An 'independent film', or 'indie film', is usually a low-budget
film that is produced by a small
movie studio. Additionally, the term is used to describe less commercially-driven
art films which differ markedly from the norms of plot-driven, mainstream
classical Hollywood cinema. These films are often produced by subsidiaries of larger studios, such as
Sony Pictures Classics, as long as less than half of its budget comes from a major movie studio. In 2005, about 15% of the
U.S. domestic
box office revenue was from independent studios.
[1] Independent films are often distinguishable by their content or
style. The writer or director's original
authorial intent or personal creative vision is usually maintained in the final film.
The independent film scene's development in the
1990s and
2000s has been stimulated by a range of factors, including the development of affordable
high-definition digital video cameras that can rival
35 mm film quality and easy-to-use
computer editing software and the increasing visibility of independent film festivals such as the
Sundance Film Festival.
History
The roots of independent film can be traced back to when the early pioneer filmmakers in the
1900s who resisted the control of the a company called the
Motion Picture Patents Company and the
Edison trusts. Independent filmmakers built their own cameras and moved to
Southern California where they laid the foundations of the
American film industry as well as the
Hollywood studio.
The studio system eventually became so powerful that some filmmakers once again sought independence as a result. Independent filmmakers around the world have created a diverse range of filmmaking styles that symbolize their own unique cultures and
subcultures such as
experimental film and
underground film. Some independent filmmakers use
digital video techniques. While most of the U.S. film industry is located in
Los Angeles, one-third of all independent films in the U.S. are produced in
New York City.
Technology
Until the advent of digital alternatives, the cost of professional film equipment and stock was a major obstacle to independent filmmakers who wanted to make their own films. The cost of
35 mm film is steadily rising: in 2002 alone,
film negative costs were up 23%, according to ''
Variety''.
[2] Studio-quality filming typically required expensive
lighting and
post-production facilities.
But the advent of consumer
camcorders in 1985, and more importantly, the arrival of high-definition
digital video in the early
1990s, have since lowered the technology barrier to movie production considerably. Both production and post-production costs have been significantly lowered; today, the
hardware and
software for post-production can be installed in a commodity-based
personal computer. Technologies such as
DVD,
FireWire connections and professional-level
non-linear editing system software make movie-making relatively inexpensive.
The first independent film released on
HD DVD was ''
One Six Right'' on November 1, 2006.
[3][4][5]
Software
Popular software (including commercial, consumer level and
open source) includes:
'Mac OS X'
★
iMovie
★
Final Cut Express
★
Final Cut Pro
★
Avid Xpress Pro
★
Adobe Premiere Pro
★
Final cut Studio
'Windows'
★
Windows Movie Maker
★
Avid Xpress Pro
★
Avid FreeDV
★
Sony Vegas
★
Adobe Premiere Pro
'Linux'
★
Cinelerra
★
Kino
Equipment
Popular digital camcorders, mostly semi-professional equipment with
3-
CCD technology, include:
★
Canon
★
★ SD:
XL2,
XM2,
GL2
★
★ HD:
XL H1, XH G1, XH A1
★
JVC
★
★ HD:
GY-HD100
★
Panasonic
★
★ HD:
AG-HVX200
★
★ SD:
AG-DVX100
★
Sony PD-170,
DCR-VX1000, VX 2000, HVR-Z1U
Most of these camcorders cost between
US$2,000–$5,000 in 2003, with costs continuing to decline as features are subtracted, and as models depreciate. Additionally,
open source software holds the potential for increasing high-level editing capabilities being available for also increasingly lower prices, both for free and paid software.
Independent versus major: Indiewood
Creatively, it has long been increasingly difficult to get studio backing for experimental films. Experimental elements in theme and style are typically inhibitors for the
Big Six studios.
On the business side, the cost of big-budget studio films also leads to conservative choices in cast and crew. The problem is exacerbated by the trend towards co-financing (over two-thirds of the films put out by
Warner Bros. in 2000 were joint ventures, up from 10% in 1987).
[2] An unproven
film director is almost never given the opportunity to get his or her big break with the studios unless he or she otherwise has significant industry experience in film or
television. Films with "unknowns" in the cast, particularly in lead roles, are also rarely produced by the Big Six.
Furthermore, another key expense for independent movie makers is the music for the film. The licensing fees for
popular songs can range between US$10,000–$20,000.
Independent movie-making has resulted in the proliferation and repopularization of
short films and
short film festivals. Full-length films are often showcased at
film festivals such as the
Sundance Film Festival, the
Slamdance Film Festival, the
South By Southwest film festival, the
Raindance Film Festival, or the
Cannes Film Festival. Award winners from these exhibitions often get picked up for distribution by major film studios, and go on to
worldwide releases.
