Articles: Crowd Sourcing + Exhibiting for Free

Crowd sourcing to fund, produce, promote, and monetise indie film

Crowd sourcing is an innovative business model being applied to several indie filmmaker projects.

Perhaps the most publicised and obviously successful case is that of The Age of Stupid. This documentary project on global warming has raised over $1.2 million via crowd funding, and also used crowd sourcing to distribute and exhibit it around the world.

http://yetanotherstrugglingwriter.blogspot.com/2009/12/crowd-sourcing-to-fund-produce-promote.html#more



Why Indie Directors Give Movies Away Free Online

"Releasing it for free is just good marketing," he says. "Whether it's through piracy or distribution your film is out there on the Internet, so we decided to harness this." And he has managed to make quite a bit of money out of it.

In the age of YouTube and viral marketing campaigns, it was only a matter of time before independent filmmakers came to realize that cutting the middleman out of the process is sometimes the best way to guarantee large audiences see their works.

http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1950005,00.html?xid=rss-topstories

Blog: 'The Life of a Career Assistant Director'

Here's some good gyan on being an AD, who has an extremely critical role in the making of a film:

http://indiefilmjunkie.blogspot.com/2009/12/evening-with-craig-huston.html

An interesting thing I have heard about Hollywood - AD owns the set. This means, in case of a major hassle, when you need to have someone leave the set - crew or cast, a director doesn't have the right to remove the person, it is the AD!

Typically, AD's position well respected and all departments look up to the person since he/she is the person who makes every thing happen.

It's a pretty powerful role, a challenging one and...crazy too - just check out the 'job description'. Most importantly, AD is the link between the producer and director.

Article: Many Successful Docmakers Attended the School of Hard Knocks

No Film School? No Problem: Many Successful Docmakers Attended the School of Hard Knocks
By Beige Luciano-Adams

Over the last half-century or so, documentary filmmaking has evolved as a formidable and expansive institution. In the US, filmmakers have built a soaring and sensible architecture by challenging ideology, pushing creative limits and distilling practice, while helping to legitimize the craft on a global stage.

But the new generation of filmmakers faces a shifting landscape, including important changes in how they learn.

Ongoing technological advances have arguably democratized the form, while the proliferation of film studies programs in higher education continues to institutionalize the profession. Whereas previous generations tended to come up through the ranks--often under the tutelage of mentors--now aspiring filmmakers can go straight through to an MFA and, at least in theory, tap alumni networks for a production job after graduating.

Complete article -->

Script Link: Up in the Air

Just read this script, which is likely to be nominated for Oscars and Clooney is a favorite for the nominations. An acclaimed flick by the dude who I envy a lot, Jason Reitman.

Dabbles into so many themes; focuses on just three characters and sticking to one profession. A script that you can't leave reading mid-way since it's so engrossing and fun to read. Touching too.

Check it out:
Screenplay: Up in the Air


Article:
http://milanocookieaisle.blogspot.com/2009/02/up-in-air-script-summary.html

The 'Best' Films...

...of the year, 2009 and decade:

Ebert's Best Foreign Films of 2009

Ebert's Top Animated Films of 2009

Ebert's Top Films of the Decade


Berardinelli's Top 2009 Films

Berardinelli's Top 2009 Performances

Berardinelli's Top Films of the Decade