“What do Winona Ryder, Cameron Diaz, Court-ney Love, Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt have in common? Other than being some of the most sought after actors and actresses in Hollywood, they all share the common bond of being in an independent film.
Most independent films, which usually have great direction, writing and acting, are made outside the studio system or with a smaller subsidiary of a major studio. An example of this would be Sony Pictures branching off to Sony Pictures Classics or New Line Cinema branching off to Fine Line Fea-tures. You have probably seen “Pulp Fiction,” the most fa-mous indie film to date. Other famous indie films that you may have seen are “Dirty Dancing,” “Hallo-ween,” and “Taxi Driver.”
Indie films usually have lower budgets than regular motion pictures. Companies find these films too risky to fund because they do not think that mainstream America will be compelled enough to see these movies over the latest Jim Carrey laugh-fest or another one of Demi Moore’s pointless movies.
You rarely ever hear about independent films because these filmmakers can’t afford a nationwide ad campaign. Just because movies have five-minute trailers, and ads everywhere, does not mean that the film is good. It only means that it has a big budget. Usually indie films will have little or no advertising. They are usually showcased in the Calendar section of the Los Angeles Times or in the Film Pick of the Week section of the LA Weekly.
Indie films are finally getting the recognition that they deserve. 1996 was appropriately dubbed The Year of the Independent Film because of the release of numerous indie films during that year. At the Oscars, four out of the five Best Picture nominees were indies and all of the Best Actress nominees were nominated for indie roles. It’s about time!
See the box on page 19 for a list of some of my favorites. Or you can rent any of these: “Basquiat,” “I Shot Andy Warhol,” “Sid and Nancy,” “Hate,” “Small Faces,” “Naked,” “Drugstore Cowboy,” “Freeway,” “Normal Life,” “Slac-ker,” “Sling Blade,” “Breaking the Waves,” “Grace of My Heart,” “Manny and Lo,” “Walking and Talking,” “2 Days in the Valley” and “Bound.”
“She’s the One,” “The Brothers McMullen,” “Lone Star,” “Sweet Nothing,” “Kolya” and “Waiting for Guffman.” “Pallookaville,” “Mean Streets,” and “The White Balloon.””