Tugg Inc.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tugg was an American film-based crowdsourcing platform that enabled individuals to create film screenings at their local cinema.[1] Tugg ceased operations in January 2020.[2]
| |
| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film industry |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Founders | Nicolas Gonda and Pablo Gonzalez |
| Defunct | January 2020 |
| Fate | Bankrupt |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | United States |
| Products | On demand cinema |
| Website | tugg |
Incorporated in 2011, Tugg was officially launched in 2012 at SXSW by co-founders Nicolas Gonda and Pablo Gonzalez.[3][4] Headquartered in Austin, Texas, it offered services for promoters, filmmakers, and theaters.
Services
Promoters
Screening "hosts" selected a movie from Tugg's library of studio and independent films, chose from available theaters, dates, timeslots, and set other event details like ticket price; then, a set number of people needed to commit to attend before the event was actually on, in order to crowdsource the viewing.[5] Tugg provided promotional resources and tips, but the promoter was responsible for publicity.[6]
Tugg allowed filmmakers to show their films in movie theatres, allowing consumers to select the movies they wanted to see.[7] This distribution method, credited to Gonda, was "supposed to complement existing distribution methods".[5]
Tugg, Inc closed shortly after Distribber. With these avenues gone, independent filmmakers must seek other way to get their films out to the world.[8]
Education
Tugg had a department focused on Educational and Non-Theatrical communities, TuggEDU. It sold screening licenses to "effectively monetize the non-theatrical interest in a film".[1]
In 2016 Tugg launched the film The Last Gold in partnership with USA Swimming,"[9]