“I didn't want to be around anybody because it was just too much for my brain. But, as an actress, you hope you get those meaty roles that push you into the extremities of that psychology. I like doing independent films because there's more room for you to be creative, and the director allowed me to just go wherever I needed to go. It was emotional. I had to cry a lot.” WantFilmRoomsBrainRolesCreativePsychologyToo MuchCryEmotionalNeededDirectorsIndependentActressesBe CreativeIndependent FilmExtremity Author:Tinsel Korey
“The excitement about independent filmmaking is that they're a little more open to taking chances. The studios are a little more careful, as far as who they choose for their film and what they're known for and staying in the genre because they know what works.” KnowsLittlesFilmChanceKnownIndependentCarefulStudiosGenreExcitementStayingFilmmakingTake A ChanceIndependent Filmmaking Author:Malin Akerman
“When you're making an independent film and you care about it so much you do all the prep work beforehand.” CareFilmIndependentIndependent FilmPreps Author:Zoe Kravitz
“In studio films, everything has to be boxed in, everybody needs to know beforehand - this is comedy, this is sci-fi, this is drama - and what's the point of independent film if you don't get to experiment?” IfsKnowsNeedsFilmComedyDramaIndependentStudiosExperimentsSci FiIndependent Film Author:Famke Janssen
“The fact that you couldn't see Alfred Hitchcock's first film The Mountain Eagle, or that you couldn't see so many of F.W. Murnau's masterpieces, or that you couldn't see so many of Oscar Micheaux's really intriguing race melodramas, made with fierce independent spirit against all odds in '20s and '30s America. That stuff haunted me. They really did bring to life a sense of 20th Century history: cultural history, pop history, gender politics and race politics, socio economic history, all that stuff. It was bracing and instructive.” FirstsMadeFactsAmericaFilmSpiritStuffRaceEconomicCenturyMountainIndependentPopsGenderFierceOddsOscars20th CenturyMasterpieceEaglesIntriguingHitchcockMelodramaAgainst All OddsEconomic History Author:Guy Maddin
“When I hear the word independent I reach for my revolver. At this point, what the hell does that mean? The English Patient is an independent film... Hootie and the Blowfish are alternative music. I'm the Queen of Denmark. I don't know what it means anymore.” KnowsMeanDoeFilmHellIndependentPatientAlternativesQueensIndependent FilmDenmarkRevolverBlowfishAlternative Music Author:Jim Jarmusch
“Many of us had this idea of doing independent film, of making personal, relevant films, as opposed to Hollywood fluff. I directed a few.” IdeasFilmHollywoodIndependentRelevantIndependent FilmFluff Author:Robert Kane Pappas
“The problem for independent filmmakers is that huge companies control all the promotion, all the advertising. Hollywood films' advertising budgets are as large as their shooting budgets.” ProblemFilmCompanyHugeHollywoodIndependentAdvertisingShootingBudgetsFilmmakerPromotionHollywood Films Author:Robert Kane Pappas
“I come from a background of independent films.” FilmIndependentBackgroundsIndependent Film Author:Mia Wasikowska
“The independent films are really where I kind of come from and where I feel comfortable. It's never been about the blockbusters and making a huge tonne of money. It's always been about wanting to do projects about the things that I think are important to be out there.” ThinkingFeelsKindImportantFilmHugeComfortableProjectsIndependentIndependent FilmBlockbuster Author:Mia Wasikowska
“I want to do more independent film. I'm blessed to be working on really quality episodic television, which to me actually feels like a sort of 13-hour film.” WantFeelsFilmHoursQualityTelevisionIndependentBlessedIndependent Film Author:Maggie Siff
“Just being able to make exactly what I want with my brother and a lot of my best friend and to have a place like HBO that not only lets you do that, but supports you and puts up billboards in support of it, and really puts it out there for you. That's not something I get a lot in the independent film world where everybody's pinching pennies and nervous about whether it's going to make money or not.” WorldWantAbleFilmSupportBrotherIndependentNervousMaking MoneyMy BrotherJust BeingMy Best FriendPenniesIndependent FilmSupport YouBillboardsHboPinching Author:Mark Duplass
“On an independent film you're lucky if you get one, but ostensibly the job is the same. There's very little difference, apart from the knowledge that there's a captive audience at the end of it - which you can't always guarantee with a movie.” IfsLittlesEndsJobsFilmDifferencesAudienceLuckyIndependentGuaranteesCaptivesIndependent Film Author:Charles Dance
