Independent Filmmaking - A Creative Labor of Love...



It takes guts to make an independent film. Unlike big budget studio flicks, independent films are self-financed with the hope that they’ll be picked up for distribution. And while working in this industry may present unexpected challenges, independent filmmakers see it as a true labor of love - one that allows them to create visionary pieces that create buzz and capture audiences’ imaginations.

“Independent films have the freedom to work with niche content without worrying about answering to an investor. This is why indie films have a stereotype of being controversial and experimental,” says Eve Okupniak, department chair for Digital Filmmaking at The Art Institute of New York City.
Story, characters, and craft are the three areas that make an independent film stand out from the sea of films being made, she asserts, adding that successful movies contain characters people can relate to.

“Filmmaking can be compared to a large puzzle. There are several thousand pieces that make up the whole picture,” Okupniak says.

Social networking has allowed that puzzle to come together more quickly - writers, producers, actors, directors, and other specialists can collaborate more easily get a project moving.
But like most businesses, the end goal is to distribute the work. And that’s where independent filmmaking attempts to make the jump to mainstream audiences.

The Sundance and the Toronto Film Festivals are the largest and best-attended opportunities for filmmakers to connect with distribution studios.

“The purpose of an independent film festival is to give a film an opportunity to find a corporate distributor so the film can be shown in theaters or DVD. The festival can determine the popularity of a film which can give the distributor an idea of how much the film can make at the box office,” asserts Okupniak, who has attended AFI in Los Angeles and the Philadelphia International Film Festival.

The festivals also give filmmakers the opportunity to gain feedback from film critics, she says.

“Filmmakers benefit from this early feedback and often make changes to their films,” Okupniak says.
It also puts filmmakers front and center with the media - meaning, not only must their work be great, but their PR skills must be polished as well.

The Independent Film Business Model

There’s hope for filmmakers nervous about finding the right distributor for their work. The web has opened up options that reduce dependence on distributors, while still allowing large audiences to see a film, according to Ingrid Price, producer at Peak Road Productions LLC.

“This (business) model is changing rapidly because alternative distribution methods are becoming more mainstream. It's theoretically possible to bypass theatrical release altogether and still make money on a film with internet downloads, foreign release, ancillary sales, and DVD sales,” adds Price, who has also worked as a costume designer on the show Nurse Jackie and other episodic TV shows.

She believes that independent filmmakers don’t just need to be innovators in cinema, but also in networking to a new, web savvy generation.

“Independent filmmakers were the first to exploit new media and new avenues to reach consumers.”
This ability to network and push the limits is critical to success in an industry where filmmakers may not have the resources needed to realize their vision. But Price believes that this provides an interesting challenge, pushing filmmakers to think outside the box.

“I'm not saying it's a masterpiece, but Paranormal Activity, [an inventive low-budget indie film], achieved great suspense - and success - by using very simple, cheap, techniques,” Price says.

Price enjoys finding these gems at film festivals.

“I love going to film festivals and being surprised and impressed by inventive filmmaking from people with small budgets and no studio support.”

Looking to the Independent Filmmaking Future

While online collaboration has already begun to bring filmmakers across the world together, Okupniak believes that the web will provide other benefits for independent films.                                                                                                                                            

“Streaming venues such as YouTube, Vimeo, Netflix, iTunes, and even Amazon have created opportunities for indie filmmakers to find a wider audience,” Okupniak says Genre-wise, Price believes that filmmakers will continue to gravitate toward zombies and quirky, emotional 20-somethings. She’s hoping that her next project, featuring ghost stories for the over 40 crowd, will start a new industry trend.

Price adds that there are fewer obstacles than ever to making movies outside of Hollywood.
“Film festivals are popping up all over - including in cyberspace - which means there are hundreds of outlets for new work,” Price says.

Both Okupniak and Price agree that aspiring filmmakers need to network and be prepared to put in the hours - lots of hours - to learn the business.

“This business is not just about finding a job,” Okupniak says. “It's mostly about creating lasting relationships. It's about working with each other rather than for someone. I tell my students that they need to be comfortable around people in order to continue working in this profession.”

Price backs it up with the success story of a woman who approached her on set and offered to work for free. Not only did the woman turn out to be one of the most valuable team members, she’s now an apprentice with the Director's Guild trainee program.

“It's a great time for indie filmmakers; there's a lot of competition, but also a lot of opportunity,” Price says.


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