Wednesday, June 3, 2015

How To Enjoy Indie Movies Online

By Ericka Marsh


Strictly speaking, any American movie not made by one of the major studios can be considered an indie movie. In practical terms, it represents a broader range, and includes virtually any kind of film that doesn't have the budget of a big Hollywood film. These almost never get released onto the big screen, even in the sophisticated LA and NY film markets. Those who want to keep in touch with the scene should find out about finding indie movies online.

From the standpoint of quality, one should bring certain expectations. The films aren't typically just low budget versions of the same old Hollywood formulas, but typically explore themes and techniques the can't usually be found there. They take advantage of the fact that they don't have to earn one hundred million dollars, and try to appeal to a smaller, more discriminating audience.

The work horses of the independent movie is the small band of independent film makers, increasingly sporting their Masters of Fine Arts in film. There is also an army of untutored enthusiasts with cameras. These directors and producers are part of the same field, with the un-degreed, "wildcat" moviemakers perhaps more drawn toward action-packed genres like horror.

There are certain entire genres of film that will almost never make vast sums of money because of the nature of a mass audience. Chief among these is the documentary. This medium has become a remarkably powerful way to spread awareness not only of themes that don't make the Hollywood film, but topics that don't make the network news.

The documentary has been forged into a resistance weapon to be wielded by those lacking power. Often these films highlight places being ignored by the larger world, like Rwanda or Indonesia. Within the United States, documentaries have helped give a voice to powerless people living on the margins. One committed documentarian can help even the advantages held by despotic regimes and indifferent international corporations.

Because independent filmmaking is so close to the film school, the websites where bone can find it often are great sources for the various streams from which filmmakers learn their craft. One of these is foreign film, which is well-represented and in as much national diversity as possible. Another of these is silent film, a grand tradition today's impatient public can no longer tolerate.

One of the great capacities of the indie film is to provide genres of film that serve minority communities. They become part of a common lifestyle, nearly an alternate media universe. One community serviced in such a way is the gay and lesbian community, which is hungry for representations of screen romance that do not follow the mainstream, heterosexual model.

Another such minority community is composed of evangelical Christians, Mormons, and other conservative religious groups. Such groups have long complained about a Hollywood culture they feel once reflected traditional values but no longer does so. They too, are building their own media bubble. There are numerous reasons to escape mass media fare and support independent movies.




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