“I watch many, many, many independent films every year that you see once in a film festival and they're never heard of ever again. Many of them are very, very good.” YearsFilmWatchesHeardIndependentVery GoodFestivalsIndependent FilmFilm Festivals Author:Karen Allen
“When independent films break through and actually make it into any level of mainstream-ness or get seen by people or find a life actually in theaters, it's extraordinary. And it doesn't happen that often.” PeopleHappensFilmLevelsBreakTheaterIndependentExtraordinaryMainstreamBreak ThroughIndependent Film Author:Karen Allen
“I really (became) very independent. I was start(ed) to write one-woman shows and mak(e) films and to me I think I really felt like my choice (was) more important than any kind of career goal.” ThinkingWritingKindImportantShowsFilmChoicesFeltGoalCareersIndependentOne WomanCareer Goals Author:Margaret Cho
“We are hopefully seeking some kind of distribution - but that's the ultimate goal of any independent film-maker. We are sold-out, from what I was told yesterday. We're going to try to put together another screening because I know there's a lot Jersey Boys fans that are coming. I don't know when, why or how, but we definitely want the opportunity for everyone to see this.” KnowsWantTryingKindTogetherFilmOpportunityGoalBoysFansUltimateIndependentSeekingYesterdayHopefullyMakersDistributionJerseyUltimate GoalIndependent FilmScreeningSold Out Author:J. Robert Spencer
“Making an independent documentary film is so hard that usually, the usual model is that your film becomes a model for advocacy, so you can enlist that support group and get as much juice out of your film as possible. That's just practically, financially, what you need to do.” NeedsHardFilmSupportGroupsModelsIndependentUsualDocumentariesJuiceAdvocacySupport GroupsDocumentary Films Author:Tim Hetherington
“Yes, a lot of European cinema and a lot of independent films and art-house stuff. She is a photographer. She is a visual artist and photographer and my dad is, too. My mum, I must credit for showing me good films. With my career, my parents were great and though they were a little wary, maybe, of the acting ambitions they have always been supportive.” LittlesArtFilmArtistHouseStuffParentActingCareersDadAmbitionIndependentPhotographerMy DadCreditCinemaVisualsMumSupportiveIndependent FilmVisual ArtGood FilmsVisual Artist Author:Mia Wasikowska
“I did very much enjoy being part of an independent film. It was just the energy.” FilmEnergyEnjoyIndependentIndependent Film Author:Kylie Minogue
“I'm also working on another independent film called Roxanne, Roxanne, about Roxanne Shante, who was one of the first African American battle rappers from Brooklyn. It is produced by Forest Whitaker and Pharrell [williams], so I'm really in great hands.” FirstsHandsFilmBattleIndependentForestsAfrican AmericanRapperBrooklynIndependent Film Author:Nia Long
“Independent films are really one of the greatest resources these days to actually find unfiltered truth.” FilmResourcesIndependentThese DaysIndependent Film Author:Josh Tickell
“Here are the good things about independent films: They do the more interesting, chancy scripts. They're run by love.” RunningFilmInterestingIndependentGood ThingsScriptsIndependent Film Author:William H. Macy
“If I had my choice, I would do the same little independent films, but they would have $100 million budgets, so I could get paid a fortune and hang out in a huge trailer.” IfsLittlesFilmChoicesMillionsHugePaidIndependentFortuneBudgetsHanging OutTrailersIndependent Film Author:William H. Macy
“I'm drawn to a lot of first-time directors. One of the great common denominators in these small independent films is that there's a person, or two people, who have an absolutely monomaniacal passion to get these films made. That's what makes them happen. Sometimes, it takes years and years to finally get it done, but by never backing down, by never giving up, they get these films to the screen by hook or by crook.” PeopleGivingYearsFirstsPersonsMadeTwoSometimesDoneHappensFilmPassionCommonDirectorsGiving UpFirst TimeIndependentScreensHookNever Giving UpIndependent FilmGet It DoneCommon DenominatorCrooksBacking Down Author:William H. Macy
“You can't print everything and that's not good for filmmaking, because you wanna have as many options as possible and print as much as you can, but if you're going to shoot a film - an independent movie on film, the only way to really do it is to print your selects.” IfsWayFilmIndependentPrintFilmmaking Author:Logan Lerman
“When the doors to television were opened to me, that was quite a surprise. It's been such a gift that there was so much TV and independent film happening in New York that I could be a part of. There was something to satiate my desire to be artistic and creative, especially when it wasn't in the way I originally thought it was going to be.” WayFilmDesireCreativeDoorsNew YorkTelevisionTvsHappeningsIndependentSurpriseArtisticIndependent Film Author:Aja Naomi King
