The Independent | Obsessed with independent film since 1978.

The Independent: obsessed with independent film since 1978

Thursday 02nd of September 2010

		3-D (Like it Used to Be) in ‘53 The omnipresence of today's 3-D has roots in grand theaters outfitted with twin projectors that brought the scary "Gill-Man" to life from the Black Lagoon and threatened to pour wax all over your sweetheart and install him or her in a Wax Museum. Kurt Brokaw witnessed 3-D's golden era firsthand and recently saw the best from 1953-54 again, wearing his customized 3D frames. How does he think today's 3-D experiences stack up?
		Exhibitor FAQ: Emerging Pictures With the largest network of digital theaters in the US, Emerging Pictures is helping exhibitors and filmmakers grasp hold of the future, which VP of distribution Josh Green says includes one-time screenings, easy access to classics, and front row seats to elite cultural programming.
		The Show Must Go Green Prompted by Miranda Bailey's recent documentary, Greenlit, The Independent's Steven Abrams asks two eco-experts for tips on simple, environmentally conscious filmmaking methods.
		Fantasia's Programmer Simon Laperrière Wants You to See More Genre Films The Independent's Patrick Pearce sits down with Fantasia International Festival's programmer Simon Laperrière to discuss the intersection between genre and auteur cinema at the festival, and genre films' most influential directors.
		Distributor FAQ: FilmBuff More and more filmmakers use digital release platforms like iTunes, Netflix Streaming, and Video-on-Demand. Chris Horton, head of acquisitions for FilmBuff, explains the role his company can play in digital distribution.
		How an Innovative Web Doc Secured Traditional Distribution Led by two French filmmakers, the web doc Prison Valley addresses prison reform in the US with an interactive online format, making a splash in the world of digital journalism and securing distribution with Arte TV in France.
		A Meeting of Worlds: YouTube Biennial at the Guggenheim YouTube and the Guggenheim are joining forces to orchestrate “the first biennial of creative video,” called YouTube Play. The Independent's Courtney Sheehan ponders the high-meets-low aspect of this endeavor with help from the blogosphere.
		Exhibitor and Distributor FAQ: Seattle's Northwest Film Forum Located in Seattle, the Northwest Film Forum (NWFF) is an invaluable resource for independent filmmakers in the Pacific Northwest, providing production grants and access to equipment and post-production facilities. The Independent spoke with film programmer Adam Sekuler to get the scoop on how NWFF puts together its exhibition calendar and their support programs for regional filmmakers, as well as some thoughts on the future of independent film distribution.
		No Thanks, Take-Back Manifesto Grumpy about raising money to make your films? Michael Tully, Vadim Rizov, and others who signed The Take-Back Manifesto earlier this spring don't want to hear it. Enter The Independent's Courtney Sheehan. She explains why she's declining to sign and what she'll be researching on behalf of The Independent's readership this summer.
		Funder FAQ: Playboy's Surprising Mission You'll likely be surprised when you find out exactly what types of films the Playboy Foundation is passionate about making. A hint? Nudity is not a requirement.
		From Documentary to Fictional Filmmaker: How to Make the Transition The Independent's Angela Wu gleans five tips from professor and award-winning filmmaker Emily Abt (All of Us, Toe to Toe) on how to make the not-always-easy transition from documentarian to narrative filmmaker.
		On the Fast Track of Derby History According to Steven LaFond, err...Pelvis Costello, roller derby is back. With a vengeance. Get to know the real story behind its reemergence with five must-see documentaries, from the classic Blood on the Flat Track to the most recent Hugs and Bruises.
		Doc Doctor's Story Strategies: Don't Worry, We'll Fix it in Post In her 6th installment of "Story Strategies: Debunking the Myths of Storytelling," Doc Doctor Fernanda Rossi examines production priorities. Should storytelling trump technical perfection? What do you think?
		Defending Tribeca in an Era of Megabrands Kurt Brokaw stamps his critic's seal on select films from Tribeca 2010 and explains why the festival deserves a nod for nine years of expansive programming in a post-9/11 neighborhood... and world.
		Struggle and Triumph for Haiti's Ciné Institute In a special report for The Independent, Beth Brosnan speaks with students and staff of Ciné Institute, Haiti's only professional film school, about life after the region's devastating earthquake. Brosnan explores how, months later, they're using filmmaking techniques to cope with tragedy, rebuild, and even thrive in the face of adversity.
		Tribeca 2010: Travis Senger on "White Lines and The Fever: The Death of DJ Junebug" With never-before-seen footage and interviews with Kurtis Blow, DJ Hollywood, and club owner Sal Abbatiello, the short documentary White Lines and The Fever: The Death of DJ Junebug portrays life in the ‘80s when hip-hop was young, cocaine was in, and life as a DJ often meant you did a little of both.
