Read: The Independent

Film-Friendly State: Shooting in Illinois

cristina — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600

In her role as managing director of the Illinois Film Office, Betsy Steinberg spends a lot of time talking with filmmakers on both coasts and overseas. “In Chicago, and around the state, the abundance of looks is never-ending,” she says. “Every filmmaker says it is the most under-photgraphed place in the movies.”

Building an Audience with Social Media

cristina — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600

Your film has all the elements of an underground hit: tears, laughter, intrigue, love, hate, betrayal… audiences will love it! But you spent your entire budget on production.

So the question remains: How can you effectively spread the word so that your film is viewed by as many people as possible, particularly when you lack adequate funding?

What Is Social Media?

10 to Watch in 2010... Plus Five Runners-Up

cristina — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600

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

erin — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600

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

cristina — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600

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

erin — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600

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

cristina — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600

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

erin — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600

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

cristina — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600

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

cristina — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600

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.