“The movie studios, they only like to make - I make a joke, but it's true - if the movie has the word "man" and a number in the title, they'll make it. If it doesn't have that, it's an R-rated raunchy comedy, and that's it. Any other movie that you're going to make is going to be an independent one. So for filmmakers who want to do something other than "man" and a number, it's either independent films or television, which is like the place for real creative filmmakers to go.” IfsMenWantRealFilmNumbersCreativeComedyTelevisionJokesIndependentStudiosTitlesFilmmakerIndependent Film Author:Rob Reiner
“I wanted to make sure the focus [in The Land] was on human beings themselves and their decisions, but still connected to the urban environment that people associate as being black. I think I was able to make a film without commenting on "black this or black that" and you still feel the presence of it. There's no one character who's saying "we're all black and we're all in this struggle." It's that you just feel it. Some of that is because we get the sense from a lot of independent films that black people struggle all the time.” PeopleThinkingFeelsHumansStillsCharacterAbleWantedFilmBlackHuman BeingsDecisionStruggleEnvironmentFocusLandIndependentConnectedBlack PeopleUrbanAssociatesIndependent FilmAll BlackUrban Environment Author:Steven Caple Jr.
“I think most of the time with independent films, you don't know where it's gonna end up. I've done a number of films that may never see the light of day, so it ends up being exclusively about the content, material, the characters and the story. Things that you maybe wouldn't get an opportunity to do otherwise. So, as an actor, obviously it's so different.” ThinkingKnowsMayDifferentEndsDoneCharacterStoriesLightFilmActorsOpportunityNumbersMaterialsIndependentIndependent Film Author:Alison Brie
“It's a really unique situation where you just - you make independent films or you make big blockbuster movies, but it's very rare when all of those ingredients come together, and you can really tell a story that you care about with a character you absolutely love with the people you love making movies with.” PeopleCharacterStoriesBigsCareTogetherFilmSituationUniqueIndependentIngredientsLove MakingIndependent FilmBlockbuster Author:Andy Serkis
“I've spoken about this completely independent of this movie prior to ever being attached to this film that as a kid the first movie that I remember seeing that resonated with me was the Wizard of Oz. I think just visually the color, the spectrum of it and how fantastical it was and how much you wanted to live in that world, for a nine-year old was so magical and so grand so I have the greatest, fondest memories of it.” ThinkingWorldYearsFirstsKidsWantedRememberFilmMemoriesSeeingColorIndependentNineWizardsSpectrumNine Years Author:Mila Kunis
“The independent film business is pretty much gone. Now you can do it in a format where you actually get to develop a character over a period of time.” CharacterFilmCan DoGonePeriodsIndependentYou Can Do ItFormatIndependent Film Author:Billy Bob Thornton
“I think everybody's contemplating TV now, because mid-level and high-budget independent films are not being made now.” ThinkingMadeFilmLevelsTvsIndependentBudgetsContemplatingIndependent Film Author:Billy Bob Thornton
“Independent films now, they want to give you $2 million to make it, 21 days to shoot it and they want 10 movie stars in it.” WantGivingFilmStarsMillionsIndependentMovie StarIndependent Film Author:Billy Bob Thornton
“I believe that independent film making is the last frontier of creative expression available. So I'm always willing to lend a helping hand to a young film maker who's just getting into the business.” BelieveHelpingHandsLastsFilmYoungI BelieveCreativeWillingExpressionIndependentAvailableMakersFrontiersHelping HandIndependent FilmCreative Expression Author:Lloyd Kaufman
“I'm really a sucker for old, old movies. Like old film noir. I don't know. I also really enjoy independent movies.” KnowsFilmEnjoyIndependentSuckerNoirOld MovieFilm Noir Author:Boti Bliss
“For me, something that's been always really important to me, that's also really served me well in hindsight, is doing different things, trying to cross different genres, and dipping my toes into comedy and drama and action here and there. Fortunately, as I've been working, the industry has also changed where you're able to dip your toes into different mediums, where it's not just independent film and studio film, but now you've got TV, and you're able to do all these different things. For me, it's just a matter of continually pushing myself and challenging myself.” TryingWellsImportantDifferentMatterAbleActionFilmChallengesComedyChangedTvsIndustryDramaCrossesIndependentStudiosMediumsGenreDifferent ThingsPushingToesHere And ThereHindsightIndependent FilmDipDifferent GenresChallenging Myself Author:Michelle Monaghan
