The term also refers to art films which differ noticeably from most mass marketed films.
In addition to being produced by independent production companies, independent films are often produced and/or distributed by subsidiaries of major studios.
In order to be considered independent, less than half of a film's financing should come from a major studio.
Independent films are sometimes distinguishable by their content and style and the way in which the filmmakers' personal artistic vision is realized.
Usually, but not always, independent films are made with considerably lower film budgets than major studio films.
Generally, the marketing of independent films is characterized by limited release designed to build word-of-mouth or to reach small specialty audiences.
Studio System
The Big Five majors | The Little Three majors | |
Vertical Integration
Production Distribution Exhibition
In 1948, the United States Supreme Court Paramount Decision ordered the Hollywood movie studios to sell their theater chains and to eliminate certain anti-competitive practices
Led to a boom in independent low budget film. B Movies Horror violence nudity and quite often a total rejection of production codes. The films were so cheap they were almost laughable – they gained cult audience status amongst young people and were shown at midnight with audience participation. Ed Wood
New avant garde movements in Europe challenge major studios dominance of style and narrative
RKO collapsed and the Studio realised they could no longer reach the young audience so they hired a host of young filmmakers and allowed them to make their films with relatively little studio control.
On May 16, 1969, Dennis Hopper, a young American filmmaker, wrote, directed, and acted in his first film, Easy Rider. Along with his producer/star/co-writer Peter Fonda, Hopper was responsible for the first completely independent film of New Hollywood.
Following on the heels of Easy Rider just over a week later, the revived United Artists' Midnight Cowboy, which, became the first and only X rated film to win the Academy Award for best picture.
In retrospect, it can be seen that Steven Spielberg's Jaws (1975) and George Lucas's Star Wars (1977) marked the beginning of the end for the New Hollywood. With their unprecedented box-office successes, these movies jump-started Hollywood's blockbuster mentality, giving studios a new paradigm as to how to make money in this changing commercial landscape. The focus on high-concept
1980s saw a growth in film festivals designed to promote independent filmakers. The cinema of transgression. This what we call second cinema an opposition to first cinema.
Continued success of some independent production companies such as Mirimax and New Line cinema caught the attention of major studios in
In 1993, Disney bought Miramax for $60 million. Turner Broadcasting, in a billion-dollar deal, acquired New Line Cinema, Fine Line Features, and Castle Rock Entertainment in 1994. The acquisitions proved to be a good move for Turner Broadcasting as New Line released The Mask and Dumb & Dumber and Castle Rock releasing The Shawshank Redemption and the release of Pulp Fiction by Miramax, all in 1994.[17]
The acquisitions of the smaller studios by conglomerate Hollywood was a plan in part to take over the independent film industry and at the same time start independent studios of their own. The following are all indie studios owned by conglomerate Hollywood:
Whether or not they are independent is up for debate – similar to music.
The following studios are considered to be the most prevalent of the modern independent studios (they are used to produce/release independent films and foreign-language films in America):
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