Change.org is a great tool for helping spread awareness about a variety of societal issues plaguing our world. However, sometimes it’s used by fandoms to show their numbers and hopefully create change in their own little worlds. Whether it’s for James Gunn being rehired (hey, look they have a billboard now!) or remaking “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” fans have been known to utilize the website to show interest in an idea, in a modern-day version of a letter-writing campaign. The latest of these, and one we actually fully support, is a recent petition to attempt to save FilmStruck.
READ MORE: The FilmStruck Streaming Service Is Dead And With It Goes The Awesome Criterion Channel
Created by Kevin Bahr, the Change.org petition to save the streaming service has accumulated just under 32,000 signatures (as of this writing) to show WarnerMedia that there’s more to FilmStruck than just a “niche” audience. For those not aware, it was announced that FilmStruck, which unlike Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and other streaming services, focused on classic films and carried the Criterion Channel, was being shut down effective November 29.
The reason for the shutdown, according to WarnerMedia was due to the streaming service focusing on a “niche” market. Part of the company’s statement read, “While FilmStruck has a very loyal fanbase, it remains largely a niche service.”
Well, according to the petition, that’s not entirely true. FilmStruck, other than being one of the best subscription services out there, serves multiple purposes:
“FilmStruck is not just a niche market, it is a massive archive dedicated to keeping art of the past alive, much in the way a museum keeps artists from centuries ago alive. It deserves to live, not only to provide an outlet for film lovers of the past but also to create new fans through the next several generations, and perhaps open some more eyes along the way.”
As mentioned, the petition has been picking up steam thanks to a couple endorsements from some major figures in the film/TV worlds. Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro tweeted, “Don’t ‘mourn’ Filmstruck. DO something- sign the petition!”
READ MORE: Guillermo Del Toro Explains Why He Took A Year Off After ‘The Shape Of Water’
This endorsement also joins Bill Hader’s plea, which was tweeted by IndieWire, saying, “I know there’s a lot of bigger fish to fry right now in the world, but in my little kingdom, if we could save FilmStruck, that would be awesome.”
As of now, it doesn’t appear that WarnerMedia is changing its mind, but perhaps if there’s enough interest (and digital signatures), maybe the company will find a way to keep FilmStruck alive. You can sign the petition here.
Don't "mourn" Filmstruck. DO something- sign the petition! Now over 16,000 people have signed (myself included). https://t.co/ml3VaZtEbw
— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) November 3, 2018
Bill Hader implores everyone to sign the petition to save @FilmStruck: "I know there's a lot of bigger fish to fry, but if we could save FilmStruck, that would be awesome." https://t.co/25k1AoUY6h #IWHonors pic.twitter.com/lNvq3i9njH
— IndieWire (@IndieWire) November 2, 2018
