tagged w/ Indie Film
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The abundance and affordability of digital video have turned everyone into a potential Spielberg, and zero-budget films are the talk of festivals across the globe.
In 1977 the fanzine Sniffin’ Glue published pictures of three chords: having mastered those, it famously told its readers they could all go out and form their own bands. For film-makers, the punk aesthetic was less affordable; even a shoestring could cost a king’s ransom. Today, though, thanks to digital video, everyone is doing low-budget films. Movie-mad teenagers, ambitious first-timers, seasoned directors crunched by credit or seeking to recharge their creative batteries – all are eager to investigate how low you can go.
The Raindance Film Festival has a low-budget competition whose cut-off point is 50,000 in sterling, US dollars or euros. Bottom – or top – of the pile, is a British movie called Colin, which officially cost £45.
Though it is by no means without merit, Colin’s measly budget is its main selling point. The director, Marc Price, 30, enthuses how he pressed an elderly camcorder into service to shoot this epic of a suburban everyman bitten by a zombie.
Genre films like Colin are relatively saleable. Roger Corman built his empire on them, Robert Rodriguez made his name with the £7,000 Mexican comedy-thriller El Mariachi, while The Blair Witch Project remains the unholy grail for all low-rent wannabes. A recent subset has been the fad for cheap and cheeky remakes of blockbusters, where the joke is the mismatch between their peanut production values and the films that inspired them. Earlier this year, an “adaptation” of Raiders of the Lost Ark shot by three schoolboys achieved a cinema release, with Steven Spielberg’s blessing.
Among the six micro-budget films competing at Raindance is Paul Cotter’s Bomber, a dramedy about a young man who accompanies his elderly parents on a cathartic trip to Germany. The budget, £24,000, came from the director, his friends and his family, and it was edited on an iMac (another technology that has smoothed the way for low-cost film-making).
Cotter is British but worked for seven years in the United States, where he believes the independent film-making scene is far livelier. “There’s much more of a gung-ho, roll-up-your-sleeves attitude,” he says. Films are marginally easier to sell there, he thinks, though Bomber has yet to find a buyer on either side of the Atlantic.
Shane Meadows’s Le Donk & Scor-Zay-Zee, shot in five days for £48,000, is the latest example. A mock-rockumentary, it’s semi-improvised by Meadows with his long-time muse, Paddy Considine, who plays Le Donk, a vainglorious roadie. Meadows appears as a version of himself, a documentary director chronicling Le Donk’s efforts to team up with and exploit a shy, tubby rapper and infiltrate a stadium gig by the Arctic Monkeys.
The names of Meadows and Considine will help sell audiences on this genially ambling, lo-fi comedy, which Meadows acknowledges it would have been near-impossible for an unknown director to get funded.The abundance and affordability of digital video have turned everyone into a potential... more
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I loves me some corn. Well, I AM from Iowa. No, that's not where potatoes OR the Buckeyes come from. Corn, yo. Here's a quickie I shot while on the road drumming for What Made Milwaukee Famous last summer in between festival gigs.. Honey habanero garlic buttered corn. You can NOT resist. If you can, get checked, you're broken.I loves me some corn. Well, I AM from Iowa. No, that's not where potatoes OR... more
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For every Morris: A Life with Bells On that enjoy success, there are countless DIY labours of love that will never find an audience. So why are the studios ignoring Britain's burgeoning indie film industry? The paradox here is that a gentle, old-fashioned indie may well be the riskiest indie of them all for the industry – if not the audience.
Here in the UK, the Raindance film festival at least remains something akin to a safe haven. Elliot Grove, who founded the event in 1993, explains that there are 11 homegrown DIY features in this year's line-up, up from six or seven in previous years. The most notable of these is Colin, a British zombie movie reported to have had a budget of just £45. Its director, Marc Price, says he made it in part to inspire other wannabe film-makers; to make them think: "If this arsehole can do it, I can do it."
Grove insists this is actually a good time for DIY cinema. Quality is up, and the cost of making movies is down. Even so, he sees few signs of a commercial breakthrough for any of the movies. "You have to remember that 96% of cinemas are controlled by the studios, and the studios don't want to show films they haven't made. But it works the other way, too. Ask the public to choose between two films – a glossy Hollywood one and an unsung British one – and nine out of 10 will go for the Hollywood one. That culture is not about to change. Independent film is always going to be niche."
