The Dark and the ₿right Side of the Film Industry

Author: Şelale Malkoçoğlu | Original Date: 04/16/23

It was at the end of the 19th century when the first film camera was developed, as well as a machine with a viewfinder that allowed for one person at a time to watch moving images. Meanwhile, two ambitious brothers hatched a brilliant business idea, which led to the first public screening of a film in 1895. And so the cinema was born.

As their popularity and importance grew, films evolved to become more than just a link between image and content. They started serving as a form of art and a critical medium for storytelling, conveying "deep" messages and teaching "valuable" lessons about the world.

Before we even knew it, a new industry emerged, gaining its momentum, especially in the 1930s - a time of remarkable transformation for the entire film industry. Hollywood, a multi-million-dollar business, the one that was meant to delight, inspire and entertain. A powerful space that nearly everyone consumes, often being aware of the huge budgets it involves but actually without much consideration for the "hidden cost" that they, as the audience, may actually pay.

I sometimes find myself wondering what the Lumière brothers were thinking when they organized the first screening of their ten short films.

Were they hoping to make a breakthrough in culture, to create a legacy for future generations, or were they mainly after fame, money, and power - business relations and precious connections around the world?

On one hand, they were the inventors who paved the way for today’s cinema and even colour photography. On the other, they were well-known entrepreneurs who were actually not so eager to share their modern tools with others, consequently often blocking their fellow filmmakers.

If the answer is closer to the second option—fame, reach, connections—then has the world always been focused on greed and power, and was the film culture defined by these values from the very beginning?

Without a doubt, cinema is a remarkable invention. Not only has it served as a form of art, entertainment and inspiration, but also has been setting trends for decades, across multiple generations. But what role has cinema really played in shaping our thinking and how much of our reality has been created by what we actually have seen in movies and films?

Of course, early screenings weren’t like what we know them today. Films were generally very short yet accompanied by lectures, live music, and a great deal of audience participation. They typically captured local scenes and everyday activities, but also foreign countries and exotic places, or simply some amusing side plots and noteworthy events. One could say that such films opened a doorway to learning about the world and expanding social awareness in a truly unique way. Isn‘t it amazing? Especially that none of those early films had ever promoted racism, sexism, colonialism or negative stereotypes about distant "undeveloped" cultures, right? And they only focused on showing the truth and right values...

Now think again for a moment - how credible it really sounds.

From Meek to Mighty... The Rise of Hollywood

Later much longer productions with captivating plots and engaging narratives were developed, providing even more value for their viewers. From silent cinema to sound, from black and white to vibrant colour. Then, animations, cartoons, 3D, 5D, digital cinema and many more. As if by magic, a new huge space was born - commercial cinema; just suddenly countless movies and film productions have become an integral part of our lives.

Once intended to amuse and inspire, cinema has had an extensive effect on many changes in our society. Until this day, as one of the biggest sources of "knowledge", as well as an alternate mode of travel, it allows us to explore new places and to learn about other cultures. Plus, just think about all these "incredible stories" that help us recognize our own unique attributes, and ultimately experience so many genuine emotions. After all, what else if not movies are the right way of learning about love, happiness or sadness? What else but the power of the film could help us witness the triumphant battle between good and evil? Where else could we admire heroic deeds, or acquire so many appropriate role models and values?

If the stories described in films are so beautiful and make us feel so many emotions, then these emotions must be real...

How many times have you thought like this after watching a movie?

And let’s not forget that cinema is such a magical space - films and movies allow us to forget about the harshness of the reality we live in, they help us to relax and they bring fun. Oh, yes! Movies are great. They inspire and stimulate. And often, through all these emotions and happy endings, they also help us gain additional motivation in life.

After all, Hollywood, as the largest film industry as we know today, has been kind enough to gift us with the prospect of a Happy-Ending. No matter how dire things may seem, we can always rest assured that everything will eventually turn out alright.

Movies and films, what a glorious vision! Yet still, much like the life itself, when you take a closer look, the beauty isn't always as it first seemed to be…

I hope that reading this text you already feel the irony in my words, gentle yet thought-provoking. I’m not saying that all films or movies are bad. I’m not denying their importance to our culture; rather, I’m questioning to what extent such a world is truly an expression of art and entertainment, and to what extent it has become a powerful, yet seemingly innocuous, means of manipulation.

A synthetic world, which has been an almost unbreakable part of how we see things. The one that’s subconsciously "teaching" us some patterns for years.

