GoDigital
{{Short description|Digital and video-on-demand distribution company}}
{{Infobox company
|name=GoDigital, Inc.
|parent=Amplify (2014 - present)
|subsid={{Unbulleted list|Distribber (2015 - present){{cite web | title=GoDigital Buys Self-Distribution Specialist Distribber | website=Variety | date=25 June 2015 | url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/godigtal-distribber-buys-self-distribution-specialist-1201527660/ | access-date=2019-10-26}}}}
|image=GoDigital logo dish 332x249.jpg
|type=Film distribution
|location=Beverly Hills, California, United States
|founded=2008
|website= {{URL|www.godigital.com}}
}}
GoDigital is a full service digital and video-on-demand (VOD) distribution company. Launched in 2008, the Beverly Hills-based company as of 2013 had a library of over 1000 films ranging from independent cinema to award-winning documentaries and foreign films.{{cite news|last=Fernandez|first=Jay A.|title=GoDigital Secures New Funding From Preferred Ventures|url=https://www.indiewire.com/article/vod-player-godigital-secures-new-funding-from-preferred-ventures-jiro-dreams-of-sushi-king-kelly|accessdate=22 April 2013|newspaper=IndieWire|date=2013-04-22}} GoDigital has direct deals with a number of primary VOD services, including iTunes, Netflix, Amazon.com, Hulu and YouTube.{{cite web|last=Ha|first=Anthony|title=FreeCreditReport's Ed Ojdana And Facebook's Chris Kelly Back Movie Distribution Startup GoDigital|url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/08/02/ed-odjana-chris-kelly-godigital/|work=TechCrunch|date=2 August 2012 |accessdate=22 April 2013}}
Co-founder Logan Mulvey was appointed the company's CEO.{{cite web|last=Miller|first=Daniel|title=Next Gen 2012: Hollywood's Fastest-Rising Stars|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/logan-mulvey-387227|work=The Hollywood Reporter|accessdate=22 April 2013|archive-date=2 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130402093527/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/logan-mulvey-387227|url-status=dead}} Mulvey was named by The Hollywood Reporter’s among its 2012 rising stars{{Cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/logan-mulvey-387227 |title="Next Gen 2012: Hollywood's Fastest-Rising Stars" |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=2020-04-17 |archive-date=2013-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130402093527/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/logan-mulvey-387227 |url-status=dead }} and IndieWire's Anne Thompson calls him a "wunderkind” within the digital space. Mulvey is on the board of directors of the Entrepreneurs' Organization and on the board of advisors of the San Diego Film Festival.{{cite web|title=Mentors: Digital Media|url=http://schedule.sxsw.com/2013/events/event_FP990391|work=SXSW Schedule|publisher=SXSW Inc.|accessdate=22 April 2013}} He is a mentor at SXSW and a frequent speaker at digital entertainment conferences, including Variety’s BRIC Summit, Digital Hollywood, Variety's Film Finance Summit, and the New York Film Commission at the Sundance Film Festival.
Ed Ojdana, founder of FreeCreditReport.com and former CEO of Experian Interactive, serves as the chairman of GoDigital's board of directors.{{cite web|last=Kaufman|first=Alexander C.|title=GoDigital to Expand Distribution With Investment From Former Facebook, Experian Execs|url=https://www.thewrap.com/movies/article/godigital-expand-distribution-investment-former-facebook-experian-execs-50596|work=Movies|publisher=The Wrap|accessdate=22 April 2013}} Chris Kelly, former Facebook Chief Privacy Officer and founder of Kelly Investments also serves on the board of directors alongside Logan Mulvey.
History
=Founding=
GoDigital was initially launched as a music distribution service,{{Cite web |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/GoDigital+Licenses+Content+to+Qtrax%3b+Next+Generation+Record+Label...-a0151620717 |title=Thefreelibrary.com |access-date=2013-09-19 |archive-date=2013-10-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019064959/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/GoDigital+Licenses+Content+to+Qtrax%3b+Next+Generation+Record+Label...-a0151620717 |url-status=dead }} co-founded by Jason Peterson (CEO), Logan Mulvey (CMO), and Dave Lindsay (CTO) {{cite web|last=Puza|first=Kay|title=reward-and-risk-digital-niche|url=http://magazine.lmu.edu/archive/2012/reward-and-risk-digital-niche|work=LMU|accessdate=14 October 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019045940/http://magazine.lmu.edu/archive/2012/reward-and-risk-digital-niche|archivedate=19 October 2013}} through Santa Monica based digital media incubator GoDigital Media Group.