The process of making movies is actually getting easier, and there are now so many more platforms to screen them on. Yet there is no overriding strategy, no distribution system to knit it all together. A crucial piece of the jigsaw appears to be missing.
Back in London, Liz Rosenthal runs Power to the Pixel, an organisation that aims to help independent film-makers navigate a changing, digital terrain. The business, she says, is in a mess. "It's the classic best of times/worst of times. There is now an infinite space to show your work, and the film industry is an old business model, desperately trying to catch up. If you are a traditional distributor, it costs a lot to release a movie, so obviously they want to go with what they know and think is low risk. Every film-maker still wants a theatrical release, but there are thousands of films being made. They can't all expect to find a space."
Rosenthal feels the problem lies as much with the independent British film-maker as it does with the distributors. "Getting films out in the world has always been harder than actually making them," she says. "But people still have the tendency to think, 'Oh, I make films and that's that.' You can't just finish a film and think, 'Here it is. Take it off my hands.' The best independent film-makers don't just make a film in isolation; they are an integral part of the entire process. They build a fanbase and target an audience. They form groups and communities. And that's not being tawdry: that's being creative."For every Morris: A Life with Bells On that enjoy success, there are countless DIY... more
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It's weird to see a flick distributed like this, but it almost makes my own evil heart shine with joy.
Paranormal Activity is the little horror film that could. Now it's your turn as an audience member to help demand it. From what I've heard, it's loved.
One of the best reviewed films of 09 on RottenTomatoes.com and also the 22nd most well-received film on RT's Best of 2009 list.
Do yourself a favor, click it, demand it and prove that decent indie flicks should find a way into the real world.It's weird to see a flick distributed like this, but it almost makes my own evil... more
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Copyright Criminals: This Is a Sampling Sport examines the creative and commercial value of musical sampling, including the related debates over artistic expression, copyright law, and (of course) money.
This documentary traces the rise of hip-hop from the urban streets of New York to its current status as a multibillion-dollar industry. For more than thirty years, innovative hip-hop performers and producers have been re-using portions of previously recorded music in new, otherwise original compositions. When lawyers and record companies got involved, what was once referred to as a “borrowed melody” became a “copyright infringement.”
The film showcases many of hip-hop music’s founding figures like Public Enemy, De La Soul, and Digital Underground—while also featuring emerging hip-hop artists from record labels Definitive Jux, Rhymesayers, Ninja Tune, and more. It also provides an in-depth look at artists who have been sampled, such as Clyde Stubblefield (James Brown's drummer and the world's most sampled musician), as well as commentary by another highly sampled musician, funk legend George Clinton.
As artists find ever more inventive ways to insert old influences into new material, this documentary asks a critical question, on behalf of an entire creative community: Can you own a sound?Copyright Criminals: This Is a Sampling Sport examines the creative and commercial... more
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After spending more than 12 years at Lionsgate and a surprisingly brief stint at the troubled Weinstein Co., Tom Ortenberg has launched a new film and media company called One Way Out Media that will provide both financing and consulting services for indy productions in a variety of areas, including marketing, distribution, publicity and awards season strategizing. It's yet another sign that the indie film world is looking for new business models in the wake of the collapse of many of the better-known studio specialty divisions.
More story: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2009/10/tom-ortenberg-starts-new-film-company.htmlAfter spending more than 12 years at Lionsgate and a surprisingly brief stint at the... more
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15 Malaysia gives you a taste of independent film making in Malaysia.
15 shorts in one site, the real "moving image" of Malaysia as opposed to what's main stream.15 Malaysia gives you a taste of independent film making in Malaysia.
15 shorts in... more
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A behind-the-scenes look at Joe Swanberg's new film, Birthday Suit, about a young couple's "on again, off again" sexual relationship.
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Mm. Mumblecore humor.A behind-the-scenes look at Joe Swanberg's new film, Birthday Suit, about a young... more
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Adam Goldberg & Eion Bailey are in a new flick together called (and don't let this confuse you) "(untitled)" and they're going to be taking over Current TV soon to promote it.