		Tribeca 2010: Melanie Schiele on "Delilah, Before" Shot entirely in Singapore as part of the NYU Tisch Asia MFA program, Delilah, Before marks the directorial debut of filmmaker Melanie Schiele. Here, she talks about the program and the film, as the film screens at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival.
		Tribeca 2010: Michael Creagh on "The Crush" Filmmaker Michael Creagh, a native of Belfast, takes the plunge into writing and directing with his debut film The Crush, a short featured in the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival.
		Tribeca 2010: Mary Robertson on "Missed Connections" Have you ever felt your eyes lock with someone across a crowded subway, only to wish later that you had ripped through the crowd to get some digits? You’re not the only one. That's the subject of director Mary Robertson’s short film Missed Connections now screening at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival.
		Best of the Shorts: Tribeca 2010 Who says short films don't get enough attention? Michele Meek watched nearly 40 at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival in order to pluck the best and brightest narrative and documentary shorts for your future (or immediate) viewing pleasure. Included are clips and trailers.
		Film Journal: Survival Strategies During Production Lights fall and break, talent doesn't show, locations fall through. The process of making a film can be stressful. So, as director Valerie Weiss points out, it's helpful to surround yourself with a supportive family—both on-set and off.
		Taking the Temp of SXSW 2010 This year's SXSW did not disappoint The Independent's Steven Abrams. Just in case you couldn't make it to Austin this year, he gives the low-down on which films grabbed coveted audience buzz, and which took home awards.
		Best of New Directors/New Films: Shorts Logorama, Quadrangle, and Looking At Animals make Kurt Brokaw's cut for the best of the shorts at New Directors/New Films. Common denominator: they open fast and strong. Brokaw adds a final note regarding the importance of attention-grabbing opening scenes here.
		Advance Look at New Directors/New Films True that The Independent is not in the habit of reviewing films, but we've got fresh talent on board with Kurt Brokaw, New School professor and 92Y teacher. He's watching all 38 films in the New Directors/New Films lineup and zoning in on the best of the fest exclusively for our readers.
		Has the Drive to Fund "Social Issue" Docs Affected Their Form? US docmakers may feel pressed by funders to change the world with every film. The Independent's Randi Cecchine asks how is that mandate influencing docs' form, and what happens when funding models drastically differ, as they do abroad?
		Film-Friendly State: Shooting in Illinois In the third installment of The Independent's Film-Friendly State series, we explore the indie ins and outs of Illinois, including tax breaks, the infamous skyline, and why Central Illinois is the next cinematic hot spot -- no, really.
		Building an Audience with Social Media Let's face it...social media is quickly taking over the world. With everyone and their mother – literally – on sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, how can independent filmmakers use social networking to find and build an audience?
		10 to Watch in 2010... Plus Five Runners-Up They come from all walks of life, and each has a different story to tell. Some have found success, while others are just beginning their careers. And although their filmmaking reflects this diversity, they all have one major thing in common (other than being on this list): talent. Be sure to take notes as you read...you'll want to remember these filmmakers.
		How Funders are Like Crushes and Other Sundance Morsels Only filmmaker Therese Shechter equates raising money for her doc to speed-dating or counts eating potato skins as a personal victory. That's why we're happy she's back, sharing her blog with The Independent, about the always-crazy lines at Sundance 2010, which oddly dissipated by Wednesday.
		Economic Turmoil in Film The films in this story capture the cinematic landscape of a country coming to grips with severe economic turmoil. From a man who loses his job and becomes obsessed with beating an arcade game's high score, to contemplating how, exactly, we ended up in this monetary mess, The Independent's Teresa Bitler suggests films that put the current fiscal downfall into perspective.
		Facebook Exclusive Interviews with 10 to Watch in 2010 Bonjour! Join us for 10 days of celebrating film and 10 filmmakers to watch in the year to come. We've got daily updates on our site and exclusive interviews on Facebook from January 25th - February 3rd.
		Film-Friendly State: Shooting in Utah In the second installment of The Independent's new Film-Friendly States series, Angela Wu explores why, if you're an independent filmmaker, Utah offers much more than Sundance.
		Doc Highlights from the Festival du Nouveau Cinéma The Independent's Patrick Pearce offers take two of highlights from Montréal's Festival du Nouveau Cinéma, this time with a focus on docs. Last month he served up narrative features.
		Film Journal: The Importance of Pre-Production Filmmaker Valerie Weiss shares her experiences of financing, planning, and producing her first independent feature film Losing Control in this monthly film journal. In her third installment, Weiss writes about the trials and triumphs she experienced during pre-production.
		From Journalist to Documentarian – Five Tips for a Better Documentary Ever wonder how, exactly, some documentaries can successfully embrace and tell a story, all while engaging the audience? So do we. The Independent's Michael Grosse highlights five important techniques on how to effectively research and write a better documentary.