North American "independent" studios
The major commercial film industry in the United States is in
Hollywood, while much of the independent film industry is in
New York City. The following studios are considered to be the most prevalent of the independent studios (they are used to produce/release independent films and foreign-language films):
★
Lions Gate Films
★
Fox Searchlight Pictures
★
Focus Features/
Rogue Pictures
★
Sony Pictures Classics
★
IFC Films
★
Samuel Goldwyn Films
★
Warner Independent Pictures
★
The Weinstein Company/
Dimension Films
★
Magnolia Pictures
★
Paramount Vantage
★
Palm Pictures
★
Tartan Films
★
Newmarket Films
★
Picturehouse (formerly
Fine Line Features, before Time Warner acquired Newmarket's distribution arm, and merged it with Fine Line to form Picturehouse, a joint venture of
HBO and
New Line Cinema)
★
ThinkFilm
★
Miramax Films
★
Troma Entertainment
Note that many of the above studios are actually subsidiaries of larger studios — for example, Sony Pictures Classics is owned by
Sony Pictures and is designed to develop less commercial, more character driven films, and Fox Searchlight (which released the surprise hit ''
Bend It Like Beckham'' in 2002) belongs to the same company that owns
20th Century Fox. Subsidiaries of major studios, as part of their larger, major studio parent companies, are not "true" independent film studios. Furthermore, companies such as Lucasfilm often co-finance their productions and partner with Big Six studios for distribution.
In addition to these higher profile "independent" studios there are thousands of smaller production companies that produce truly independent films every year. These smaller companies look to regionally release their films theatrically or for additional financing and resources to distribute, advertise and exhibit their project on a national scale. The
direct-to-video market is not often noted as artistically fertile ground but among its many entries are ambitious independent films that either failed to achieve theatrical distribution or did not seek it. Moving forward, particularly as theatrical filming goes digital and distribution eventually follows, the line between "film," direct-to-disc productions, and feature-length videos whose main distribution channel is wholly electronic, should continue to blur.
Further reading
★
Independent Visions: A Critical Introduction to Recent Independent American Film, , Donald, Lyons, Ballantine Books, 1994, ISBN 0-345-38249-8
★
A Killer Life: How an Independent Film Producer Survives Deals and Disasters in Hollywood and Beyond, , Christine, Vachon, Simon & Schuster, 1996, ISBN 0-7432-5630-1
★
Independent Visions: A Critical Introduction to Recent Independent American Film, , Donald, Lyons, Ballantine Books, 1994, ISBN 0-345-38249-8
★
Film Fatales: Independent Women Directors, , Judith, Redding, Seal Press, 1997, ISBN 1-878067-97-4
★
Cinema of Outsiders: The Rise of American Independent Film, , Emanuel, Levy, New York University Press, 1999, ISBN 0-8147-5123-7
★
Celluloid Mavericks: The History of American Independent Film, , Greg, Merritt, Thunder's Mouth Press, 2000, ISBN 1-56025-232-4
★
Down and Dirty Pictures: Miramax, Sundance, and the Rise of Independent Film, , Peter, Biskind, Simon & Schuster, 2004, ISBN 0-684-86259-X
★
Spike Mike Reloaded, , John, Pierson, Miramax Books, 2004, ISBN 1-4013-5950-7
See also
★
List of film festivals
★
Film Festivals
★
Art film, also known as "arthouse films" or "art cinema"
★
Exploitation Film
★
Major Movie Studios
★
★
Experimental film
★
list of video topics
★
video
★
chroma key
★
History of cinema
★
List of 'years in film'
★
Silent movies
★
Talkies
★
Independent Spirit Awards
References
1. MPAA data from January to March 2005
2. Sharing Pix is Risky Business variety.com. Retrieved June 23, 2007.
3. HD DVD Digest: Indie Terwilliger Jumps Into HD DVD with 'Romance of Flying' October 4, 2006
4. HighDef Magazine: 34 to 24 on AJA KONA Page 34, Jan/Feb 2007
5. One Six Right ..1st indie film on HD-DVD. anybody seen this yet? AVS.com user forum, March 9, 2007
6. Sharing Pix is Risky Business variety.com. Retrieved June 23, 2007.
External links
★
Official website of
FILMGRAVITY
★
Independent films at the
Internet Movie Database
★
MOViEmaven List Online resource for independent films
★
Official website of
IndieWIRE
★
Independent Film Pageon
Film.com
★
Indie Film Movement
★
filmmaking.net Large reference and community site for independent filmmakers
★
talentcircle.co.uk Leading resource and community for independent filmmakers
★
independentfilmdistribution.com Listing of leading independent film distributors
★
NomadsLand - Distribution and resources for social issue filmmakers.
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