They'll be answering your questions, so post away. You can ask about the movie or pretty much anything else about their careers, lives, opinions, etc. And the questions can be for one or both of them.
Extra points are awarded for video questions and make sure to leave your name, age and locale.
(also, make sure your Current.com icon is an image that belongs to you and is not a cartoon, picture of Catwoman or someone else that ain't you)
We'll stop taking questions on Wednesday, 10/8 around 3:30 PM EST.
Adam & Eion's Takeover will air Wednesday, 10/21 at 7:30PM EST.
Thanks!Adam Goldberg & Eion Bailey are in a new flick together called (and don't let... more
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Hello Queens!
We're taking a slight detour with the theme of this episode and going back to a film I had previously seen in CineVegas 2009: Impolex.
Short Version: A World War II soldier must go find two unexploded V-2 Rockets.
Long Version: Alex Ross Perry's film is an homage to Thomas Pynchon, film, what goes into an independent production and why Pynchon fans are a little annoyed by what he's done.
Joining me are Perry (writer/director, Impolex) and Vadim Rizov (IFC's Indie Eye.)Hello Queens!
We're taking a slight detour with the theme of this episode and... more
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A two hour panel of some well known people in indie film right now discuss the current state of indie film distribution through DIY (do it yourself) and DWO (do it with others) channels. Indie filmmakers largely reject the tradition distribution companies, especially when they demand you turn over your copyright to them for 20 years. In today's world of spiraling internet and other technology, filmmakers are finding readily available ways to self distribute and build audiences. Yet there are many hurdles and challenges.
Ted Hope talks about how many good indie films never get seen because of the challenges in distribution. Arin Crumley talks about the available technology out there that filmmakers have to learn to deal with and customize for their own purposes. Making a film and self distribution adds a new phase to filmmaking. Beyond pre-production, production and post, we now often have to take on self distribution if we ever want our films to be seen. That means learning how to use internet websites with technological tools, among other things. It all depends on your project and where you want to go with it. There are endless choices to be made. Artist filmmaker types tend to shy away from business and technology. But these things are just as important as having a camera if you want anyone to see your film.
One example is this website, Current, where you can post your own short films and instantly be in the running for a paid shot on Current TV.
There's a lot of information in this talk presented very fast. You might have to rewind a few times like I did to get it all in.A two hour panel of some well known people in indie film right now discuss the current... more
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There's some gems at this year's New York Film Festival - check out the linked podcast for reviews.There's some gems at this year's New York Film Festival - check out the... more
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Indie film filmed in NC by GGN Films and focusing on choices and decisions of today's youth as it carries you through a tale of a young man from New Jersey who moves to the South with dreams of making fast money. These dreams have ways of becoming nightmares as the film reveals. The film features up and coming NC artist Tre-Dot and two of his songs. The film has received great reviews for its cinematography, acting, and soundtrack.Indie film filmed in NC by GGN Films and focusing on choices and decisions of... more
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Hello Brooklyn!
Our second podcast looks at a film that has its' international premiere tomorrow at the New York Film Festival: Zhao Dayong's Ghost Town.
Split into three parts ( Voices, Recollection, Innocence) this doc explores culture and experiences of Zhiziluo, a town nestled among the mountains in Southern China. Yet you won't find a formal structure with narrator droning on about the town life.
Instead, Ghost Town begins with a stationary shot on a street. As one villager passes by, "Why are you filming this? This is boring."
There is something inherently fascinating about this structured, yet entirely unstructured glimpse of a culture and people who seem unsure whether they want to leave behind their way of life for the big cities, or simply deteriorate with their village.
Joining me is Vadim Rizov (IFC's Indie Eye) and Kevin B. Lee (Also Like Life and Vice President of Programming and Education for DGenerateFilms.)
disclosure: Kevin has been on our original House Next Door podcast in previous episodes and still hosts the original audio files.
[img via Dgenerate Films]Hello Brooklyn!
Our second podcast looks at a film that has its' international... more
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OVER the course of six years Zhao Dayong, an independent filmmaker from Guangzhou, China, spent many months living among the residents of Zhiziluo, an impoverished and forgotten village in the rugged mountains near the Myanmar border, and filming their lives.
