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Independent Film
What makes an independent film, independent?
What makes an independent film, independent? Generally a film is considered independent if it doesn’t have the backing of the studio corporations. The established names of the movie business produce movies within their own corporate divisions and distribute them through their subsidiaries all around the world. An independent film works in whole or in part outside of these structures with its own financing, production and local distributions. The differences aren’t always as clear-cut as one might imagine, as filmmaking is such a collaborative effort bringing creative visions to fruition. An independent may be considered to have more creative freedom but along the way there will be compromises as well as connections between truly independent and studio films.
Networking & The Internet
Independent filmmakers are like a subterranean community of creative individuals and collaborators striving towards a shared goal…to make films. The internet and social networking sites have aided filmmakers immensely as a quick, easy & cost effective resource to help filmmakers collaborate with each other and empowering individuals to not only make but also market and distribute their own films.
Digital technology
In conjunction with the Internet and the social networking sites, the proliferation of digital technology and equipment has never made filmmaking so cost effective and easy to do. With the introduction of the Red camera and the development of the Canon DSLRs, digital technology is bridging the gap with film as a comparable aesthetic medium, creating the film look at a more affordable price for the man on the street. The likes of Arri & Sony have followed suit, introducing more technically advanced entry-level digital cameras.
Film Infrastructure
The industry has a plethora of businesses providing a highly competitive infrastructure for film in the UK with production companies, post production houses, sales agents and distributors to help produce, fund, shoot, edit, market and distribute films whether they are short films, feature films, films for TV, the internet, mobile phone, DVD or cinema release. Breaking into this highly sort after fraternity will be hard enough, surviving is another matter altogether.
