i love independent film but what influence do you think it has on the film industry and how important do you guys think it is for the industry that independent film continues just as strongly?
what do you think?
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Filmmakers have to start somewhere IMO. You can go to a high level film school and gradutate with honors, but I think every film maker has to start as an "indie", although as someone stated, is indie really indie anymore, with 15 million dollar "independent" films?
Everyone has to start somewhere, has to make that first film or films. I think the commercial sector looks to this genre for ideas, and in cities I've been in there is a segment of population that supports the genre, I don't think it will disappear at all.
I think what's happened is, with everyone and their brother having access to video recording technology and affordable film editing software, there will always be more indie film makers than commercial(I'm citing "indie" as someone grabbing a camera and making a film).
I even like to think that if this genre of filmmaking stopped, the commercial sector would be at a loss as to where to go for new staff and material
Everyone has to start somewhere, has to make that first film or films. I think the commercial sector looks to this genre for ideas, and in cities I've been in there is a segment of population that supports the genre, I don't think it will disappear at all.
I think what's happened is, with everyone and their brother having access to video recording technology and affordable film editing software, there will always be more indie film makers than commercial(I'm citing "indie" as someone grabbing a camera and making a film).
I even like to think that if this genre of filmmaking stopped, the commercial sector would be at a loss as to where to go for new staff and material
I even like to think that if this genre of filmmaking stopped, the commercial sector would be at a loss as to where to go for new staff and material
1970's TV shows, Comic Books and remakes!
Actually, the term "Indie" was coined to mean films that were produced independently of the major studios. Many still had relatively large budgets; "Easy Rider" and "Night of the Living Dead" are great examples of Indie film.
The term indie has morphed over the years; in the current YouTube era when anyone can pick up a camera and shoot the term "Indie" has become associated with mediocre scripts, bad acting, crappy sound and gross self-indulgence.
Hmmmmmm........ perhaps we need a new term...........
Here's my opinion:
Do you want to mess up the lighting on a shot that has your buddy in it from down the street or do you want to mess it up on some 20mil actor.
Do you want to distort the audio on the dialogue scene and have to pay for a day's worth of ADR for your classmate or Harrison Ford?
Do you want to learn how to operate your video camera like an incompetent bastard while Steven Spielberg rolls his eyes or do you want to learn while shooting your little sister's Christmas pageant?
IMO Indie films are where you make the mistakes so you don't have to on the big productions.
I've recorded actors from the bottom rung of the ladder to the top (and I do mean the top) in terms of "star status", and I can tell you honestly that there is no substitute for just going out and getting your hands dirty and learning and becoming competent at your craft.
Like Tinalera said, you can have a "Doctorate in Filmmaking Awesomeness" and that doesn't mean a thing if you haven't dealt with people and actually made a movie - there is a lot of work that goes into it other than learning what films were nominated for what academy award.
As far as influence... Wasn't Slumdog Millionaire an indie film? Wasn't The Hurt Locker an indie film?
Peter Jackson got his start doing some of the wackiest B-rated horror films if I remember correctly. Also, no major studio would pick up on Lord of the Rings so technically they started the Lord of the Rings trilogy as an indie film, right?
Anyway, indie films are a great place to learn and make inexpensive mistakes and becoming competent.
Be competent.
Do you want to mess up the lighting on a shot that has your buddy in it from down the street or do you want to mess it up on some 20mil actor.
Do you want to distort the audio on the dialogue scene and have to pay for a day's worth of ADR for your classmate or Harrison Ford?
Do you want to learn how to operate your video camera like an incompetent bastard while Steven Spielberg rolls his eyes or do you want to learn while shooting your little sister's Christmas pageant?
IMO Indie films are where you make the mistakes so you don't have to on the big productions.
I've recorded actors from the bottom rung of the ladder to the top (and I do mean the top) in terms of "star status", and I can tell you honestly that there is no substitute for just going out and getting your hands dirty and learning and becoming competent at your craft.
Like Tinalera said, you can have a "Doctorate in Filmmaking Awesomeness" and that doesn't mean a thing if you haven't dealt with people and actually made a movie - there is a lot of work that goes into it other than learning what films were nominated for what academy award.
As far as influence... Wasn't Slumdog Millionaire an indie film? Wasn't The Hurt Locker an indie film?
Peter Jackson got his start doing some of the wackiest B-rated horror films if I remember correctly. Also, no major studio would pick up on Lord of the Rings so technically they started the Lord of the Rings trilogy as an indie film, right?
Anyway, indie films are a great place to learn and make inexpensive mistakes and becoming competent.
Be competent.
Some good points made! As far as Lord of the Rings, I believe New Line picked them up for the rights before shooting(though I could be wrong). I heard some interesting stories that Disney turned down the 300 million price tag, then Execs at Disney wanted answers when the FIRST film made 300 million domestic
Starting filmmaking is a humbling experience, and after you get your training(I've had a 1 year program), you realize what you DONT know-but places like this make it all the easier.
As far as indie and being seperate from Studios, I guess that's true-The Star Wars saga is effectively an indy series(FOX is pretty just distributor). So it's a varied term, though I agree we should look for a new term.
How about "Filmmaker who isn't getting paid by a by studio yet"
Nah, doesn't roll off the tongue
Thanks!
Aha. Yes a new term should be used because I do think people too often associate it with bad acting and bad production value. That's a tough one. What to call it.
Is Neo-film taken? Heh.
Anyway - I hope that between your post and mine that answers the guy's original question.
Indie films are extremely important.
Aha. Yes a new term should be used because I do think people too often associate it with bad acting and bad production value. That's a tough one. What to call it.
Is Neo-film taken? Heh.
Anyway - I hope that between your post and mine that answers the guy's original question.
Indie films are extremely important.