Using his own money and simple digital filmmaking equipment he made “Ghost Town,” a quiet, hypnotizing, three-hour documentary that provides an extraordinary and intimate portrait of Chinese life.
Like independent filmmakers everywhere, Mr. Zhao worked with no guarantee of an audience, or even a place to show his work. By his estimates only a few thousand people have seen “Ghost Town” in China since he finished it last year. Several hundred more are scheduled to see it Sunday afternoon when the film has its international premiere at the New York Film Festival.OVER the course of six years Zhao Dayong, an independent filmmaker from Guangzhou,... more
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Mobile, Alabama based independent filmmaking group Fighting Owl Films is set to produce an independent feature in the city utilizing local talent. The feature, titled “The Night Shift”, is based on Fighting Owl Films' short film of the same name which proved an online hit and was featured in "Fangoria" magazine's online edition earlier in 2009. The producers are currently seeking crew members and supporting cast.
Plot: What if you could live forever? What if you had to spend that eternity stuck in a cemetery with only a limbless corpse for a friend, and "residents" that were anything but resting in peace? That's the situation for Rue Morgan, night watchman extraordinaire. Rue, along with his buddy Herb, spends his nights watching out for zombies, and his days dreaming of a date with hard-nosed day-shifter, Claire. It's an okay eternity--until a scourge of supernatural occurrences leaves Rue not only watching the cemetery, but also watching his back!
Principal photography will commence in summer 2010.Mobile, Alabama based independent filmmaking group Fighting Owl Films is set to... more
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Gukbe
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added this
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3 years ago
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Ghost Town is one of the films I’m most excited about at NYFF, even if it is a “dweeb” festival with no wi-fi. From NYFF:
With this absorbing three-part epic documentary, Zhao Dayong joins the ranks of the essential Chinese independent filmmakers, led by Jia Zhangke and Wang Bing. Zhiziluo is a remote village in China’s mountainous southwest, lined with empty shells of buildings and watched over by a Chairman Mao statue. In this dilapidated ghost town, the young filmmaker Zhao documents remarkable signs of life: father and son pastors, parsing the Bible and the teachings of long-departed missionaries; lovers whose relationships are reduced to a matter of economics; a 12-year-old boy, left behind by his parents and living a near-feral existence. Throughout, Zhao composes brilliant, haunting images that use the harsh beauty of the landscape as a counterpoint to a study of different forms of abandonment, and different modes of survival.
Ghost Town plays on Sunday, 9/27 at Walter Reade Theater.Ghost Town is one of the films I’m most excited about at NYFF, even if it is a... more
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"SUMMER is Hollywood’s silly season, but it’s also when the big studios dominate chatter and screens with blockbuster blowouts like “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.” Fall, on the other hand, is the industry’s serious season, when the studios trot out the kind of aesthetically ambitious, modestly priced work that dominates Top 10 lists and tends to clean up at the Oscars.
In the last two years, however, several studios have shut down or absorbed the specialty divisions that provided them with some of their most critically praised titles, films like “Good Night, and Good Luck” and “There Will Be Blood.” Financing has dried up as the economy has gone sour, and even well-regarded films have struggled to turn a profit. All of which makes us wonder if these types of serious, middle-size movies will become an endangered species." (more @ link)"SUMMER is Hollywood’s silly season, but it’s also when the big... more
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Brett Erlich and Ellen Fox join forces with bloggers, comedians, students and citizen critics to review "Big Fan."
The Rotten Tomatoes Show is a movie review show that airs on Thursday nights at 10:30 e/p on Current TV. From reviews of the newest releases to commentary on cult favorites and movie trends, each episode of The Rotten Tomatoes Show is a fast-paced, comedic journey through the week in cinema.
For more from the Rotten Tomatoes Show: http://rottentomatoesshow.com
For more about movies from Current: http://current.com/moviesBrett Erlich and Ellen Fox join forces with bloggers, comedians, students and citizen... more
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From twitchfilm.net
Starring Woody Harrleson and directed (first-time) by Peter Stebbings, this indie-superhero movie from Canada isn't your typical high-budget superhero movie.
Picked for the Toronto International Film Festival, release date TBC
(Full description here: http://current.com/1l2o64c)From twitchfilm.net
Starring Woody Harrleson and directed (first-time) by Peter... more
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