I think that's a rather reductive perspective that doesn't add much to our
understanding of the American film landscape as a whole. Of course much of
what's labelled 'independent' cinema is far from entirely independent of
entities such as the studios. But some is relatively more so than other
parts, and various differences can be identified in the kinds of films
produced different degrees closer-to and further-away from the main
operations of the studios. Plenty of films get distributed in the
commercially-viable independent sector that differ considerably from
mainstream Hollywood fare, and that needs to be acknowledged even if there
is a spectrum that shades into films that barely differ at all, and even if
the label 'independent' might sometimes seem just to be a way to exploit a
particular niche market. Even as the latter - a commercially motivated
niche-market practice by off-shoots of the studios - it still results in
some very interesting films that wouldn't otherwise get funded and/or
distributed. The commercially-distributed indie sector certainly adopted the
'hit based' economy of Hollywood during the 1990s, to the detriment of some
of its breadth, but other things still manage to happen in that system the
distinctive nature of which are worthy of note.
geoff
Date: Sat, 17 Dec 2005 22:18:04 +0000
From: Kent Farmer <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: US Independent cinema
What independent cinema? The corporate distributors have a complete
stranglehold on what you
see and don't see. Most of the Indie films that are touted as Indie are
simply "prestige" films
distributed by the Majors through some wing of their company and packaged to
appeal to the
audience who has a more "independent" taste. This trend has completely taken
over since the late
eighties with the rise of the Spielbergian monster of "box office above all"
mentality. It has
infected every level of art/entertainment content including music and
publishing.
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