or it should be something imaginative (ie: you recreate a six minute version of a movie in your home each week). See examples.
Each episode can be anywhere between 2 to 60 minutes.
All of the episodes should pose a question to the viewers with multiple choice answers (that they’ll be able to see when they’re giving credits to your show). As the interactivity is a big part of our draw, it will get more people to your show. Look at the examples or find more info here.
Make it as polished as you can. I know we’re filming in our homes with limited resources, but still pay some attention to sound, lighting, editing, etc.
Have quick turnaround time. Ideally you can get the next episode finished within a few days of your show getting renewed.
Honor the renewal. If fans are donating their credits to your show, please do your best to make the next episode. You can always declare an episode your final one and not have it up to receive more credits.
You do your best to bring at least ten people to the site. Not only will ten people get your show renewed, but more people will make the whole experience better for everyone and allow filmmakers to make more money.
Check out our FAQ for more information.
Go here to let us know what your show will be: