Comments on: Open Forum Friday: Are Independent Films in Trouble? http://www.filmjunk.com/2008/07/04/open-forum-friday-are-independent-films-in-trouble/ Blog and Podcast Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:05:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Rian http://www.filmjunk.com/2008/07/04/open-forum-friday-are-independent-films-in-trouble/comment-page-1/#comment-427930 Rian Mon, 07 Jul 2008 02:46:36 +0000 http://www.filmjunk.com/2008/07/04/open-forum-friday-are-independent-films-in-trouble/#comment-427930 Indie films are "cool" because they're indie. Just like any genre, as soon as a few make some waves (Little Miss Sunshine, anyone?) the genre becomes popular, the market becomes oversaturated, they become stereotypical and too plentiful, then fall by the wayside and become cool again until a new one comes along that does something different and sets the bar high again. You guys have talked on the podcast about how this has happened with horror films before and I think the same goes for any genre, really. Indie films are “cool” because they’re indie. Just like any genre, as soon as a few make some waves (Little Miss Sunshine, anyone?) the genre becomes popular, the market becomes oversaturated, they become stereotypical and too plentiful, then fall by the wayside and become cool again until a new one comes along that does something different and sets the bar high again. You guys have talked on the podcast about how this has happened with horror films before and I think the same goes for any genre, really.

]]> By: Baychuk http://www.filmjunk.com/2008/07/04/open-forum-friday-are-independent-films-in-trouble/comment-page-1/#comment-427531 Baychuk Sat, 05 Jul 2008 02:48:12 +0000 http://www.filmjunk.com/2008/07/04/open-forum-friday-are-independent-films-in-trouble/#comment-427531 No, I don't think so. If the film is good enough, word of mouth travels fast. True film lover appreciate the passion and dedication that goes into these projects as opposed to cookie cutter scripts and flavour of the month actors. F**K Hollywood! No, I don’t think so. If the film is good enough, word of mouth travels fast. True film lover appreciate the passion and dedication that goes into these projects as opposed to cookie cutter scripts and flavour of the month actors.

F**K Hollywood!

]]> By: Ryan M. http://www.filmjunk.com/2008/07/04/open-forum-friday-are-independent-films-in-trouble/comment-page-1/#comment-427382 Ryan M. Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:25:51 +0000 http://www.filmjunk.com/2008/07/04/open-forum-friday-are-independent-films-in-trouble/#comment-427382 “Some are predicting that the internet will be the saving grace for independent film distributors, but would it mean sacrificing the ability to see them on the big screen?” I’m predicting that the internet could be a saving grace. That wouldn’t sacrifice people’s chances of seeing it on the big screen. The fact that my only chance of seeing indies in the U.S.(unless they turn into a Juno) is living in New York, Los Angeles, or near a decent festival is sacrificial enough. The internet also hurts simply because of the well known fact that it is just another distraction that can yield a more customized mode of entertainment for a ninety minutes. Really, the digital revolution is much more helpful for indies in terms of the video medium. The 24P shooting format has given me the freedom to work in ways that would be way too expensive with film and yet yield a similar result. Even studio films like 28 Days Later have embraced this format and excelled. The downside of digital is that festivals get an exponentially larger flood of crap to sift through every year. I know from my limited festival-insider experience that they watch the films with established names first and then they will check out the films shot on celluloid next. Saying you shot your “film” in HD almost always garners less respect. MY CONCLUSION: With the exclusion of the Junos and Big Fat Greek Weddings of the universe; indie films will always be suffering. Here’s a great link to Mark Gill (former prez of Miramax) discussing his thoughts on the current state of indies: http://www.indiewire.com/biz/2008/06/irst_person_fil.html “Some are predicting that the internet will be the saving grace for independent film distributors, but would it mean sacrificing the ability to see them on the big screen?”

I’m predicting that the internet could be a saving grace. That wouldn’t sacrifice people’s chances of seeing it on the big screen. The fact that my only chance of seeing indies in the U.S.(unless they turn into a Juno) is living in New York, Los Angeles, or near a decent festival is sacrificial enough. The internet also hurts simply because of the well known fact that it is just another distraction that can yield a more customized mode of entertainment for a ninety minutes.

Really, the digital revolution is much more helpful for indies in terms of the video medium. The 24P shooting format has given me the freedom to work in ways that would be way too expensive with film and yet yield a similar result. Even studio films like 28 Days Later have embraced this format and excelled.

The downside of digital is that festivals get an exponentially larger flood of crap to sift through every year. I know from my limited festival-insider experience that they watch the films with established names first and then they will check out the films shot on celluloid next. Saying you shot your “film” in HD almost always garners less respect.

MY CONCLUSION: With the exclusion of the Junos and Big Fat Greek Weddings of the universe; indie films will always be suffering.

Here’s a great link to Mark Gill (former prez of Miramax) discussing his thoughts on the current state of indies:

http://www.indiewire.com/biz/2008/06/irst_person_fil.html

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