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 Crew Call - Let's Make A Movie!
A note about independent film producers
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JBoushka Member |
posted 04-17-2001 08:51 PM
 
During the Minneapolis-St Paul international film festival I've met some independent producers and directors, and they tend to point toward a whole new cottage industry of what sounds like "self-published" films (or distributed by very small groups). There is an impression that Hollywood is only interested in the "superstars" (just as larger book publishers tend to be interested in quick bestsellers and tend to drop "midlist" authors). Now my impression from reading and as a moviegoer and from scuttlebutt is that there are some film companies (perhaps Artisan, USA, Samuel Goldwyn, etc) genuinely interested--out of long term self-interest--in finding the best films out there and getting them distributed, and this fits the idea of Miramax/greenlight's screenwriting contest. I've noticed that other "independent" film studios get big and pretty much swept up by corporate America/Europe (Lions Gate, New Line). So it's a mixed bag. But in the long run, with the new technology, independent film makers and new screenwriters may have much more leverage in getting their work out, and a stock market that is bottoming may actually turn out to be a plus. Bill Boushka JBoushka@aol.com http://www.hppub.com IP: Logged |
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JBoushka Member |
posted 04-17-2001 08:58 PM
Here are just a few films that I saw at the festival and that I hope get general release if they haven't already (and some of them may have, and some readers may know of this). These are all "thumbs up." "Bill's Gun Shop" "Stroke" "The Quiet Storm" "Poles Apart" Bill Boushka IP: Logged |
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PANA-MAN Member |
posted 04-18-2001 04:07 PM
THINK eCOMMERCE! We don't need studios anymore (independent filmmakers), we can get our funds from our eCOMMERCE sites and we can ask distributors for 90% of the pie. Mike Rossi IP: Logged |
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JBoushka Member |
posted 04-18-2001 08:19 PM
To the last respondent: That's part of what the controversy over the earnings and profitability and business models of dot-coms and ecommerce companies is all about. The whole idea that you can make that much money just on on-line transactions with the external customer may be oversold. I'd say go to quote.com every morning and read Kevin O'Grady's column. But independent film making isn't just about making money, even though a filmmaker must make money ultimately to survive. It's about new content, and individuals and very small teams are much better at creating original concepts and content than are large corporations (studios). So there will be a natural tension, between business created just for transaction volume to make money, and business perhaps funded by profits from other sources in order to try new artistic expression. The Internet and broadband open up this possibility, including all the legal and business controversies that are only now beginning to show up. IP: Logged |
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