independent movies

alternatives

to the

blockbuster

compare, contrast

• Pretty Woman, Working Girls

• Born in East LA, El Norte

mainstream movies

• overseas market favors action, high tech blockbusters

• high costs

• merchandising links

• caution, marketing

definitions: indies• outside the studios• limited budgets• funding• commercial quotient low• content• distribution• quality

distribution

• studio-owned companies

• alternative routes

(a) get shown, reviewed

(b) film festivals

(c) Internet

Internet and the movies

• alternative to Hollywood

• growth

• digitization

• ease, potential

• web ideal for short films

• exposure

• video sales

some indie sites

• www.alwaysif.com

• www.Ifilm.com

• www.Ifilmpro.com

• www.Atomfilms.com

web and movie publicity

• Blair Witch Project

limitations of web movies

• download times

• image quality

• computer screen

• financial concerns

• are festivals better?

• web flooded

finding indies

• reviews

• TV

• film festivals

• web

• identify directors

John Sayles• Return of the Secaucus 7• Matewan• Eight Men Out• Passion Fish• Lone Star• Men With Guns• Limbo

Kevin Smith

• Clerks

• Mallrats

• Chasing Amy

• Dogma

Spike Lee

• She’s Gotta Have It

• School Daze

• Jungle Fever

• Get on the Bus

• Bamboozled

Wayne Wang

• Chan is Missing• Dim Sum• Slam Dance• Joy Luck Club• Smoke• Chinese Box

Dash, Nava

• Dash: Daughters of the Dust

• Nava:

El Norte, My Family, Selena