Independent Filmmaking Around The Globe

Independent Filmmaking around the Globe calls attention to the significant changes taking place in independent cinema today, as new production and distribution technology and shifting social dynamics make it more and more possible for independent filmmakers to produce films outside both the mainstream global film industry and their own national film systems. Identifying and analyzing the many complex forces that shape the production and distribution of feature films, the authors detail how independent filmmakers create work that reflects independent voices and challenges political, economic, and cultural constraints. With chapters on the under-explored cinemas of Greece, Turkey, Iraq, China, Malaysia, Peru, and West Africa, as well as traditional production centres such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, Independent Filmmaking around the Globe explores how contemporary independent filmmaking increasingly defines the global cinema of our time.

The independent sector has produced many of the most distinctive films to have appeared in the US in recent decades. From 'Sex, Lies and Videotape' in the 1980s to 'The Blair Witch Project' and New Queer Cinema in the 1990s and the ultra-low budget digital video features of the 2000s, indie films have thrived, creating a body of work that stands out from the dominant Hollywood mainstream. But what exactly is 'independent' cinema? This, the first book to examine the question in detail, argues that independence can be defined partly in industry terms but also according to formal and aesthetic strategies and by distinctive attitudes towards social and political issues, suggesting that independence is a dynamic rather than a fixed quality. Chapters focus on distribution and relationships with Hollywood studios; narrative ('Clerks' and 'Slacker' to 'Pulp Fiction', 'Magnolia' and 'Memento') and other formal dimensions (from 'Blair Witch's' 'authenticity' to expressive and stylized camerawork and editing in work from Harmony Korine to the Coen brothers); approaches to genre and alternative socio-political visions.

Independent Filmmaking across Borders in Contemporary Asia examines an array of auteur-driven fiction and documentary independent film projects that have emerged since the turn of the millennium from East and Southeast Asia, a strand of transnational filmmaking that converges with Asia's vibrant yet unevenly developed independent film movements amidst global neoliberalism. These projects bear witness to and are shaped by the ongoing historical processes of inter-Asia interaction characterized by geopolitical realignment, migration, and population displacement. This study threads together case studies of internationally acclaimed filmmakers, artists, and collectives such as Zhang Lu, Kuzoku, Li Ying, Takamine Go, Yamashiro Chikako, and Midi Z, all of whose transborder journeys and cinematic imaginations disrupt static identity affiliations built upon national, ethnic, or cultural differences. This border-crossing filmmaking can be viewed as both an aesthetic practice and a political act, reframing how people, places, and their interconnections can be perceived -- thereby opening up possibilities to reimagine Asia and its connections to globalization.

A comparative analysis of key Islamic ity platforms and their debates.

This anthology addresses the salient aesthetic, ideological and economic determinants of independent American cinema over the past three decades.

Breaking the Mold: Independent Cinema in the Late 80s is a must-read for anyone who is passionate about cinema and wants to know more about the incredible world of independent filmmaking. In this book, you will discover the fascinating history of independent cinema in the late 80s and the impact it has had on the movie industry. You'll learn about the challenges and triumphs of independent filmmakers and the role that film festivals like Sundance played in launching the careers of some of the most talented directors of our time. But Breaking the Mold is much more than a history lesson. This book provides a deep dive into the artistry and innovation of independent cinema, with detailed analyses of iconic films like Do the Right Thing, Sex, Lies, and Videotape, and My Own Private Idaho. You'll gain insight into the creative process behind these groundbreaking films and hear from the filmmakers themselves about their experiences and motivations. You'll also get an inside look at the business side of independent filmmaking, with a focus on funding and distribution. From the challenges faced by independent filmmakers to the rise of independent studios within Hollywood, this book covers it all. You'll even get to hear directly from the financiers and distributors themselves about their strategies and approaches to making independent films successful. But what really sets Breaking the Mold apart is its focus on the future of independent cinema. With the rise of streaming services and new avenues for funding and distribution, independent filmmaking is more exciting and dynamic than ever before. This book offers a thought-provoking analysis of the potential for growth and success in independent cinema, and features interviews with filmmakers who are pushing the boundaries of the medium in new and exciting ways. Whether you're a film student, a cinephile, or simply someone who loves great movies, Breaking the Mold is the ultimate guide to the world of independent cinema in the late 80s and beyond. With its engaging prose, insightful analysis, and exclusive interviews, this book is a must-read for anyone who is passionate about the art of filmmaking. So, get your copy today and discover the incredible world of independent cinema for yourself!

A Los Angeles Times Bestseller The most important development in American culture of the last two decades is the emergence of independent cinema as a viable alternative to Hollywood. Indeed, while Hollywood's studios devote much of their time and energy to churning out big-budget, star-studded event movies, a renegade independent cinema that challenges mainstream fare continues to flourish with strong critical support and loyal audiences. Cinema of Outsiders is the first and only comprehensive chronicle of contemporary independent movies from the late 1970s up to the present. From the hip, audacious early works of maverick David Lynch, Jim Jarmusch, and Spike Lee, to the contemporary Oscar-winning success of indie dynamos, such as the Coen brothers (Fargo), Quentin Tarentino (Pulp Fiction), and Billy Bob Thornton (Sling Blade), Levy describes in a lucid and accessible manner the innovation and diversity of American indies in theme, sensibility, and style. Documenting the socio-economic, political and artistic forces that led to the rise of American independent film, Cinema of Outsiders depicts the pivotal role of indie guru Robert Redford and his Sundance Film Festival in creating a showcase for indies, the function of film schools in supplying talent, and the continuous tension between indies and Hollywood as two distinct industries with their own structure, finance, talent and audience. Levy describes the major cycles in the indie film movement: regional cinema, the New York school of film, African-American, Asian American, gay and lesbian, and movies made by women. Based on exhaustive research of over 1,000 movies made between 1977 and 1999, Levy evaluates some 200 quintessential indies, including Choose Me, Stranger Than Paradise, Blood Simple, Blue Velvet, Desperately Seeking Susan, Slacker, Poison, Reservoir Dogs, Gas Food Lodging, Menace II Society, Clerks, In the Company of Men, Chasing Amy, The Apostle, The Opposite of Sex, and Happiness. Cinema of Outsiders reveals the artistic and political impact of bold and provocative independent movies in displaying the cinema of "outsiders"-the cinema of the "other America."