		Health Care Legislation: What’s The Hold Up? In the second installment of a new series about the United States' health care debate, The Independent examines the next step in the process, and why, exactly, legislation seems to be at an impasse.
		Under-the-radar Features from the Festival du Nouveau Cinéma The Independent's Patrick Pearce offers up an eclectic global sampling of indie features from Montréal's Festival du Nouveau Cinéma, a veteran fest that offers a bounty of stimulating films. In the forthcoming part two, he'll highlight docs.
		Health Care Reform: Getting Filmmakers Up to Speed You might be hard-pressed to find a more controversial, debated, constantly evolving topic than health care reform. In the first installment of a new series about the health care debate and how it might affect you, The Independent offers a summary of what's happened and happening on the Hill.
		10 Most Innovative Animation Programs The Independent scours the United States to find the 10 most innovative animation programs the country has to offer. The schools on this comprehensive list were picked based on reputation, creativity, and where their students find work after they earn their diplomas.
		Doc Doctor's Story Strategies: Is Narration a Storytelling Red Flag? Is voiceover a red flag for bad storytelling? Doc Doctor Fernanda Rossi enters the debate on whether or not narration can be a creative tool and explores the prejudices associated with the use of voiceovers, suggesting why documentary filmmakers may want to consider the device when crafting stories.
		Borat's Aftermath: A Romanian Town Seeks Damages Filmmaker Mercedes Stalenhoef thought she was filming a young woman with dreams of escaping her poor Romanian hometown for a better life. But then another film crew descended on Glod, Romania, to shoot scenes for Borat, forever changing the villagers' prospects and not necessarily for the better. The Independent's Randi Cecchine interviews Stalenhoef about the process of making and distributing her documentary, Carmen Meets Borat.
		Exhibitor FAQ: Enzian Theater At the Enzian Theater in Maitland, Florida, you can cozy up to the screen with a glass of wine or cold bottle of beer. But adult beverages alone do not keep the crowds happy. According to programming director Matthew Curtis, it's the quality of films. "They trust what we put on the screen," he told The Independent. Curtis gives the inside scoop on how filmmakers should approach Enzian with their latest projects.
		Film Journal: Philosophies for Financing Your Film Filmmaker Valerie Weiss shares her experiences of financing, making, and marketing her first independent feature film Losing Control in this monthly film journal. In this installment, she writes about how she raised financing – a topic that is likely on every independent filmmaker’s mind.
		Erin Trahan Named Interim Executive Director of Independent Media Publications As of October 15th, Managing Editor Erin Trahan will be serving as the Interim Executive Director of Independent Media Productions (IMP), the nonprofit organization that oversees publication of www.independent-magazine.org. We welcome your feedback and support of The Independent as we look ahead.
		30 Quintessential Books for Independent Filmmakers Ever wonder what, exactly, independent filmmakers – both aspiring and established – should be reading? Look no further than The Independent's 30 Quintessential Books for Independent Filmmakers. Here, we list the top must-owns, including Independent Feature Film Production, The Filmmaker's Handbook, Sidney Lumet's Making Movies, and From Reel to Deal.
		Capturing Controversy: A Look at Activist Filmmaking "It’s understanding the difference between an issue, and what will really provide the elements of a film," said Nettie Wild a social documentary filmmaker and director of Bevel Up: Drugs, Users and Outreach Nursing (view the trailer here), which screened at HotDocs in 2008. Independent writer, Jericho Parms, talks to Wild as well as director Francine Cavanaugh (view the trailer for her latest film On Coal River here), co-founder of Mountain Eye Media, about the elements that make a good activist film, and the effect social media can have on society.
		Exhibitor FAQ: Olympia Film Society The Independent's Exhibitor FAQ series provides resources and advice on how to get your film onto the big screen. In this installment, the Olympia Film Society is featured; Helen Thornton, the Society's film programmer, discusses the Society, its film festival, and how independent filmmakers can get their work shown at the theater.
		Film-Friendly State: Shooting in Michigan There is no doubt that the war of the tax credits can have an impact on your bottom line. And with states competing to get the best incentives on the books, it’s a buyer’s market. So how can filmmakers choose the right destination? A new series from The Independent assesses some of the top locations for independents in the United States.
		Sustaining Big Projects through Small Gigs Corporate television commercials are quickly becoming a thing of the past. Instead, businesses both big and small are turning to documercials, commercials shot like documentaries, to more sincerely convey their message via the Internet. Like it or not, this trend is opening up doors for independent filmmakers — both financially and professionally.
		Film Journal: The Making of an Independent Feature In The Independent's new series Film Journal: The Making of an Independent Feature, filmmaker Valerie Weiss will share her experiences of financing, making, and marketing her first independent feature film Losing Control. Here, she discusses her inspiration for making the film and her method of fundraising.
