Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Amazon made its name selling music, films, and books in hard copy and electronic form. Its latest venture is to revolutionise the film-production world.
The online retail giant has announced the launch of Amazon Studios, a website that invites screenwriters to upload scripts and directors to showcase prospective scenes from movies they hope to make. A panel of experts then judge the quality of the work and distribute monthly cash prizes to successful projects. Warner Bros has first access to the best work.
Roy Price, Amazon's director of product development, said: "If you look at ideas in the aggregate, that can tell you something significant."
Two scripts a month will receive $20,000 (£12,500); with one movie each month receiving $100,000.
Participants are allowed to submit their own rewrites of scripts already posted. The rewrites are judged separately, with the public invited to comment on and rate submissions.
"We may become the world's biggest employer of story analysts," Mr Price said, noting that Amazon's goal was to develop "full-budget theatrical films".
The project is partly inspired by the open-source software movement.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments