Indie Film (Independent film) is often thought of as a genre in which, a person has shot some quirky dream from the back of their mind. However it all boils down to financing, if the money comes from an independent source (independent from a studio such as Warner Bros or Disney) then there you have it, the birth of an independent film.

So with the details squared away, independent films have in most cases a smaller budget, this however should not deter you from enjoying what filmmaking is meant to be, and in my humble opinion all that a film should be is showcased in indie film. This is due to the fact that they have in many cases a greater depth than most studio films.

I don’t wish to take away from the rise of Marvel and DC, Fuck we’ve all waited a long time to see Thor and his big hammer, but when you’re watching the same plot where guy meets girl etc you need something to mix the monotony of shit up. Anyway, back to indie stuff, The Sundance Film festival is dedicated to acknowledging and celebrating this genre annually in Utah, USA.

Going back to the 90’s when Indie film was seemingly at its highest, with the release of Richard Linklaters ‘Slacker’ a film in which no real plot emerges with the constant switch from character to character every couple of minutes the film, couple this with the later released Clerks by Kevin Smith (Pictured below) in ’94 which both attained entry to the coveted Sundance Film Festival both receiving awards for their efforts. Clerks cost $27,575 from start to finish, all taken on credit by said moviemaker. Both films are a must see, for tips on what to do and what not to do.

What the films do showcase is that much like other ventures that seemed inaccessible such as racecar driving, film is not beyond reach; it takes a massive set of anatomy to pursue, and a lot of hard work though, so if you dream of movie making fame, be prepared to spit or swallow all the required roles to get there, just looks at the credit list from ‘Slackers’. If everyone looked at indie as the ‘way-in’ instead of a doorstopper then we could all learn and enjoy film more.

Kevin Smith at Sundance ‘94

Source: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/default/files/2014/01/Clerks_KevinSmith_94SFF_bySandriaMiller_a_l.jpg

Richard Linklater at Sundance ‘91Source: http://cdn1.thr.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/landscape_928x523/2015/01/linklater_sundance_a_l.jpg