Month: December 2009
The Art House audience is graying at a rapid rate. Indie Film has lost its marketing muscle in a way that Indie Rock never has. New film audiences aren’t developing in the same way that they once was. Why aren’t we all doing more to recruit new participants?
Now mind you I am not providing statistics to back this statement up (do you really need to do that on that internet?). I admit I am just speaking from instinct, from standing in the center of the hurricane and trying to observe the weather. If we are going to have a sustainable industry, we have to consistently recruit new blood, both in terms of audience, staff, and creators — that’s just common sense, but the indie side of things has had a hard time of doing it.
What is it that new audiences want? What must the indie community do to engage them?
It is really surprising how few true indie films speak to a youth audience. In this country we’ve had Kevin Smith and NAPOLEON DYNAMITE, but nothing that was youth and also truly on the art spectrum like RUN LOLA RUN or the French New Wave (PARANORMAL ACTIVITY not withstanding…). Are we incapable of making the spirited yet formal work that defines a lot of alternative rock and roll? And if so, why is that?
You’d think with truly free film’s anti-corporate underpinnings that those who seek out authenticity would respond, but perhaps it is film culture’s historic precedent of the filmmaker’s ongoing pursuit for greater dollars. The examples of artists who forgo the monetary reward in favor of delivering the truth are all to rare, and thus audiences end up thinking that if the film itself isn’t about the sell, then the filmmaker’s career most likely is. Who really represents integrity in the film world? Who places their art or their audiences first? Is it the cost of production that forces 98% of the industry to focus first on commercial success? Is it the lack of support for the arts in the USA that makes media artists generally money-driven?
Maybe it’s not the content or the economic situation though, but the presentation that is more the turn-off for the newcomers? People often speak of the Alamo Draft House in Austin as the ultimate indie movie screen as it serves beer and food and has great clips that play before every film. It makes movie going feel like an event. And you can drink… alcohol. But me, I have never found movies to mix well with liquor — other substances, yes, but not the booze. It takes a specific type of film to appeal to a partying crowd. And a particular place that can recruit them. We have to give them more of a reason to leave the apartment than just watching a movie like they can at home. We have to return to really putting on a show.
Maybe it is the form in general. The way we have been making movies for the last 100 years appeals to only the singular pleasure of “being directed to”. What about the audience’s desire to participate? How come we have not found a way to encourage participation on a more widespread basis? Transmedia holds tremendous potential in its efforts to turn the presentation into an actual dialogue, although we still lack the defining work that goes beyond cross-platform to an actual back and forth, with both sides being equal creators.
Wouldn’t it be great to have a forum or think tank that really tackled these issues? That helped to lead the way?
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Games Galore!
Wowza Zowza Wooee! There’s so many games here to play (but don’t tell anyone).
One day there will be a book about everything. Or rather, one day every thing will have had a book written about it. Why not start with annoyed rabbits?
Disapproving Rabbits gives you a new grumpy floppy eared friend every day. Check it out!
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SUPER Twitter Group List Debuts
Perhaps the greatest contribution the AmerIndie scene has made to film culture has been the demystification of the filmmaking process. It once was a very closed-door operation, and as a result shut out many people from joining by sheer intimidation.
The Studios are evidently very concerned about opening it up further, since so much of the hype/sell is about control (and the timed release) of information. Reports have been in the media about contracts prohibiting Twittering from set. I have also heard about other stars being contractually required to Twitter a few times each week.
Now granted I think that anarchy never gets a fair shake, but I also believe that a community is also about responsible behavior. And adults don’t really need that defined for them: they know it whey the are in it. I am really excited by the possibility of looking into a movie process by the Twitter Feeds of the cast & crew. We have one for the movie SUPER that we are shooting right now.
Okay perhaps seeing into the operations of this endeavor might send the folks in the white suits off to every indie film shoot. Blood. Drugs. Potty talk. We have got it all. But hey, I’m encouraging it.
I sent this letter out to the cast and crew after the second day of filming, and we are now finishing up our third:
First off, let me just say: WOW! I was told that this was impossible but you are all proving it otherwise. It’s been a short prep with a tremendously ambitious schedule, and we’ve been making the days (54 set ups today!) and everyone has such a great attitude and spirit. I am loving this film, this crew, this town, this total experience. Thank you.
Secondly though, let me tell you that by working on the film SUPER you are participating in only part of the experience. You now have the chance to get inside the minds of the cast, crew, director and producers — thanks to the miraculous and free broadcast platform know as Twitter.Did you know that our star Rainn Wilson is one of the leading Twitter communicators? Over 1.6 Million people receive his daily tweets. Mr. Gunn is no slacker himself in that department with over 20,000 receiving his feeds. And both these guys are really funny.Me, I use twitter primarily to try to figure out where our film business is going and to try to point it in the direction I want. Everyone on it use it to promote and spread the news, music, and information they want. Hey, even some folks I know have found their significant others on it.And know what? I found this project on Twitter when Rainn posted about it. This movie would not have happened because of it.Registering is free. Just go to http://twitter.com/ , select a screen name, and start selecting some people to follow. Or take my advice and write some tweets before you follow them, but really do what you want to do. You can find interesting people to follow by looking at whom your friends follow and clicking on them to follow.But here is where I think it gets really interesting: I have set up a SUPER group where I list the feeds of everyone involved in the making of the movie. I would like to add your Twitter Feed to the group. So if you join, email me and tell me what your Twitter name is and I will add you to the list.You can also find all the other Super folk there to follow.It will give you and the world a new perspective into the film. I am encouraging you to do this, because I have had a lot of fun doing it, and I think we will all learn from doing it. And I think it will be really cool to show the world SUPER from the inside out. But we need your help.I do request your confidence and discretion though. There are some things we may like to not reveal to the general public, like how the story goes or how things look, and we hope you can respect that, and after all you’ve read your contract and know what you can and can’t do any way, right?Anyways, thanks for working with James, Miranda, Lampton and all of us on this film. Together, we can make something really great that we will all be proud of. Let’s spread the word about what we are doing here.THANKS AGAIN!TedAny way check out the feed and you can see what it is like to be on set, sort of…
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Hey NYC! Holiday Hackshop Tommorow
Eyebeam delivers the fun for the whole family. Hack it up NoseBrigade!
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What Does It Mean To Lead Well?
We start shooting tomorrow.
I have some plans. Like all the good stuff, they are pretty hard to execute well. Why? Well….
To lead while producing means:
You motivate. You inspire. You admire. You keep reaching higher.
You will innovate and always take some risks.
You are prepared, and anticipating what will and may never.
You follow through, step forward, reach across.
You recognize you are just like everyone else, exercising your labor for what you believe in, and the hope of some security down the road.
You are concerned for everyone’s health, safety, and welfare, their understanding and education.
You demystify, make things more transparent.
You delegate, and fill in the cracks.
You cast your crew with as much consideration as you have for your cast.
You never make anyone pick up after you.
You are accessible, open, and humble.
Your enthusiasm for the project is contagious.
You never forget the human factor. This isn’t war; making movies is a creative act.
You treat all people with respect, and will allow others to lead you too.
You limit and reduce waste, making the most of everything you have.
You take responsibility for everyone,their situations, but allow their aspirations to be their own.
You remain focused on the work at hand– which both here, and past, and far ahead.
You show that you know you are entering others’ homes and ‘hoods, that they welcomed you here, and you wouldn’t be here without them.
You produce for before, behind, and all around the camera.
You are always learning and helping others to learn too.
You are strict and stern, flexible and relaxed.
You remain mindful of the big things in life, not just on the movie.
You earn your break, work for your supper, invest in others.
