Yes, there is no fee for joining OTTfilms website.

No, OTTfilms is not a production company but is here to facilitate filmmaking under our OTTfilms collaborative banner.

It is up to the Director/Producer of each film to establish their position on many of the things relating to the production of their film.

As OTTfilms, we will do our best to provide guidelines and advice, but ultimately the production, distribution, employment, etc etc etc of each film is the reponsibility of the Director/Producer. OTTfilms is NOT responsible for matters such as insurance, Health & Safety, rights, and ownership.

OTTfilms is a collaborative community that brings filmmakers together to help each other make films.

We were created for the purpose of banding together in order to make films that we might struggle to make alone. That means that each member of this community contributes and gives back what they take with as much concern for other people’s projects as their own.

We have a large member base of actors and crew who will help each other to get projects made by filling cast and crew positions, giving advice, sometimes lending equipment and sharing expertise for each other's films.

Directors earn the privilege of that help by committing to helping others out with their projects first before asking for help from the group for their own projects.

Directors taking help from this group will also honour the production help given to them by this community by showing the OTTfilms production header at the front of their film.

OTTfilms and it’s Admin Team are here to aid and assist filmmaking but are not responsible for running or making production decisions on individual projects (other than offering advice and ensuring our rules are maintained). Directors fund and manage their own projects (often with the help of a Producer) and are accountable for all the decisions and organisation of those projects.

Please ensure you have read our Rules and understand the way that OTTfilms works. We welcome everyone, at all levels of experience, to this group as long as you are willing to accept our rules and uphold our Ethos (as our current members are proud to do).

If you have any questions regarding the group you are more than welcome to ask any member of the Admin Team who’s names appear at the top of each forum.

You will find us a welcoming and enthusiastic community so join in and get involved!

Other than on the set, there are many opportunities to meet and socialize with your fellow OTT members.

Once a month we hold a meeting in the centre of London. These meetings are always well attended (usually between 20-50 members). We discuss issues ranging from the current slate of films to the running of the group itself. After the meeting there is usually a couple of hours worth of socializing and networking between members. You are more than welcome to attend and contribute to these meetings.

Twice a year we arrange screenings of our latest films. These events are open to every member of the group and are also well attending (averaging 100 people per screening).

We also celebrate the achievements of our members once a year at the OTT Awards. This usually coincides with the first Screening of the year.

There's an FAQ button at the very top of the forum that will explain a lot about the forum module and it's use.

If you have problems or need help with anything forum related, contact one of the OTT Admin by clicking the names that appear at the top of each forum and sending a PM.

While it's is not the intention of the OTT Admin Team to dictate how people should crew their films, or employ any regimented way of doing so on the forum, this group runs on good will and we want to ensure that the good will offered by our members is maintained and appreciated.

It is important when organising projects that Directors and their Producers use appropriate consideration when appointing cast and crew.

We want Directors to have the people they need to do the job they want, but also we want members offers of help, whether or not they are taken up, to always be acknowledged and appreciated.

It's nice for members to feel that they can volunteer to help on project threads before cast and crew calls are put out and it's heartening to directors to know that support is there.

Indeed, for the admin team, knowing that there is enough support for a project helps us to be able to Green Light it in the first place.

It's easy to become enthusiastic and say yes to those offers of help without giving full consideration to anyone else who might want to get involved or without thinking whether the person you are saying yes to is going to still be right for the job if the project changes and develops during pre-production.

Something we can all do to benefit projects is to improve communication about casting and crewing.

So people are free to offer help and express interest in being involved in projects.

So people are free to thank people for offering help and to pre-include their interest for any cast and crew call as and when that time comes around.

So people are free to confirm someone in a role if that is what the director wants (having given full consideration to the matter) and to list that person as confirmed in the top post of the thread so that it's clear for others that a specific role is already taken.

Hopefully with a bit of thoughtfullness and clear communication we can retain the flexibility of casting and crewing while ensuring that everyone's needs are served and respected.

That's fine. Invite them to join up OTTfilms too. The more the merrier.

We'd ask that you post your Cast and Crew calls in the folder here before or at least at the same time as submitting to outside bulletins to allow OTTfilms members to put themselves forward for roles in your film too. (As a lot of our members, particularly actors, don't read individual threads but just check that folder).

Join On the matter of expenses it is ultimately the Director and not OTTfilms who decide whether or not travel and other expenses can be paid but this should be made clear to people before they undertake work for you.

We are a collaborative filmmaking group and a lot of our members are making films on no/lo budgets. Therefore a lot of our films and filmmakers don't have a lot of cash to play with and rely on good will.

The usual OTT practice has been that while folks are usually happy to work for free, some people can't afford to also be out of pocket for helping you out, and if that is the case then they shouldn't be.

Most directors will check (or get their Producers to check) prior to the shoot whether anyone needs expenses rather than offering them across the board, or will tell people if the budget does not stretch to expenses.

Also if someone knows they need expenses it's a good idea to let the Director know beforehand and not simply assume that the budget is in place for them. This is particularly important if people live at a distance from where the film is being made.

If expenses are offered at the time of the cast and crew calls, directors should be sure and follow through to offer them at the shoot unless otherwise agreed.