Just consider:

• Are relationships, love, virtues, sensibility, and social connections depicted in movies true reflections of our reality?

Are the values we unconsciously absorb genuine and unique, or are they just a collection of cookie-cutter stereotypes and prejudiced role models?

When it comes to commercial movies, and Hollywood cinema in particular, I'm afraid the second scenario is too often the case. And I don't even want to add here the fact about the trillions of dollars earned directly and indirectly thanks to all these great movies. Advertisements, branding, idols, and almost endless madness built by the power of gods appearing on the silver screen. This is trendy, and that’s valuable, this is wrong and that's not... Always this and that, with so many "absolute must-dos and haves", if you want to stay in the game.

One could say: oh, but it’s not that dangerous, right? After all, we should know that a movie is just a movie. But maybe it isn’t that simple... Maybe, unbeknownst to us, the movie industry is like a hypnotic show. A mass illusion, not really entertaining or relaxing us, but rather manipulating - showing us stuff to create a false sense of need and desire; a never-ending cycle of over-consumerism and greed, where at the end, we always find ourselves unwittingly trapped in the same cycle of movie watching again, all in the pursuit of "relaxation" and "fake happiness". What a cruel irony, indeed.

Challenging the Status Quo

Sure, documentaries are an entirely different type of films. Rather than depicting made-up worlds like those from the Hollywood productions, they provide a unique form of storytelling that’s actually built on facts. Stunning flora and fauna, "real" people, places, and events.

With many meaningful stories smoothly woven into captivating narratives, documentaries offer their viewers a glimpse into the "existing" world. Such films have, in fact, the power to inspire and build awareness, to truly motivate and educate, or even often, to create a space for a discussion.

Actually, documentaries have always held a special place in my heart, even from a young age. For many years, I was captivated by films about nature, history, distant lands and different cultures. I absolutely adored those type of films! As a teenager, I felt that they opened my eyes to a whole new world; fanscynating documentaries that truly broadened my horizons on a bunch of different topics.

It took me some time to realize that it wasn‘t the films that were teaching, inspiring, and motivating me. But actually, that it was my dad.

Whenever we‘d watch a film together, we‘d talk and talk about not only what we saw but also about many related topics.

It was my dad, not the films, who helped me to learn many new skills and enabled me to think critically. It was my dad, not the films, who inspired me and taught me how to observe and analyse things without getting too excited about them or simply getting blinded.

After many years, I finally understood why my dad was always emphasizing the importance of asking the right questions. Or why was he repeating that whatever I saw, no matter how much I liked it or not, I should always try to go beyond the surface of that subject before ruling it out. He was the one who stressed the importance of maintaining an open mind and being tolerant or curious in a balanced way, rather than getting caught up in big trends and shiny objects.

Also, honestly speaking, for the past decade or so, I don’t remember coming across many films that were easily accessible and could have helped me to truly comprehend the forces that are impacting the world. Thus, it wasn’t the cinema that allowed me to understand that the inequality in the world goes far beyond the poverty-stricken regions of Africa, which, in fact, had been plundered by our ancestors and which we still allow to be financially colonized until this day... Nor did those past films I watched as a young woman help me to understand the mechanisms of the financial systems, or taught me about the true political and economic dependencies; the various games and nuances that only "our leaders" can afford.

The breakthrough in my case, and likely in the case of many of you, was Bitcoin.

I’m not saying that none of us knew beforehand that something was wrong, that the fiat culture was and is built on lies, hypocrisy and manipulation. But it wasn't that easy to comprehend how many of the spaces we exist within, and the patterns of the world in which we are part of, have been created to our disadvantage. All too often, we turned a blind eye to the corruption saturating our own reality. Moreover, the distorted portrayal of the world that we often encounter on the silver screen doesn't help in opening our eyes to the truth.

It's been Bitcoin that connected the dots, forming a cohesive picture of many facts that had been kept hidden from us for decades.

We didn't need to know beforehand, because in the traditional world, there are people who either are too important to have to face the reality (i.e. consequences of their actions), or those who are too minor to be considered a part of that reality at all.

Since Bitcoin, a new group of people has emerged - those who are able to see it all. Individuals living all over the globe, who, despite their knowledge and wisdom, are still remaining humble, but also focused, and determined as they work to build a new, better world. Bitcoin gave them the strength but also a voice, to educate and alert those who are still unaware of the devastating consequences of all dirty manipulations.

