Filmmaking has become much more accessible in recent years. Today, you can use a range of low-cost tools to produce short films and movies that rival the production value of big-budget cinema.
Producing and marketing a film is easier than ever before, too. As an indie filmmaker, you don’t have to remortgage your house to start shooting exciting adventure flicks or thought-provoking mumblecore videos. Likewise, you can follow in the footsteps of successful small-budget filmmakers and lean on social media to gain an audience and build a buzz around a release.
However, increased accessibility doesn’t mean that indie filmmaking is challenge-free. You still have to negotiate a series of roadblocks and complex corporate conversations if you want your film to land on a streaming service and gain a serious payday.
Opportunities
Streaming has shaken up the filmmaking industry to the benefit of many indie filmmakers. Today, major streaming services like Netflix, Disney +, and Amazon Prime vie to snap up the rights to popular indie films and pay top dollar for movies that were never even released in cinemas. This means that you can find an audience for your indie film, even if major theaters are not interested in picking up the rights to your production.
The recent rise of streaming services may help you maintain creative control over your production, too. Without studio executives to butt in with profit-oriented decisions, you can shoot the film you want to see and use film festivals and screenings to prove that your movie is worth paying for. This can be transformative if you’re used to marketing teams interfering with your creative process while on set.
As a fledgling director, you may even find support in the form of original content from streaming services. To be clear, Netflix Originals and Amazon Exclusives are not “indie” films. However, they share many common traits with the indie industry and have already produced popular indie-esque films like “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” and “Marriage Story.” This genre of indie-esque films gives you a potential path to grow as a director without having to team up with one of the “Big Five” movie studios.
Hurdles
Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016). Photo: (David Bornfriend/A24).
Indie films have long been the go-to option for cash-strapped directors. For decades, folks have been hitting it big after releasing low-cost movies like “The Blair Witch Project” and “Primer.” However, these low-budget films still require some serious investment. Films like “Moonlight,” for example, qualify as low-budget movies, but still have a budget in excess of $4 million.
Beyond funding challenges, indie films have been slated as the first to go from major streaming services. This has led some to lament the loss of indie films from Netflix and Amazon Prime, calling small-budget productions the “first casualty” of the streaming wars. This is emphasized by the fact that Sundance-winning titles have been sold for $0 and that no indie film has cracked $20 million this year. This poses a real issue for you as an art-house indie filmmaker, as opportunities become far and few between.
Shooting an indie film is mentally straining and physically taxing, too. Without a team of PAs around you, you’ll need to do a lot of the heavy lifting yourself. This kind of demanding career can have a detrimental effect on your mental health. High-stress jobs are linked with anxiety, depression, and deteriorating performance. This is a real issue, as negative mental health can reduce cognitive function and may contribute to burnout. Conversely, however, indie filmmaking in a positive environment can be deeply rewarding and may help combat some symptoms of mental health disorders.
Setting Up for Success
The opportunities that you face as an indie filmmaker may feel insurmountable. However, you can take heart in the knowledge that almost all of your favorite directors started out on small-budget indie production. Even the widely acclaimed Denis Villeneuve started out with small Canadian films like “August 32nd on Earth” and “Maelström.”
Set yourself up for success by making choices that future-proof your career in indie films. When you aren’t shooting on set or writing scripts, take steps to build a stronger professional network by attending film screenings and festivals. This will help you brush up on crucial soft skills that directors at all levels utilize like persuasion, flexibility, and conflict management. Keep track of your personal accolades on a digital portfolio and embrace the hustle to impress potential investors.
Streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime vie for attention. (Photo via t-mobile.com).
Consider brushing up on your technical skills while between projects, too. Being able to edit and add effects in widely used software like Avid can help you land commercial gigs between your creative projects and round out your portfolio. This can make a world of difference if you have a passion project lined up but need some additional funds to make the shoot work.
Conclusion
Independent filmmaking is a growing industry that can be lucrative and creatively rewarding if you play your cards right. However, before you quit your job and start shooting scenes, you need to be aware that many indie films struggle financially and face serious competition when selling on streaming platforms. Rather than putting all your eggs in the indie-film basket, consider investing some time and effort into transferable skills that will pay your bills and round out your professional portfolio.
