The American Film Institute Movie Club
April 3, 2020 8:51 AM Subscribe
The American Film Institute is inviting you to movie night - every night. The American Film Institute will select an iconic movie each day for the world to watch together, via their new Movie Club, creating a communal viewing experience during these unprecedented times of social distancing.
Special guests will announce select AFI Movies of the Day in short videos posted on the website and twitter, instagram and facebook. Audiences can "gather" at AFI.com/MovieClub to view the featured movie of the day with the use of their preexisting streaming services (AFI doesn’t have the rights to stream the films for free, however options may include opportunities to watch the titles for free or through services you already have.) The daily film selections will be supported by fun facts, family discussion points and exclusive material from the AFI Archive to enrich the viewing experience. Audiences can continue the conversation online using the hashtag #AFIMovieClub.
Movie Club frequently asked questions.
You can also check out AFI Silver for a selection of movies to rent at home. (Prices vary).
Located in Silver Spring, Maryland, the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center has historically offered an exclusive repertory venue for classic, arthouse, international and contemporary films that delivers these film treasures year-round to audiences of all ages, standing tall amid a current climate of vanishing rep houses and even fewer celluloid sanctuaries. AFI Silver is a continuation of AFI’s longstanding presence at the advent of nonprofit film exhibition.
Special guests will announce select AFI Movies of the Day in short videos posted on the website and twitter, instagram and facebook. Audiences can "gather" at AFI.com/MovieClub to view the featured movie of the day with the use of their preexisting streaming services (AFI doesn’t have the rights to stream the films for free, however options may include opportunities to watch the titles for free or through services you already have.) The daily film selections will be supported by fun facts, family discussion points and exclusive material from the AFI Archive to enrich the viewing experience. Audiences can continue the conversation online using the hashtag #AFIMovieClub.
Movie Club frequently asked questions.
You can also check out AFI Silver for a selection of movies to rent at home. (Prices vary).
Located in Silver Spring, Maryland, the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center has historically offered an exclusive repertory venue for classic, arthouse, international and contemporary films that delivers these film treasures year-round to audiences of all ages, standing tall amid a current climate of vanishing rep houses and even fewer celluloid sanctuaries. AFI Silver is a continuation of AFI’s longstanding presence at the advent of nonprofit film exhibition.
How do I watch the movie?
On AFI.com/MovieClub, there is a section called “Where to Stream.” Powered by Reelgood, it tells you where you can watch the selected title of the day, from subscription services (like Netflix and Prime Video) to free services (like Crackle, TubiTV and others) to TV everywhere options (like FX, ABC and FOX) to rental and purchase options (like iTunes, Amazon and Vudu).
Why aren’t you streaming the films for free?
AFI doesn’t have the rights to stream the films for free, however options via ReelGood may include opportunities to watch the titles for free or through services you already have.
I mean, that's fair, but it really makes the whole thing a lot more underwhelming.
"Here's a bunch of movies the world should watch together. Oh, no, you have to go find them yourself each day."
Yeah, that's a pass for me, what a joke. This should have been posted on April 1st.
I mean, you don't have the streaming rights for a movie that came out in 1939? Why isn't it in the public domain? Something is wrong with this fucking planet. I mean, they couldn't possibly let licensing from movies nearly 100 years old go during a crisis now could they?
posted by deadaluspark at 9:19 AM on April 3, 2020 [8 favorites]
On AFI.com/MovieClub, there is a section called “Where to Stream.” Powered by Reelgood, it tells you where you can watch the selected title of the day, from subscription services (like Netflix and Prime Video) to free services (like Crackle, TubiTV and others) to TV everywhere options (like FX, ABC and FOX) to rental and purchase options (like iTunes, Amazon and Vudu).
Why aren’t you streaming the films for free?
AFI doesn’t have the rights to stream the films for free, however options via ReelGood may include opportunities to watch the titles for free or through services you already have.
I mean, that's fair, but it really makes the whole thing a lot more underwhelming.
"Here's a bunch of movies the world should watch together. Oh, no, you have to go find them yourself each day."
Yeah, that's a pass for me, what a joke. This should have been posted on April 1st.