=2008 Reorganization=
GoDigital switched to its current model in 2008 after the technology for digitally distributing movies became more readily available.{{cite news|last=Kung|first=Michelle|title=GoDigital Ramps Up Digital Distribution Plans|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2012/01/11/godigital-ramps-up-digital-distribution-plans/|accessdate=22 April 2013|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=11 January 2012}} GoDigital announced the restructuring of their executive team, with Mulvey assuming the role of president.{{cite press release|title=GoDigital-media-group-makes-changes-on-top;-promotes-logan-mulvey-to-president|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/godigital-media-group-makes-changes-on-top-promotes-logan-mulvey-to-president-102434509.html|work=PRNewswire|accessdate=14 October 2013}} He had realized as Chief Marketing Officer that CDs and DVDs would soon prove obsolete and that the emerging digital market had a strong future. Early investment into the business gave GoDigital an advantage,{{cite web|last=Kay|first=Jeremy|title=Logan Mulvey, GoDigital|url=http://www.screendaily.com/logan-mulvey-godigital/5045865.article#|work=Screen Daily|accessdate=22 April 2013}} allowing the company to become a full-service distributor of premium, independent content to digital and Video on Demand (VOD) retailers. In late 2011, Go Digital Media Group was involved in several false copyright claims against YouTube uploaders posting their own original content. This, among many reasons, was the catalyst for YouTube restructuring its Content ID matching system.{{cite news|last1=McKay|first1=Patrick|title=YouTube Copyfraud & Abuse of the Content ID System|url=http://fairusetube.org/youtube-copyfraud|work=fairusetube.org|date=23 November 2011|language=en-gb}}
=2012 Rapid Expansion=
In January, GoDigital acquired VOD rival Might Entertainment, absorbing both their library and output arrangements. Jason Beck, the former VP of acquisitions at Image Entertainment who co-founded Might, is now chief content officer at GoDigital.
In February, GoDigital acquired all VOD, electronic-sell-through (EST), and pay-per-view (PPV) rights to Latin Anywhere's Spanish language film catalogue.{{cite web|last=Dickey|first=Josh|title=GoDigital nabs VOD rights to Latin Anywhere|url=https://variety.com/2012/film/news/godigital-nabs-vod-rights-to-latin-anywhere-1118050601/|work=Variety|date=22 February 2012 |accessdate=22 April 2013}} The deal included more than 1,000 films from Mexico and marked the first time Latin Anywhere's content was available for digital distribution.{{cite web|last=Kay|first=Jeremy|title=GoDigital snaps up Latin Anywhere's Spanish-language film library|url=http://www.screendaily.com/news/distribution/godigital-snaps-up-latin-anywheres-spanish-language-film-library/5038376.article|work=Screen Daily|accessdate=22 April 2013}} In addition to expanding their library, this acquisition gave GoDigital access to the rapidly growing Hispanic demographic in the US.
In Fall of 2012, GoDigital received an investment from Preferred Ventures for a specialized focus on audience and consumer-community growth and identification. Preferred Ventures, a digital media investment firm, was launched by Ed Ojdana and Chris Kelly, who consequently joined GoDigital's Board. The investment was described as “a meeting of minds between the tech and movie worlds.”
In October, GoDigital partnered with Toronto-based 108 Media, acquiring the digital rights to eight 108 titles.{{cite web|authorlink=Nikki Finke|last=Finke|first=Nikki|title=GoDigital To Handle Digital Distribution For 108 Media Pics|url=https://deadline.com/2012/10/godigital-to-handle-digital-distribution-for-108-media-pics-363072/|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=31 October 2012 |access-date=22 April 2013}} Each film will see a theatrical release through 108 Media's partnership with Mark Urman's Paladin,{{cite web|last=Vlessing|first=Etan|title=Toronto 2012: Paladin and 108 Media Partner for North American Distribution (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/toronto-2012-paladin-108-media-american-distribution-365352|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=24 August 2012 |accessdate=22 April 2013}} which will include both traditional releases as well as day-and-date theatrical and VOD. GoDigital will be handling digital distribution for all titles.
