INDIE FILMS TO RISE FROM THE DEAD

Filmmakers everywhere are quick to declare the death of independent film.  As the well-established indie film companies have shrunk their operations to cover rising costs and ‘independent film’ divisions of major studios have been absorbed back into their parent companies, it’s hard for filmmakers to ignore the question of how they will survive – especially when they are not trying to make high concept, big budget studio films.

Unfortunately, there is no quick or painless cure for indie film.  We may never get to get back the days when the independent film market was ripe with dozens of great films a year, when distributors were buying these films at Sundance for millions of dollars, and indie filmmakers were celebrated as the saviors of good filmmaking.  Some people may be comfortable enough to say that era is dead.

I tend to agree; but only in the sense that this identity and structure of indie filmmaking is no longer viable in a financial sense.  Remember, the spirit of indie films comes from somewhere else – a desire to buck the trend, to react to a particular local, national, or international crisis, and make a film with the means available.  From Scorsese to Tarantino, from Easy Rider to Swingers, as long as there are good ideas and talented filmmakers, there will be high quality independent films being made.

So what about the money?  Well anyone in independent filmmaking will tell you, there is no money in it anyway.  If you’re going to be an indie filmmaker, you are going to have to commit to doing it for the love of the art (until you ‘sell out’).  As for now, we just need to tighten our belts even more.  Make good films for less money.  Distribute on lower cost media like the internet.  Focus on your idea, and not the budget.  Buck the trend, friend, and let’s see what you got.  It’s up to you to resuscitate indie films.