I mean, you don't have the streaming rights for a movie that came out in 1939? Why isn't it in the public domain? Something is wrong with this fucking planet. I mean, they couldn't possibly let licensing from movies nearly 100 years old go during a crisis now could they?
posted by deadaluspark at 9:19 AM on April 3, 2020 [8 favorites]
to be fair, while this past year has seen a pretty intense proliferation of video streaming services, expecting a non-profit film preservation organization to suddenly whip up their own video streaming platform with a bespoke catalog out of thin air is a pretty excessive form of magical thinking. Most libraries and schools in the US have been using Kanopy as a way to offer high quality video content to their patrons, but even there, it's Kanopy's catalog and their rights management, and there's already a sense that Kanopy's service is too expensive and unsustainable for many of the orgs that they do serve.
posted by bl1nk at 9:28 AM on April 3, 2020 [17 favorites]
posted by bl1nk at 9:28 AM on April 3, 2020 [17 favorites]
If the EPA can just take a few months off from enforcing laws maybe we can do the same thing with the DMCA?
posted by theodolite at 9:31 AM on April 3, 2020 [11 favorites]
posted by theodolite at 9:31 AM on April 3, 2020 [11 favorites]
To be clear, I understand it's not AFI's fault that the copyright system is as farked as it is. Just pointing out how it's still asking us to do all the legwork, because of how society is set up.
And yes, it is AMC should be ashamed of themselves for not letting go of the streaming rights to Wizard of Oz, a nearly 100 year old movie, during a massive fucking crisis.
It would literally cost them nothing. Yet instead, AFI is only able to just tell us where to stream it, instead of having access themselves.
The story of this crisis is that people with money and power don't want to give up ANYTHING.
Even the rights to a fucking hundred year old movie that has already made more money than they can imagine.
posted by deadaluspark at 9:32 AM on April 3, 2020 [6 favorites]
And yes, it is AMC should be ashamed of themselves for not letting go of the streaming rights to Wizard of Oz, a nearly 100 year old movie, during a massive fucking crisis.
It would literally cost them nothing. Yet instead, AFI is only able to just tell us where to stream it, instead of having access themselves.
The story of this crisis is that people with money and power don't want to give up ANYTHING.
Even the rights to a fucking hundred year old movie that has already made more money than they can imagine.
posted by deadaluspark at 9:32 AM on April 3, 2020 [6 favorites]
But this is more like a book club situation, though. Your average book club doesn't buy everyone a copy of the book usually, it's on each member to obtain it through whatever means they can. Some can buy, some go to the library and some borrow from friends.
This is the same thing.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:00 AM on April 3, 2020 [8 favorites]
This is the same thing.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:00 AM on April 3, 2020 [8 favorites]
Mod note: Would be great if this thread could be more about movies and shared experience etc. and less about swerving into longform "okay but x sucks" kind of vibes. Please rerail.
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:07 AM on April 3, 2020 [13 favorites]
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:07 AM on April 3, 2020 [13 favorites]
Tonight's movie is DOCTOR STRANGELOVE, and I'll likely be watching. (I can't watch my next film for my blog until I write the review for the last one I saw, and that review's taking a while....)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:59 AM on April 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:59 AM on April 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
I'm right down the road from the actual AFI and I'm really missing it right now, so this sorta helps.
If my library kills Kanopy I suppose I'll be glad I never dragged that box of DVDs to the thrift store. Netflix increasingly sucks, I'm trying not to give Bezos and the Googs any more money, and HBOnow tapped out pretty quickly.
Oh well. All my problems are inherently first world problems. It's not like I'm going to run out of books.
posted by aspersioncast at 8:08 AM on April 4, 2020 [1 favorite]
If my library kills Kanopy I suppose I'll be glad I never dragged that box of DVDs to the thrift store. Netflix increasingly sucks, I'm trying not to give Bezos and the Googs any more money, and HBOnow tapped out pretty quickly.
Oh well. All my problems are inherently first world problems. It's not like I'm going to run out of books.
posted by aspersioncast at 8:08 AM on April 4, 2020 [1 favorite]
In the thread's vein of using virtual screening room tools to support arthouse and repertory theaters during quarantine. Letterboxd has a list of new indie films that you can pay to watch via Vimeo, Kino Now and others. Before you go, you should check your area theater's website to see if they have an affiliate link to these films. For example, Brookline, MA's Coolidge Corner theater links to these services as part of their Virtual Screening Room.
posted by bl1nk at 10:06 AM on April 4, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by bl1nk at 10:06 AM on April 4, 2020 [1 favorite]
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posted by bl1nk at 9:00 AM on April 3, 2020 [3 favorites]