How do I watch your films?
I’ve purchased a film but don’t have a download link / can’t download it. What can I do?
I’m screening in a cinema and they’ve requested a DCP file.
Can I use your short films on my website/in my educational course?
Do you sell DVDs?
How can I gift a copy of a film to a friend?
What are the films rated?
Do the films have subtitles?
Are you interested in corporate branding collaborations?
How is Happen Films funded?
What gear do you use?
What community guidelines do you operate under on social media?
How do I watch your films?
Most of our films are free to view on YouTube and can be watched from right here on our website. Check out Feature Films and Short Films in the main menu.
Living the Change is available as a pay-to-view film for download, streaming or rental in a variety of resolutions through this page on our website. To watch Living the Change on your iPad or iPhone, you’ll need to download the film to your computer and then sync it to your device.
You can also purchase our films so that you have them permanently available on your device to view offline, or with a license so that you can hold a public screening. Visit the store for more information.
I’ve purchased a film but don’t have a download link / can’t download it. What can I do?
When you bought the film from our website store you will have received a purchase receipt at the email address you provided (check your Spam folder if this didn’t reach you immediately). That email contains your download link. The link does not expire, so please keep the email, so that you can access it again if needed.
To download the film, simply click on the link. You’ll be prompted to choose where to save it. The download time will depend on the file size (i.e., whether you’ve bought a short film or a feature film) and your internet connection.
Once downloaded, store the file on a hard drive, USB stick, or in a folder on your computer from which you can play it. If you’re holding a public screening and need a DVD, it’s fine for you to burn one copy for that purpose.
If the download is failing, the most likely problem is that your internet connection is not reliable enough for this purpose. You could try asking a friend to download it and then transfer the file to a hard drive or USB stick. If that’s not an option, please email us.
To watch a film on your iPad or iPhone, you’ll need to download it to your computer and then sync it to your device.
I’m screening in a cinema and they’ve requested a DCP file.
In New Zealand and Australia we have a limited number of DCP files available for an additional $20 plus postage. Most cinemas require the film 1–2 weeks ahead of the screening date and we’ll need at least 2 weeks’ notice to get it to you.
Can I use your short films on my website/in my educational course?
Do you sell DVDs?
Due to the cost and environmental impact of creating DVDs, we’ve decided against producing them for sale. If you have no other way to screen the film, it’s fine for you to purchase the download link and create/have created a DVD copy for your personal use.
How can I gift a copy of a film to a friend?
Unfortunately, the video on demand platforms we use don’t have a set-up for gifting films. The best method we can currently offer is that you purchase the film through our website using your friend’s email address instead of your own, so that they receive the file directly (they’d need to know it was coming), or purchase it with your own address and forward the email with the download link to your friend with a personal note. We’re sorry not to be able to offer a more gifty method – we’re working on it!
What are the films rated?
Living the Change is officially rated PG. Fools & Dreamers is exempt from rating due to being a documentary containing no offensive language. Our other films are not rated.
Do the films have subtitles?
Our budget hasn’t extended to professional subtitling, but we have a wonderful team of volunteer translators from around the world who have contributed translations to our feature film Living the Change. Check here to see if the film’s been translated into your language. YouTube used to offer a “community contributions” feature, where anyone could add subtitles to our videos – have a look there to see which films are subtitled in your language. If you’re interested in adding subtitles, email us and we can send you the English subtitles with time code stamps.
Are you interested in corporate branding collaborations?
No, but thanks for asking! While our YouTube videos are monetised (meaning an ad plays at the beginning of each film – a critical income source for us), we choose not to collaborate with corporate brands or to sell products via our films. We don’t plan on changing our minds about this – even if your product is super-duper eco awesomeness – so we wish you well with your own business but request that you don’t email us offering a collaboration. Thanks again!
How is Happen Films funded?
We have a whole page about this! Head to How is Happen Films Funded?
What gear do you use?
Our gear is the part of our lives that causes us the most conflict! For that reason, we prioritise buying secondhand wherever possible (obviously not batteries, nor hard drives). Our current gear is as follows:
- Main video camera: Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
- Stills/timelapse camera: 5D Mark IV
- Lenses: Canon 16-35mm f/4; Sigma 24mm f/1.4; Sigma 50mm f/1.4; Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8
- External monitor: SmallHD Focus
- Audio: Sennheiser G3 wireless lavalier mics; Zoom H5 recorder; Rode Videomic Pro for on-camera audio
- Tripod: Manfrotto 290 xtra with 701 HDV fluid head
- Stabilisers: Ronin-m gimbal; Glidecam HD-2000
- Editing computer: 2019 iMac with dual monitor setup
- Editing software: Final Cut Pro X
- Editing harddrive: Lacie 16TB RAID
What community guidelines do you operate under on social media?
In order to create a positive and engaging environment within the Happen Films social media community, we ask that everyone treats each other with respect. While at times people within this community might disagree with ideas expressed by others, all opinions and viewpoints are welcome. However, insults, threats or harassment of other people or organisations, offensive statements and illegal content will not be tolerated.
Happen Films reserves its right to delete – to the extent that each respective social media platform allows – any post or comment that is defamatory, indecent, hateful, racist, xenophobic, homophobic, sexist, disgraceful, vulgar, or inappropriate; and unintelligible or irrelevant posts.
We love to hear from you and encourage comments, critiques, questions, and suggestions.
This is an ethos in direct correlation to People Care, a Permaculture Ethic we frame our lives by.