Kyle
Social networks are a staple in just about everyone’s daily lives. In the Facebook generation it feels like everyone who has any kind of internet access is online and part of some kind of social network. Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ have a strangle hold on mainstream social network needs. LinkedIn has the business sector covered, but now social networks are emerging for specific industries.
We’ve reported on Memphis based “Work For Pie” which is a social network/linked In of sorts for developers, there are social networks for real estate agents and now a social network for those working on films.
When we first heard about Miami startup PitchShark we weren’t exactly clear on the need for a social network, where did the real problem lay? Well co-founder Justin Perez talked with us in the interview below and there are a ton of reasons that PitchShark makes sense.
For instance, casting an indie film or a film not sanctioned by one of the major studios, can be a long and painstaking process. Perez explains in the interview that it’s not just about casting either. There are other resources that film producers need in order to get the project off the ground.
Check out the interview below:
What is PitchShark?
PitchShark looks to revolutionize the way that the filmed arts industry currently casts their projects. We want to simplify this often time consuming part of the film creation process. With PitchShark you can develop your social network and cast your project within that community, making it easier, faster, and saving you some important production costs in the process. You can also manage your on going projects as well as pitch a finished film or program to the user base.
Who are the founders and what are their backgrounds?
The founding team consists of myself Justin Perez, Aaron Haas, and Naeem Shareef. My background is in radio production. I’ve been a producer for CBS, working with companies like NBC, ESPN, and the NFL and covering events like the SuperBowl. Naeem Shareef and Aaron Haas round out our technical team. Naeem Shareef is a professor of computer Science at the Ohio State University. Aaron Haas is a grad student at the Ohio State University majoring in Computer Science.
Where are you based?
We are currently based out of Miami, FL.
How did you come up with the idea for PitchShark?
I felt a platform like PitchShark was needed after writing a script and seeing how difficult and time consuming it was to connect to the right people in the industry. With a script you’d need to first; find the correct literary agent and second; find the right match in director and or production company. This process made it immensely difficult for anybody not currently in the circle of trust that is Hollywood.
What is your experience in the movie business?
I’ve worked with several different networks or PR firms while booking talent for CBS radio. During a promotional tour for a film, they’d reach out to me to book time for their actor or actress to promote their movies.
What problem does PitchShark solve?
In our research we saw a reoccurring problem; to cast for a project entails scouring through many sites and emailing back and forth, wasting valuable time in the process. Because of this we felt that there was a huge opportunity to disrupt the way that film projects are casted. With PitchShark the casting process is made easy, giving directors the opportunity to view existing auditions or submit their own project for auditioning. For casting directors who are low on time and need a quicker turnaround we’ve created a live audition platform, giving them the chance to get instant access to talent with the click of a button. We feel with PitchShark, we can really simplify this process.
What’s your secret sauce?
I think that what we’re building is certainly a “next level” type of product and that we’ve got an opportunity where we can disrupt an age old process in a major industry. Though we’re building a versatile platform where users can connect, manage and submit finished content for feedback, our main goal is to dramatically change and simplify the casting process. We want to improve casting in the filmed arts industry, making it cheaper, quicker, and more easily accessible to everybody. A casting call is often local making people feel that they have to move to L.A. or N.Y. to really be in the game. With PitchShark you can develop and extend your industry contacts, making Los Angeles a global community instead of a local one.
What’s one challenge you’ve overcome in the startup process?
Being we’ve got a great team and that we’re committed to building a great product for our users, we’ve been able to adapt and have bootstrapped this project since the onset.
What’s next for PitchShark?
August is an important month for us as we’ll be going live for our initial testing phase. You can register now atPitchShark.com
