There are a total of 0 comments.
Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:18
It’s a tough year for independent films. A flagging economy has made it increasingly difficult for worthwhile, feature length films to be about by studios and distributors; some are even saying it’s the end of the indie film market altogether. Fewer bona-fide independent movies are being produced, so at various film festivals, it seems that short films have started to fill the void in schedules and lineups.
At the Tacoma Film Festival, for example, there are a shocking 58 short films being shown, out of a full line up of 87 films. Short filmmakers from around the world are represented at the festival, but these films range from 2 minutes to under an hour, and have all been shot digitally on super low budgets – not one short film actually shot on film is on the program. Imagine if there weren’t so many short films – that would mean there would be less than 20 feature length films being shown at the festival this year.
Is this something temporary, or are we looking at a sea change? It’s hard to tell. As long as financial belts are tight, we’ll continue on this path. But that’s not necessarily all bad. Serious feature filmmakers and short filmmakers will adjust to the medium; and if the quality of low-budget films continues to get better, the more likely that audiences and studios will view short films as a genre that is as significant as its bigger budgeted brethren. Keep your eyes peeled, but most importantly keep making short films.
If you’re going to be in or near Tacoma, you should check out the Tacoma Film Festival. For more information, visit http://tacoma.bside.com/2008
Posted By sweet gator