Independence at a Price

Quentin Tarantino and Kevin Smith would have a hard time peddling their independent movies in today’s climate in the movie industry. Gone are the days of “Clerks” and “Reservoir Dogs” taking film festivals by storm. Independent film makers of such recent movies are having a hard time selling their movies to the big studios who tightened their budgets because they are not willing to take such a big gamble anymore on unknown proven talent.

There are two movies making the rounds across the globe this year that were financed by either mortgaging homes or heavy personal borrowing. Not everybody can max their credit cards like Kevin Smith and hit pay-dirt with “Clerks.” Independent producers now rely on Twitter, Facebook and hopefully word of mouth from other social media outlets and web presence. Basically they have to become their own studio on wheels and sell their movies to cinema houses or charge online and sell DVD copies. Some are finding luck such as “The Age of Stupid,” which will play in 400 screens this September. “Anvil! The Story of Anvil” is another independent movie about a Canadian heavy metal outfit that needed second mortgage financing to keep it afloat. Anvil played well at The Sundance Festival in 2008 but found little buzz to build from the movie. A year later it is still making the rounds with hope of making money. It’s a hard road traveled but a necessary one to keep hopes alive and the bankers away.

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