“It's really a great luxury to have, to be able to go from big films to indie films, too. Because I'm on the job learning as an actor, and independent films is where I'm learning to act.” BigsAbleJobsFilmActorsIndependentLuxuryIndependent FilmIndie Films Author:Dave Bautista
“In the States it's more and more difficult to get an independent film off the ground, and you certainly wont get the opportunity to play something like that in a studio movie.” StatesPlayFilmOpportunityDifficultIndependentStudiosIndependent Film Author:John Hurt
“If you've got a great crew it's intense, but its quite short. 'The Elephant Man' was longer than most, for an independent film. That was a 14 week film. But it was because of the intrinsic difficulties. We had to invent a different way of filming, because the makeup was so long. A working day for me with a full makeup on was nineteen hours. So obviously you couldn't do that twice running.” IfsMenWayLongDifferentRunningFilmHoursWeekDifficultyIndependentIntenseDifferent WaysMakeupCrewElephantsIndependent FilmNineteenElephant Man Author:John Hurt
“A lot of people just go to movies that feed into their preexisting and not so noble needs and desires: They just go to action pictures, and things like that. But if you go to foreign films, if you go to documentaries, if you go to independent films, if you go to good films, you will become a better person because you will understand human nature better. Movies record human nature in a better way than any other art form, that's for sure.” PeopleIfsWayNeedsHumansPersonsArtActionFilmFormDesireRecordsHuman NatureIndependentNobleDocumentariesBetter WaysBetter PersonIndependent FilmGood Films Author:Roger Ebert
“The vast majority of our film producers are independent producers who live hand to mouth trying to get projects made that they love. They are not owners, they're not money people, and in fact, those who just have the money don't always get a producer credit.” PeopleTryingFilmIndependentProducers Author:Marshall Herskovitz
“I've gotten burnt the last few years on a couple of little independent films where you get paid nothing, you work your ass off, there's no marketing budget except you going on every talk show. But you're seeing it all over. I mean, these disasters at NBC, with the morning show.” MeanFilmMorningCoupleIndependentMarketingDisasterAss Author:Michael Douglas
“You get very little from the studios anymore, it's all independent. And I think the studio, with the exception of something like The Social Network, a fine film, very interesting, but as for studio pictures, that's it, what else? There was more only a few years ago. So it changes, and I'm trying as much as I can.” ThinkingTryingFilmInterestingIndependentExceptionVery InterestingSocial Network Author:Peter Weir
“The outraged citizens of Indonesia - lawyers, doctors, engineers, scientists - should be speaking up; they should be shouting. And of course, the voices of farmers and workers, their terrible stories, should be read and heard from the pages of independent magazines and blogs, from YouTube and independent films.” FilmTerribleScientistIndependentLawyerFarmersOutraged Author:Andre Vltchek
“Richard Donner made great movies. Seminal movies. The Academy, though, and we have to be careful here, should recognize popular films. Popular films are what make it all work. There was a time when popular movies were commercial movies, and they were good movies, and they had to be good movies. There was no segregation between good independent films and popular movies.” FilmIndependentCarefulBe GoodBe CarefulSegregationGood Movie Author:Amy Pascal
“When you're younger you don't care so much, but as you get older you have a family and stuff like that. But I've always kept my foot in theatre and I've kept my foot in independent film, so I'm really happy going back and forth. So, if I can't find the meaty roles in studio films, then I'll go back and dig up a little independent where I can flex my muscles a little bit.” CareFilmIndependentTheatreReally Happy Author:Patrick Wilson
“In London, there must be thousands of people in the business of making films, whereas in Nottingham or Sheffield, you're probably talking about below a hundred. So there aren't thousands of people scrapping for the same money and for the same jobs. I went out in Nottingham the other night and there's a really beautiful community of people who are really supportive. It's not this back-stabbing thing, high-rent, high-cost, high-tension. Up here we are independent filmmakers and there's a lovely sense of camaraderie.” PeopleBeautifulFilmNightCommunityIndependentLovelyFilmmakerSupportiveReally BeautifulCamaraderie Author:Shane Meadows