10 to Watch in 2010... Plus Five Runners-Up
After 10 days of Facebook-exclusive interviews, the suspense is finally over: The Independent's 10 filmmakers to keep an eye on in 2010... and the runners-up.
February 4th, 2010 | Nikki Chase
They come from all walks of life, and each has a different story to tell. Some have found success, while others are just beginning their careers. And although their filmmaking reflects this diversity, they all have one major thing in common (other than being on this list): talent. Be sure to take notes as you read...you'll want to remember these filmmakers.
Choosing The Independent's 10 to Watch is like trying to predict the future, or the stock market, or the weather in New England. The films on this list are in all stages of production and the filmmakers range from seasoned professionals to debut artists. So you might wonder how we named this particular group. How, exactly, does one go about predicting what 2010 has in store?
How Funders are Like Crushes and Other Sundance Morsels
Notes on Sundance 2010 from the eclectic and entertaining docmaker, Therese Shechter.
February 3rd, 2010 | Therese Shechter
Only filmmaker Therese Shechter equates raising money for her doc to speed-dating or counts eating potato skins as a personal victory. That's why we're happy she's back, sharing her blog with The Independent, about the always-crazy lines at Sundance 2010, which oddly dissipated by Wednesday.
Editor's note: Below is just a sampling of Shechter's Sundance account. For the whole enchilada, visit her blog.
Hello from Sundance!
Economic Turmoil in Film
How are recent American films coming to terms with economic strain? From features to personal documentaries, Teresa Bitler suggests seven films with recession-related themes.
January 25th, 2010 | Teresa Bitler
The films in this story capture the cinematic landscape of a country coming to grips with severe economic turmoil. From a man who loses his job and becomes obsessed with beating an arcade game's high score, to contemplating how, exactly, we ended up in this monetary mess, The Independent's Teresa Bitler suggests films that put the current fiscal downfall into perspective.
Pink slips and foreclosure notices. A few years ago, they seemed like some distant reality, something other people faced, people we didn’t know. Increasingly, though, the threat of job loss and foreclosure touches us all in some way. If we aren’t personally facing these issues, a family member, friend, or neighbor likely is.
Facebook Exclusive Interviews with 10 to Watch in 2010
Via Facebook, The Independent announces 10 to Watch in 2010, one filmmaker per day, from January 25th - February 3rd.
January 25th, 2010 | Erin Trahan
Bonjour! Join us for 10 days of celebrating film and 10 filmmakers to watch in the year to come. We've got daily updates on our site and exclusive interviews on Facebook from January 25th - February 3rd.
Editor's Note: This collaborative reporting effort was led by Nikki Chase with help from Maddy Kadish and The Independent's associate editor, Cristina Sousa.
BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION
Film-Friendly State: Shooting in Utah
The Independent's Angela Wu takes an in-depth look at why shooting your next film in the mountains might not be such a bad idea.
January 22nd, 2010 | Angela Wu
In the second installment of The Independent's new Film-Friendly States series, Angela Wu explores why, if you're an independent filmmaker, Utah offers much more than Sundance.
From New Hampshire’s “no filming permits” policy to Michigan’s 42 percent tax credit, states are fighting to stay competitive with low-cost international filming locations — and each other. For filmmakers, this means a slew of incentive programs that might make financing your next film a bit easier.
Doc Highlights from the Festival du Nouveau Cinéma
In part two of two, The Independent comments on intriguing docs from Montréal's Festival du Nouveau Cinéma.
January 7th, 2010 | Patrick Pearce
The Independent's Patrick Pearce offers take two of highlights from Montréal's Festival du Nouveau Cinéma, this time with a focus on docs. Last month he served up narrative features.
You may want to check out part one, which offers a festival overview with a focus on its narrative features.
Film Journal: The Importance of Pre-Production
Pre-production is one of the most vital aspects of filmmaking. In the third installment of her journal, Valerie Weiss discusses how she laid the groundwork for a successful film.
January 5th, 2010 | Valerie Weiss
Filmmaker Valerie Weiss shares her experiences of financing, planning, and producing her first independent feature film Losing Control in this monthly film journal. In her third installment, Weiss writes about the trials and triumphs she experienced during pre-production.
In my first two installments of my Film Journal for The Independent, I wrote about the philosophy behind the $200,000 independent film. In this installment, I will talk about laying the groundwork to make our film at this budget, the period known as pre-production, and how the making of Losing Control reinforced the film's theme that faith is more valuable than proof.
From Journalist to Documentarian – Five Tips for a Better Documentary
Think you’ve got an idea for a documentary? Before you shoot, hear how professional journalists turn good ideas into engaging nonfiction stories.
January 4th, 2010 | Michael Grosse
Ever wonder how, exactly, some documentaries can successfully embrace and tell a story, all while engaging the audience? So do we. The Independent's Michael Grosse highlights five important techniques on how to effectively research and write a better documentary.
