What Makes An Indie?

When one hears the term ‘independent film’ it usually conjures up images of skeleton (minimal) crews, low budgets and novice actors on their way to the big time. After Miramax turned small independent films into household names the term started to lose its meaning. What I mean to say is independent films now come to mean A-list actors, A-list directors, A-list crew, modest budget and most importantly – an art house feel. Art house meaning garnered toward a smarter breed of audience. These movies are now Oscar contenders and usually the winners making them a draw for talent. So with all the positives an independent film has, when does it stop being independent?  Are the true indie filmmakers scared that their content is not going to be seen or heard now that big budget films are calling themselves ‘indie’ because they offer a quirky storyline with bohemian beliefs? A current article in the Daily Variety informs on the issue that studios now consider their independent films the big money makers. One quote says that while some of 2010’s indie films “did no where near the $120 million gross of Fahrenheit 9/11… they were to tip grossing 2010 films for their distributors.” (Goldstein). Since when do studio and independent mean the same thing? The upside is that with these evolvements we are seeing that there is a thirst for smart films and not just the fun blockbusters that sometimes take over the multiplexes.  But one has to wonder, how can I push through to the big time if the studios continue to masquerade as small independents and not need the content provided by the genuine independents?  

Goldstein, G (2011, May 23-29). Daily Variety. Indies Splash Into Summer, Niche distribs adopt bolder counterprogramming moves

Everyone vs. Copyright Theft

The Motion Pictures Association has a new president in Mr. Christopher Dodd. He is actively joining forces with the Senate in passing a bill to curb online piracy.  Piracy is where people access copyrighted downloadable content without paying the proper people for that content. It is big business in the States and even bigger overseas. Some people have cited that the amount of piracy overseas is the real problem as they are two thirds of the problem and the people in power should focus their efforts on chocking off their access in order to rein in the problem. The bill in question is called the Preventing Real Online Threats of Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act or PROTECT IP Act. If passed, “it would authorize the Justice Department to seek a court order directing third-parties – search engines, payment processors, advertising networks and Internet providers – to cease providing transactions and support to overseas sites engaged in online infringement.” (Johnson).  This would be a great blow to the system, however that it violate search engines is still a questionable topic. Search engines work off of code to recognize key words and deliver what a person is actively searching. If they were to find these sites and delete them from becoming available in their searches, many believe it would start to slow the access to downloading. Dodd was quoted in Cannes saying, “The big issue for us is thievery. I hate the word ‘piracy’ because it conjures up these lovable characters. Theft of intellectual property is the dominant issue.”(McNary).” The MPAA may be an organization that people don’t agree with most of the time but at least this time they are fighting for the protection of content and not judging the ability of it to be shown.  This new president may bring a bit of fresh air to the organization.

Johnson, T. (2011, May 13). Daily Variety. The War On Websites, New bills aim to curb online piracy.

McNary, D. (2001, May 17). Daily Variety. Dodd Digs In At Fest, New MPAA chief talk copyright theft.