=Recent Developments=
In early 2014, GoDigital hired former Focus Features executive Kent Sanderson as Executive Vice President of Distribution and Merchandising.{{cite web|title=GoDigital Snares Former Focus Features Exec Kent Sanderson For EVP Post|date=6 January 2014 |url=https://deadline.com/2014/01/godigital-snares-former-focus-features-exec-kent-sanderson-for-evp-post-659391/|access-date=10 January 2014}} Sanderson will be attending Sundance Film Festival 2014 in an acquisitions capacity and will have oversight of the company's cable, satellite and digital platform relationships.{{cite web|last=Kit|first=Borys|title=GoDigital Hires Former Focus Exec as Executive VP Distribution and Merchandising|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/godigital-hires-focus-exec-as-668649|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=6 January 2014 |accessdate=10 January 2014}} While at Focus, he worked on acquisition, distribution and marketing of Alex Gibney's “We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks,” “The Lifeguard” starring Kristen Bell, “C.O.G.,” “The World’s End,” “The Place Beyond the Pines,” and “Moonrise Kingdom.”{{cite web|last=McNary|first=Dave|title=GoDigital Taps Former Focus Exec Kent Sanderson|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/godigital-taps-former-focus-exec-kent-sanderson-1201031788/|work=Variety|date=7 January 2014 |accessdate=10 January 2014}}
Just before Sundance 2014, GoDigital announced that it was merging with Variance Films to form an all rights distribution company under the banner Amplify.{{cite web|title=Sundance: GoDigital & Variance Films Merging, Re-Branding As Amplify|date=15 January 2014 |url=https://deadline.com/2014/01/godigital-variance-films-merging-re-branding-as-amplify-664917/|access-date=16 January 2014}} GoDigital CEO Logan Mulvey is Amplify's new CEO.{{cite web|last=Kit|first=Borys|title=GoDigital and Variance Films Merge to Form Amplify|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/godigital-variance-films-merge-form-671282|work=Variety|date=15 January 2014 |accessdate=16 January 2014}} GoDigital continues to exist as a label under the Amplify umbrella, remaining a major player in the digital distribution space.{{cite web|last=Berstein|first=Paula|title=GoDigital, Inc and Variance Films Merge to Form Amplify, New Film Distribution Company|url=https://www.indiewire.com/article/godigital-inc-and-variance-films-merge-to-form-amplify-new-film-distribution-company|work=Variety|date=15 January 2014 |accessdate=16 January 2014}}
Partnerships
Broadband:
iTunes, Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, PlayStation, Xbox, Vudu, YouTube,{{cite web|first=Julie|last=Faconi|url=http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/20110420/godigital-deliver-thousands-hours-movie-tv-programming-youtube/|title=GoDigital to Deliver thousands of Hours of Movie & TV Programming to YouTube|work=Coolest Gadgets|date=21 April 2011 }} Fandor,{{cite web|title=GoDigital|url=http://www.fandor.com/distributors/godigital|work=Fandor|accessdate=22 April 2013}} Bigstar,{{cite web|title=GoDigital Media Group Strikes Agreement with Worldwide Distribution Network |url=http://www.godigitalvod.com/godigital-media-group-strikes-agreement-with-worldwide/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130616125246/http://www.godigitalvod.com/godigital-media-group-strikes-agreement-with-worldwide/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 June 2013 |work=GoDigital |accessdate=22 April 2013 }} CinemaNow{{cite web|title=Announcing the release of sci-fi fantasy hit Age of the Dragons starring Danny Glover and Vinnie Jones, another film distributed by KOAN and GoDigital Media Group |url=http://www.godigitalvod.com/annoucing-the-release-of-sci-fi-fantasy-hit-age-of-the/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130616125306/http://www.godigitalvod.com/annoucing-the-release-of-sci-fi-fantasy-hit-age-of-the/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 June 2013 |work=GoDigital |accessdate=22 April 2013 }}