Bitcoin has served as a powerful reminder of core values and principles of life, the importance of logical thinking, and, ultimately, as the inspiration to take needed actions instead of simply accepting the status quo. Not just as a technology or a store of value, but as a culture, community, and an opportunity for self-improvement. Bitcoin as a path that teaches us a lot, step by step, more and deeper as we go. Unlike utopian fantasies or Hollywood movies, there isn’t a pre-determined, happy ending. Bitcoin allows us to shape our own destinies but also requires thinking and our hard work.

Sound money, great films… From 2009 to 2023

Sometimes I wonder if Satoshi, when writing the Whitepaper, had already known that Bitcoin would be the key to a new era of social enlightenment and cultural expression through art… Maybe, or even likely, as a visionary, Satoshi had predicted that Bitcoin, while breaking the bonds of mental laziness and ignorance, not only granting us freedom from modern servitude, would also start a completely new cinematic culture; a lasting legacy for current and future generations.

Although there have been mostly documentaries made about Bitcoin to this point, I‘m confident that it won‘t be long before we start to see a wider variety of productions - from documentaries to animated shorts, cartoons, and even sitcoms.

I‘m actually thrilled to hear about some of such plans that have already been made, and I‘m trying my best to support their ambitious creators as well.

The bitcoin film industry is still in its early stages, but the potential it holds is immense. The only limitations are our imagination, budgets, and of course, time.

In my opinion, a more diverse range of Bitcoin productions will arrive sooner than expected. Yet, despite the variety, each honest creation—current and upcoming—will always have one thing in common: it will inspire and provide a meaningful source of some extra education, by revealing the unvarnished truths and motivating others to take an action.

Now, a super crucial fact:

• In March 2023, the world‘s first ever Bitcoin-dedicated film festival took place in Poland. Although in this country there is still a looooong way to conscious adoption of Bitcoin, I’m proud and really happy that such a significant cultural event was hosted in my motherland. I also believe that such moments will lead to increased awareness not only in the city of Warsaw, but also across other parts of the country.

The inaugural edition called Bitcoin FilmFest Warsaw was a huge success, connecting not only local hodlers and filmmakers but also many experienced Bitcoiners from other corners of the world. It also gave those new to Bitcoin, or still seeking their financial freedom, the invaluable chance to broaden their knowledge and understanding.

Having had the opportunity to contribute to this year‘s Bitcoin FilmFest, even in a small way, I see it as a kind of breakthrough - a new chapter connecting Bitcoin culture and cinema. Not only did it give us the chance to watch some great productions, but also provided such a unique opportunity for people to come together - to brainstorm and talk, to network and to share their experiences.

Three truly inspiring days, and a meetup that stands out from many others: Bitcoin-only, non-commercial, the first one that's screening so many great films.

Exploring Cinematic Rabbit Hole

Films about and related to Bitcoin can offer a wealth of knowledge - from the history of money and its impact on our lives, through the secrets of the global economy and politics hidden under the surface, to various cultures, including their struggles and opportunities. Such films can also enable us to explore the richness of human heritage and to learn from all the poor decisions we have made over the years.

The great thing about Bitcoin films is that, despite covering so many threads, they are neither boring nor overly complex. I‘ve already watched a lot of them and even though quite many are still covering similar topics, I generally find them to be fresh and meaningful.

Also, as the space expands, more innovative ideas and formats should become available, I guess much sooner than we think. Thanks to the efforts of so many young and ambitious filmmakers, as well as events like the Bitcoin FilmFest - together with their friends and official partners, creating even more freedom-oriented, independent films should become much easier in the future.

I only hope that Bitcoin cinema never becomes too popularized, too shiny - trendy, or mainstream. I don’t think it will ever come close to Hollywood... However, I’m wary of quite many new topics that are being discussed these days, usually by groups that claim to "understand" and "support" Bitcoin culture. And so, I’m expecting to see many more traps along our path. Personally, I don't see the point (at least for now) of any "Ordina(r)l(y)" stuff, if you know what I mean ;) and I hope that such things won't reach the Bitcoin cinema. Yet since hope alone isn't enough, I'm going to keep supporting people and projects I believe in. After all, there's no more effective way to shape the world we want to live in than by putting in the work.

And when it comes to work: Now that the first edition of the BFF in Warsaw has been a success, the organizers are already gathering ideas for the next event, beyond Poland - discussing various options abroad. If you'd like to join us, to contribute your energy and skills, please get in touch with me or directly with the BFF Team (Twitter: @filmfestbtc ; Telegram: Bitcoin Cinema Chat).

All in all, Bitcoin deserves to be honoured with good films and decent events!