JuntoBox Films
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film production |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Founder | Philippe Caland |
| Defunct | 2014 |
| Headquarters | Santa Monica , United States |
Key people | Philippe Caland (Founder), Forest Whitaker (Co-chair) |
| Products | Micro-budget films, social networking platform for filmmakers |
JuntoBox Films was an independent film production company based in Santa Monica, focusing on micro-budget movie projects. It operated a social networking platform designed to facilitate collaboration among creators, where community members voted to determine which screenplays would receive funding. The company ceased operations around 2014 or 2015.
History
Established in 2012 by entrepreneur Philippe Caland, JuntoBox made its debut at the South by Southwest festival that same year. Early on, it formed a partnership with the crowdfunding site Indiegogo to aid in financing independent films. In March 2012, actor Forest Whitaker joined as co-chair, bringing valuable industry insight and leadership. The company’s name was inspired by Benjamin Franklin’s Junto club, symbolizing its emphasis on collaborative efforts.
Structure
JuntoBox offered a social media environment where actors, directors, producers, and writers—including those without agents or prior professional credits—could work together. The platform allowed users to vote on which film projects would receive financial backing and mentorship from JuntoBox. Projects chosen were subject to further evaluation, including traditional audition processes. Among the first films approved were Passenger, Sacrifice (2014), Anthem, and Sharon 1.2.3..
In 2013, JuntoBox collaborated with the Slamdance Film Festival to enhance the annual screenplay competition by pledging a minimum of $50,000 toward production costs, supplementing the $10,000 cash prize.
The following year, JuntoBox introduced a three-month Feature Film Incubator workshop designed to develop screenplays into fully realized projects. Participants benefited from individualized sessions with industry experts such as story analysts, casting directors, and line producers, alongside guidance on budgeting and distribution strategies. The initiative aimed to finance at least one film after the pitching phase, providing both monetary support and mentorship to selected works.
Films
JuntoBox has backed multiple films, including significant titles such as:
- Passenger – written and directed by Tony McGrath; produced by Alex Malt
- Sacrifice (2014) – written and directed by Michael Cohn; produced by Jeanine Rohn and Joseph Sememse
- American Anthem (originally titled Anthem) – screenplay by John Carr
- Sharon 1.2.3. (2018) – written by Wesley Mills; directed by Mark Brown
- Repentance (2013) – written by Shintaro Shimosawa and Philippe Caland; directed by Philippe Caland
- The Driver – screenplay by George Richards; directed by Alex Ardenti; produced by Philippe Caland
- Operator (2016) – co-written and directed by Logan Kibens
- Die Like a Man (anticipated 2022) – written and directed by Eric Nazarian; produced by Javier Chapa
- God Loves Stu – written and directed by Aldo Velasco; produced by David Allen Cress
- Letters from the President – written by Tony Tambi; directed by Michael D. Olmos
- The Locksmith – written by Blair Kroeber; produced by Ted Kroeber
- Mullet – written and directed by Rafael Del Toro
- White Mice – co-written and directed by Simon Arthur; produced by Katie Holly and Claire Mundell
- The Sweet Life (2016) – originally titled Good Humor; written by Jared Rappaport; directed by Rob Spera; produced by Bonnie Curtis and Julie Lynn