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In Conversation with Walter Newman, An Emmy-Nominated Producer Behind NOUNS FEST

NOUNS Fest
In Conversation with Walter Newman, An Emmy-Nominated Producer Behind NOUNS FESTIn Conversation with Walter Newman, An Emmy-Nominated Producer Behind NOUNS FEST

Features

In Conversation with Walter Newman, An Emmy-Nominated Producer Behind NOUNS FEST

NOUNS Fest
Features
In Conversation with Walter Newman, An Emmy-Nominated Producer Behind NOUNS FEST
NOUNS Fest

The inaugural NOUNS FEST 2024 took place last night, Oct. 10, in downtown Los Angeles, bringing together members and fans of the open-source Nouns project, along with animators and industry insiders for a night of creative storytelling.

Hosted by actor and comedian Donald Faison and featuring performances by DJ Douggpound, the festival showcased 50 brand-new animated shorts, all funded by Nouns DAO’s innovative decentralized model. For attendees, the event offered a glimpse into the future of how NFTs and decentralized intellectual property (IP) present novel models with the potential to reshape the entertainment landscape. 

But what exactly are the NOUNS FEST founders hoping this festival means for the future of NFTs and animation? We asked Walter Newman, an Emmy-nominated producer with heavy-hitting entertainment credits from Adult Swim and Cartoon Network to his name. Along with the team of Nouns co-founders, Newman is one of the brains behind the festival. 

In the Q&A ahead, Newman takes us behind the scenes of NOUNS FEST and shares how decentralized funding models like the one pioneered by Nouns DAO are attempting to unlock new possibilities for creators. From how the open IP works, to Newman’s thoughts on traditional top-down funding, here’s what you need to know.

‍Note: This transcript has been edited for length and clarity.

OpenSea: Thanks for sitting down with us, Walt! Let’s start with the basics. How did you first get involved with Nouns DAO, and what drew you to this community?

Walter Newman: I got introduced to Nouns DAO through Joel Cares, an artist I’d worked with before at Adult Swim. Joel is really big in the Nouns community, and along with Eric Towner and Chris Waters from Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, they brought me in. I had just left Adult Swim after having my first baby, and I was looking for something new in the comedy and animation space, but more live-action-centered. The timing was perfect, and I already knew that Nouns was one of the coolest projects out there. So, I was honored to jump in.

OpenSea: For those unfamiliar with Nouns DAO, can you explain what makes it different from traditional creative projects?

Walter Newman: Nouns DAO operates on a decentralized funding model, which is super interesting because it's all about giving money and then stepping back to see what people create. Unlike traditional projects, where you might be working under a corporate sponsor like, say, Coca-Cola, Nouns just funds the creators and lets them run wild. The only real stipulation is that somewhere in the work, you include a “Noun.” It's a kind of radical creative freedom, and the fact that a new noun is auctioned off every day adds an exciting, self-sustaining element to it.

OpenSea: That daily auction system is fascinating. So, how does the funding from Nouns DAO directly impact the creative work, specifically for something like NOUNS FEST?

Walter Newman: It's an interesting dynamic. Nouns DAO essentially gives creators financial backing with no strings attached beyond incorporating the Nouns IP. The money comes from the auction of a new Noun each day, which funds a whole range of projects. For NOUNS FEST, we received over 500 submissions, and we’ve selected 50 animators to showcase. We’re giving these creators the resources to build what they want, without micromanagement, which is incredibly freeing. At the festival, people will get to see the results of that creative freedom firsthand.

OpenSea: Nouns DAO uses a Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license for all its IP. How does that affect the creative process compared to traditional copyright models?

Walter Newman: The CC0 license is definitely a game-changer. It means that anyone can use Nouns DAO IP to create without needing to ask permission. In the traditional media world, everything is tightly controlled—you can’t just take a character from The Simpsons and make your own cartoon without facing legal trouble. But with Nouns, the idea is to let creativity thrive. Someone could take a Noun and make an entirely new project, and Nouns DAO wouldn’t come after them. It’s all about fostering creativity in an open, collaborative environment.

OpenSea: Speaking of open environments, how do you see decentralized funding models like Nouns DAO influencing the broader entertainment industry?

Walter Newman: Honestly, it's a bit of an experiment right now. In traditional entertainment, the model is very top-down: studios provide the money, they own the IP, and they call the shots. Nouns DAO flips that on its head. The creators get the money and the freedom to do whatever they want. It’s not a solid business model in the traditional sense, but it’s exciting because we’re essentially learning to “govern” a creative project with no central control. If we pull it off, it could really change how projects get funded and produced in the future.

OpenSea: That’s an exciting prospect. And speaking of production, can you tell us more about some of the talent participating in NOUNS FEST? 

Walter Newman: Absolutely. One of the big names we’re working with is Donald Faison. Most people know him from “Scrubs,” but he’s been doing stop-motion animation on his own for years. He’s voiced characters in “Robot Chicken” and other shows from Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, and he’s just a huge fan of animation. We’re thrilled to have him. NOUNS FEST is proving to be a great example of how established talent can mix with up-and-coming creators in this new decentralized environment.

Donald Faison hosted NOUNS FEST 2024. (Image courtesy of NOUNS FEST.)

OpenSea: It’s amazing to hear about this level of collaboration. What kind of atmosphere are you hoping the festival will create?

Walter Newman: We want to celebrate animation from all over the world. We’re flying in animators and offering stipends to help them attend. There will be screenings, prizes, and of course, an afterparty with DJ Douggpound. It’s going to be a mix of creators, animators, web3 enthusiasts, and industry execs — people from Netflix, HBO, and other studios have already shown interest. We hope this becomes not just an animation festival, but a hub for creativity and community in web3.

OpenSea: With so many eyes on web3 right now, what do you think is the future of NFTs and decentralized content creation?

Walter Newman: The narrative around NFTs has definitely shifted, especially after the market cooled off, but the underlying technology is still super powerful. NFTs, like those in Nouns DAO, allow for creative freedom. The funding models they enable are shaking up industries like animation and gaming. I think we’ll see more experiments like NOUNS FEST — places where decentralized IP and funding create a whole new world of storytelling. It’s still chaotic, but that’s what makes it exciting.

OpenSea: Thanks so much, Walter! We can’t wait to see what NOUNS FEST brings to the NFT and animation communities.

A quick recap of NOUNS FEST 2024 

Last night, NOUNS FEST 2024 lit up Los Angeles and brought together some of the most creative minds in animation and web3 at the historic United Theater. Hosted by Donald Faison and featuring DJ Douggpound, the event premiered 50 brand-new animated shorts funded by Nouns DAO’s $1 million grant pool. 

Attendees gathering in line outside NOUNS FEST on October 10. (Image courtesy of J2 Communications.)

The evening was a celebration of decentralized creativity, where animators from around the globe showcased their work without any intervention from the organizers.

(Left to right:) Hannah Crabtree, Walt Newman, Seth Green, Eric Towner, Joel Cares, Donald Faison, Christopher Waters, Goldy, Josh Fisher(Image courtesy of J2 Communications.)

Attendees were treated to exclusive screenings and a lively afterparty, which offered a glimpse into the future of NFT-powered storytelling.

Inside the theater during a NOUNS FEST exclusive screening. (Image courtesy of J2 Communications.)

If you missed the 2024 festival, check out the sneak peek trailer here and follow NOUNS FEST for more.

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