faq
Q. Why did you create TPC?
A. Like any growing problem, the challenges facing the film industry demanded a new solution. From safer, lower-risk content and industry strikes to shrinking creative opportunities and the rise of AI replacing jobs, The Peoples Cinema “TPC”, was created to help protect and support the people behind filmmaking. The Peoples Cinema was born from the belief that audiences and artists together can help keep original human storytelling alive.
At its core, TPC exists because I want to continue creating stories with people who love telling them. Nothing is more gratifying than knowing I could help support my industry and keep creative people working.
“A single ant can do little, but many can move a mountain.”
-Sven Soukup Founder
Q. Why the black and yellow-
ORANGE design choice?
A. Yellow represents the sun - a new dawn, a new day. It also reflects the determined spirit of TPC, much like the bumblebee: something that by all logic shouldn’t fly, yet somehow does anyway.
Q. Does TPC stand to take
Hollywood down?
A. No. TPC does not exist to take anyone down. It exists to give people another outlet to support and create the kind of content they want to see, while respecting the creative process and the artists behind it. At its core, TPC is designed to help sustain creative communities and continue feeding opportunities back into the industry.
Q. How much of each
donation reaches TPC?
100% of donations go to The Peoples Cinema (TPC), minus standard payment processing fees charged by Stripe, the online payment provider.
Stripe fees are:
2.9% + $0.30 per transaction +0.07% billing fees.
Below is a breakdown of how that affects different contribution levels:
Membership
$1
$3
$5
$12/yr*
Stripe Fee/Billing Fee
$0.33+0.01
$0.39+0.02
$0.45+0.04
$0.65+0.08
TPC Receives
Fee Loss
$0.66
$2.59
$4.51
$11.27
34%
14%
10%
6%
*this is why we encourage yearly contributions for lower-tier memberships — it significantly reduces processing fees.
Q. Where do all the funds
end up?
A. All income from TPC is deposited into a separate USD account and held until a project is officially greenlit and its budget finalized. The funds are then withdrawn and moved into a dedicated production account for that specific project.
Q. Can i contribute more,
or have multiple
memberships?
A. Sure can. Some members have more than one membership. There is no limit. If however you’re wanting contribute a larger sum, please send us an email at movement.thepeoplescinema@gmail.com and we will setup a specific contribution amount to your liking.
Q. WHY AFTER I DONATED,
I DON’T SEE THE BALANCE
UPDATE?
A. Donations made are meant to reflect in real time. However due to processing, the amount contributed may take an hour or 2 to update. But don’t worry. You will see the balance grow shortly.
Q. Who decides what projects
are created?
A. You.
TPC exists to give the people a voice in what gets created. As the organization grows and funding becomes available, members will gain access to a voting system that helps decide which projects move into production. (coming soon)
Short films. Feature films. Horror. Comedy. Sci-Fi. Experimental.
The choice will be yours.
Q. Can anyone submit a
project or idea?
A. Eventually, yes. TPC aims to open submissions to filmmakers, writers, artists, and creators from around the world, giving emerging voices a platform traditionally difficult to access.
Q. Will TPC allow
AI-generated content?
A. Fundamentally, no. TPC exists to support human creativity, filmmaking, storytelling, and real artists.
In practice however, while every project must remain human-driven at its core, AI may be used as a supporting production tool in areas such as visual effects, simulations, or workflow assistance (web/design). AI does help make somethings more achievable and cost effective.
The key point is: AI must not be taking away from the industries employment or creative expression.
Q. If I contribute and I’m part
of the film industry,
does that mean I’ll get a
position on the crew?
A. Unfortunately, we do not gatekeep or directly assign crew positions based on contributions.
However, there is an indirect benefit: as The Peoples Cinema grows and produces more projects, it naturally creates more employment opportunities within the wider production ecosystem. When we are in production, crew members may also move between shows, which can open up additional positions on other projects. In that way, increased production activity can lead to more opportunities for everyone involved.
Q. Which cities does
TPC target?
A. The Peoples Cinema is ultimately designed as a global movement, bringing together people from all over the world to unite and create stories collaboratively. The long-term vision is to produce films in multiple regions across the globe.
In the early stages, TPC will be primarily based in Vancouver, BC and Los Angeles, CA, with expansion into other cities as the movement and production capacity grow.
Q. Can i contribute
in other ways?
A. Yes! TPC is not one person. It’s a gathering of many. We all have different skills, and we’d love to hear from you.
Maybe you’re a web designer who can improve the optics of this website.
Maybe you’re a lawyer who can help us cross our T’s and dot our I’s.
Maybe you’re an accountant with advice that could help guide our journey.
Whatever your skill set may be, we welcome you.
Please don’t hesitate to email us at:
movement.thepeoplescinema@gmail.com
We’d love to hear from you.
Thank you.