Several aspiring actors, producers and filmmakers have turned to the Internet in order to find content, people to work with, and channels of distribution. And even those that have had established careers in traditional Hollywood media have even taken the plunge into the online realm. But Massify has managed to build a network connecting everyone involved with the creation of a film, along with the fans, in order to use a wisdom-of-the-crowds approach to making a new type of featured production. You may recall when Massify began this lofty goal, early last autumn.

Six months later, we hear from Massify again, as its project lives on (and has probably picked up some steam, thanks to the onslaught of web activity caused by the mighty writers strike), and has teamed up with After Dark Films for a contest called Ghosts in the Machine, in order to create a full-length horror film. Members of Massify can create, submit and choose the idea for the film that will be made, along with the cast and crew. The good thing is that Massify, especially in its partnership with After Dark Films, has created a weighted crowdsourcing model that will lend itself more towards better end results.

It’s an interesting take on web-based communities: one that has been tried across various venues, marketing ploys for brands, an economic alternative to larger productions, etc. And while such a feat may not have been possible a couple of years ago, now is a good time to explore this type of collaborative creation. Massify was probably smart to partner with another establishment within the industry: this will pay off when it comes down to resources, buzz, and long-term reach.

As we’ve seen with Next New Networks, partnerships are vital for successful and widespread viewership and support, all of which will one day lead to monetary rewards (hopefully) that are large enough to make it worth everyone’s while. It will be interesting to see how such communities as Massify can be leveraged in the long run, given the current shifts in the industry and the absolute necessity to monetize such content. Can it be done?

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