Celebrities have the most influence on Twitter. Twitter is a great way to further word-of-mouth. Twitter particularly is good to further engagement with something that is immediately accessible, like a television show.
It has been shown time and time again the impact a few celebrities can have when they support a film.
Many movie stars got their start in indie film. Many movie starts did their best work in indie film.
Indie film is under threat. It is no longer a
To think I once got to see movies when I went to film festivals…
I had one film to share with folks this time around, Sean Durkin’s MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE, which I had the pleasure and good fortune to Executive Produce — even still I did not plan to see any others. I knew I was going to be too busy with the work that festivals have become for me.
The reception for the film was great — which has generated a lot of meetings (and which has yielded some nice announcements ). I forgot to read the latest Exec Prod job description though and did not realize it now means moderating press conferences. Check out the video here, and let me know how you feel I did.
When I wasn’t dealing and celebrating Sean’s movie, I was doing my part to aid in the promotion of indie film.
Christine Vachon and I have been doing this talk show on and off now for several years, now dubbed KILLER / HOPE. Hulu’s got it up on their Sundance page. Please check it out while you still can (at least in all its glory). New episodes will be added daily throughout the festival. Additionally, we were invited to talk to Eugene Hernandez for the local NPR station. Gotta get the word out, but man does all that yapping, make for some seriously dry mouth.
But man, what a test of will power it is. I admit I am an addict
It is frustrating from an indie producer perspective that all film-centered tax incentives, both here in the US and abroad, are geared towards the higher budgeted films. It is totally understandable though, as the Hollywood & big budget fare bring in the most revenue and the most jobs. This sort of bias however, also limits the growth of local creative talent — in fact you could argue that the bias to high priced production in tax incentives drives out the local talent and thus prevents creative communities from developing in the regions in which the incentives are supposed to help.
Unless such tax incentive programs also focus on the sustainability of the creative community — in addition to maximizing tax revenues and employment — it will always be carpetbaggers who benefit from policy and not the local community.
Well, it would be nice if such a study existed, but I guess everyone figures “why bother to fund what we already know”. Ahem…
Classical music sales did skyrocket though when a study found it made kids smarter. The state of Georgia even passed a law providing classical music CDs for every newborn child. Imagine that, with each new spawn, parents would be given a copy of Hal Hartley’s entire catalogue. Harvey Pekar could be come a household name if the standard baby gift was American Splendor. Okay, maybe such greats as Ballast, Wendy & Lucy, Goodbye Solo and the such may not be so good for teen psyches, but hey Stranger Than Paradise is still a good primer in on studied cool and Primer will surely drive a few truly innovative business ideas (and innovative filmmaking at that).