Two-time Emmy Award winner June Cross has written, produced, or edited about a dozen documentaries in a career that spans more than three decades. She is also an associate professor of Journalism at Columbia University, where she teaches graduate-level courses in reporting and documentary film.
Health Care Legislation: What’s The Hold Up?
In the second installment of The Independent's series on the health care debate, Enette Ngoei explores why reform legislation is currently at a standstill.
December 18th, 2009 | Enette Ngoei
In the second installment of a new series about the United States' health care debate, The Independent examines the next step in the process, and why, exactly, legislation seems to be at an impasse.
Christmas is less than two weeks away, and the clock is ticking loudly for Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada), who wants a health care bill before the holidays. As the Democrats have desperately tried to accelerate the legislation’s passage this month, there have been two main speed bumps: abortion and the public option.
Under-the-radar Features from the Festival du Nouveau Cinéma
The Independent highlights some of the most interesting narrative films at Montréal's Festival du Nouveau Cinéma. The forthcoming part two will cover docs.
December 16th, 2009 | Patrick Pearce
The Independent's Patrick Pearce offers up an eclectic global sampling of indie features from Montréal's Festival du Nouveau Cinéma, a veteran fest that offers a bounty of stimulating films. In the forthcoming part two, he'll highlight docs.
If you’ve never been to Montréal, Québec you’re missing out. With cheap rent, creative industries, and multiculturalism seeping out all of its pores, this port city is crawling with artsy & cinematic characters from the très hip to the downright derelict, a cross between Brooklyn, New Orleans, Marseilles and maybe Istanbul.
Health Care Reform: Getting Filmmakers Up to Speed
In a new series that examines how health care reform will impact self-employed and freelance filmmakers, The Independent's Enette Ngoei offers a primer on what's happened thus far.
December 9th, 2009 | Enette Ngoei
You might be hard-pressed to find a more controversial, debated, constantly evolving topic than health care reform. In the first installment of a new series about the health care debate and how it might affect you, The Independent offers a summary of what's happened and happening on the Hill.
This past weekend, while Washington, D.C. area residents were out enjoying the first snowfall of the season, members of the United States Senate were on Capitol Hill debating the health care bill.
10 Most Innovative Animation Programs
The Independent highlights 10 of the best animation programs in the United States. Did your alma mater make the cut?
December 7th, 2009 | Teresa Bitler
The Independent scours the United States to find the 10 most innovative animation programs the country has to offer. The schools on this comprehensive list were picked based on reputation, creativity, and where their students find work after they earn their diplomas.
Opportunities abound today for animators to contribute to film — both independent and mainstream — television, and games, but it is still a competitive field, and choosing the right animation program can mean the difference between pushing the animation envelope at studios such as Pixar and
Borat's Aftermath: A Romanian Town Seeks Damages
The Independent's Randi Cecchine interviews Mercedes Stalenhoef, the Dutch director of the documentary, "Carmen Meets Borat."
November 23rd, 2009 | Randi Cecchine
Filmmaker Mercedes Stalenhoef thought she was filming a young woman with dreams of escaping her poor Romanian hometown for a better life. But then another film crew descended on Glod, Romania, to shoot scenes for Borat, forever changing the villagers' prospects and not necessarily for the better. The Independent's Randi Cecchine interviews Stalenhoef about the process of making and distributing her documentary, Carmen Meets Borat.
I had the pleasure of seeing Carmen Meets Borat at the International Women’s Film Festival in Seoul, and was deeply moved. Carmen tells the story of a young Romanian woman with big dreams but who lives in a poor town.
Doc Doctor's Story Strategies: Is Narration a Storytelling Red Flag?
In her 5th installment of "Story Strategies: Debunking the Myths of Storytelling," Doc Doctor Fernanda Rossi asks: What's so terrible about narration?
November 23rd, 2009 | Fernanda Rossi
Is voiceover a red flag for bad storytelling? Doc Doctor Fernanda Rossi enters the debate on whether or not narration can be a creative tool and explores the prejudices associated with the use of voiceovers, suggesting why documentary filmmakers may want to consider the device when crafting stories.
Myth #5
“Narration in a documentary is bad storytelling.”
Says who?
The Myth in All Its Glory
Exhibitor FAQ: Enzian Theater
The inside scoop on how filmmakers can command the screen at Central Florida's only full-time, noprofit, alternative theater: the Enzian in Maitland.
November 7th, 2009 | Enette Ngoei
At the Enzian Theater in Maitland, Florida, you can cozy up to the screen with a glass of wine or cold bottle of beer. But adult beverages alone do not keep the crowds happy. According to programming director Matthew Curtis, it's the quality of films. "They trust what we put on the screen," he told The Independent. Curtis gives the inside scoop on how filmmakers should approach Enzian with their latest projects.
For 25 years, Orlando area audiences have flocked to the Enzian Theater to enjoy independent films in a unique atmosphere. Instead of the usual stadium seating, the intimate Maitland, Florida art house cinema has four floors with tables for two and four. In its front section, gorgeous purple velvet captains' chairs and couches with coffee tables claim the space.
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