MSO's:
Avail-TVN, Dish,{{cite web|last=Dickey|first=Josh|title=GoDigital scoops up 4 titles|url=https://variety.com/2012/film/news/godigital-scoops-up-4-titles-1118052870/|work=Variety|date=19 April 2012 |accessdate=22 April 2013}} InDemand
Notable Recent Films
- Dumbbells - Buddy comedy featuring a Fabio Lanzoni cameo{{cite web|title=Holiday-season movie releases|website = Los Angeles Times| date=November 2013 |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-ca-tv-sneaks-list-20131103,0,599964.story?page=10#axzz2kMHo5HoS|accessdate=10 January 2014}}
- Away From Here - A drifter is plagued with visions of his traumatic past, stars Nick Stahl and Alicia Witt, best known for Friday Night Lights{{cite web|last=Cipriani |first=Casey|title=Exclusive: GoDigital Acquires Digital Rights to 'Away From Here' Starring Nick Stahl|date=6 June 2013 |url=https://www.indiewire.com/article/go-digital-acquisitions|accessdate=10 January 2014}}
- I Know That Voice - Several voice actors such as John DiMaggio, best known for Futurama, and Kevin Conroy, best known for Batman, discuss their art and their careers
- Chasing Beauty - Provides a rare glimpse into the world of modeling
- The Motivation - A behind the scenes look at pro-skateboarding featuring Rob Dyrdek, Ryan Sheckler, Paul Rodriguez, and more
- The Punk Syndrome - Received the Audience Award at SXSW 2013{{cite web|last=Yamato|first=Jen|title=SXSW: GoDigital Acquires 'The Punk Syndrome', Fandango Debuts Fanticipation|url=https://deadline.com/2013/03/sxsw-godigital-punk-syndrome-fandango-fanticipation-448728/|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=8 March 2013 |access-date=22 April 2013}}{{cite web|title=Audience Award Winners Announced!|url=http://sxsw.com/film/news/audience-award-winners-announced|work=SXSW|accessdate=22 April 2013}}
- Sons of the Clouds: The Last Colony - Produced by Academy Award®-winning actor Javier Bardem and screened at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival{{cite web|last=Finke|first=Nikki|title=Toronto: GoDigital Nabs Doc 'Sons Of The Clouds: The Last Colony'|url=https://deadline.com/2012/09/toronto-godigital-nabs-doc-sons-of-the-clouds-the-last-colony-329924/|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=5 September 2012 |access-date=22 April 2013}}
- Ben Lee: Catch My Disease - The story of Australian singer-songwriter Ben Lee, with commentary from ex-girlfriend Claire Danes and old friends Jason Schwartzman, Michelle Williams, Zooey Deschanel, Winona Ryder, Thurston Moore and Beastie Boy Mike D{{cite web|last=Sridhar|first=Srimathi|title=Visit Films Partners with GoDigital to Release Documentary 'Ben Lee: Catch My Disease' on VOD|url=https://www.indiewire.com/article/visit-films-partners-with-godigital-to-release-documentary-ben-lee-catch-my-disease|work=IndieWire|date=14 August 2012 |accessdate=22 April 2013}}
- King Kelly - Screened at SXSW 2012
- She Wants Me - Starring Josh Gad and Hilary Duff{{cite web|title=GoDigital|url=https://www.imdb.com/company/co0285703/?ref_=fn_al_co_1|work=IMDb|accessdate=22 April 2013}}
- Unraveled - A documentary about notable white-collar criminal, Marc Dreier{{cite web|last=McNary|first=Dave|title=Go Digital acquires 'Unraveled'|url=https://variety.com/2012/film/news/go-digital-acquires-unraveled-1118049882/|work=Variety|date=8 February 2012 |accessdate=22 April 2013}}
- She’s the Best Thing In It, an SXSW documentary, US distribution rights, available on demand, February, 2016{{cite news|author1=Ramin Setoodeh|title=SXSW Doc 'She's the Best Thing In It' Sells to GoDigital (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/documentary-shes-the-best-thing-in-it-godigital-1201664571/|accessdate=20 December 2015|publisher=Variety magazine|date=18 December 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151220192944/http://variety.com/2015/film/news/documentary-shes-the-best-thing-in-it-godigital-1201664571/|archivedate=20 December 2015}}