		No-Fee Film Festivals Whether you’re a new or a seasoned filmmaker, festivals provide a supportive and constructive atmosphere to show your work. Considering the abysmal state of the current economy, The Independent decided to compile this list of film festivals that do not charge a submission fee. The list here offers a mixture of long-standing and relatively new, no-fee film festivals.
		Exhibitor FAQ: Amherst Theatre The Independent launches its new series of Exhibitor FAQs to provide resources and advice on how to get your film onto the big screen. Following in the tradition of the distributor and funder Q&As, the Exhibitor FAQ will feature a different theatre, museum or other screening venue with tips on how to approach the theatre, market your film, and find an audience for your film. This month, The Independent talks with Phillip Freedenberg, general manager of the Amherst Theatre in Buffalo, NY.
		Three Approaches to Marketing an Independent Film Completing a film is a Herculean task—especially for independent filmmakers. So it’s tempting to feel that once the film is in the can and ready to be shown, the hard work is over. But getting a film ready to be seen is only half the battle; one of the biggest filmmaking challenges still lies ahead: marketing your movie. This month, The Independent takes a look at three filmmakers who took different approaches to marketing their films: Gadi Harel, co-director of Deadgirl (view the trailer here); Sterlin Harjo, director of Barking Water (view the trailer here); and Bill Daniel, director of Who is Bozo Texino?(view the trailer here).
		Doc Doctor's Story Strategies: Should You Put Yourself in Your Documentary? Doc Doctor Fernanda Rossi explores whether or not putting yourself as a character or narrator in your documentary film will solve structure problems. Using her expertise as a story consultant for over 300 documentaries, scripts and fundraising trailers, Fernanda discusses whether your presence will make or break your film, by showing you when it works and when there may be a better solution.
		How To Get a Hollywood Star for Your Independent Film Filmmaker, Shana Feste opens up to The Independent about the journey that led her to make her first film The Greatest, how she got an all-star cast, and how it took 10 steps backward for her to take a giant leap forward. The film, which stars Susan Sarandon and Pierce Brosnan, screened in the dramatic competition at this year’s Sundance Film Festival (view the premiere of the film here).
		Production Insurance for Filmmakers: Understanding the Basics Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or an up-and-coming independent filmmaker, it’s essential to research and understand the intricacies of obtaining insurance. Whether it is for a one-day shoot or an extensive project, there is an abundance of companies out there that will provide insurance packages. Unlike purchasing car insurance, buying film insurance isn’t limited to one type of coverage. Everything from the equipment to the film stock itself can have an insurance policy, which the filmmaker may or may not decide is necessary. Fortunately, after careful consideration, The Independent has narrowed it down to the main insurance policies that every filmmaker, regardless of budget, should look into.
		Digging In: An Interview with Eugene Rosow and Bill Benenson of "Dirt! The Movie" Eugene Rosow and Bill Benenson sit down with The Independent's Emily Cataneo to discuss how they were able to transform an environmental science book into a funny, socially relevant and award-winning documentary film. Based on William Logan's book Dirt, the Ecstatic Skin of the Earth Rosow and Benenson sought to create something that would make a difference without sacrificing art and entertainment, and they did just that, going on to win the audience award for the best green documentary at Sundance this year. See the trailer for Dirt! The Movie here.
		How Filmmakers Can Beat the Recession The Independent's Sean Jones investigates some innovative and useful ideas to help cash-strapped filmmakers survive through difficult times. From free distribution for films to virtual tip jars, The Independent examines the different ways that filmmakers can put their creativity to use for financial survival during the recession.
		Distributor FAQ: Udy Epstein of Seventh Art Releasing In June 1999, The Independent asked Seventh Art Releasing where the company would be in ten years (read the original interview here). They answered, “Still open for business doing films we like.” And Seventh Art has done just that. And though there have been some changes, Epstein insists that despite the technological and economic turmoil of the past ten years, the company’s original vision has stayed the same. Exactly a decade after the last interview, The Independent’s Emily Cataneo sits down with co-founder Udy Epstein to find out what those changes are.
		The Write Way: An Interview with Pamela Cuming and Lee Ross of "Downloading Nancy" After a film finds success, the industry usually lauds the miraculous execution of the director and the cast. Yet, often ignored are those who actually crafted the story: the writers. The Independent’s, Joi R. Wheatley, taps into the ingenious minds of Pamela Cuming and Lee Ross who wrote the dark, intense, drama Downloading Nancy, which was recently screened at the Seattle International Film Festival. The film, starring Maria Bellow and Jason Patric, follows a middle-aged wife who orders a man she met on the Internet to kill her so she can escape from her unhappy life (view the trailer here). Cuming and Lee discuss how the idea became a script, why it’s important to produce and direct your own projects, and what’s next for this writing duo.