Film Indepenent's fourth-annual Filmmaker Forum, kicked off with a rally call for a “truly free film culture.” Ted Hope’s keynote encouraged a move from the competitive trappings of the indie industry to a collaborative future. At the core of a “truly free film culture” is the internet. Hope warned that if filmmakers didn’t take an active stance in the net neutrality debate, this window of opportunity would close. Without action, the heart of a new potential film community could stop beating as controlling interests tier bandwidth, create walled gardens, and shut the open gates that enable filmmakers to interact freely with audiences.
Later in the day while I sat watching “Is the Sky Really Falling for Independent Film?” panel I was struck by the irony. On stage sat a collection of industry experts who debated the relevance of Mark Gill’s June keynote. The “sky” that was being referenced was out of reach for most of the filmmakers in the audience. Sure, they could gaze at it from a distance but without a lot of resources, connections and money, they would always be on the ground looking up.
But is it so bad to have your feet firmly planted on the ground?
While we wastefully debate if an industry’s sky is falling, we are missing the true opportunity to shape a new one. Gatekeepers become a mute point when a filmmaker has a direct and meaningful relationship with an audience.
During a panel that I moderated with Alex Johnson and Micki Krimmel, the focus was on how filmmakers can build their own audiences, but It wasn’t something that was said in the room that stuck with me. As I was leaving the DGA, I was stopped in the hallway by a filmmaker who had attended the panel. She explained that her approach to the internet was being dictated by someone else - that she was trying to imitate what she saw the studios do. After the audience panel, it had become clear to her that the internet wasn’t just for marketing but in fact another creative tool. It was a way for her to tell her story, have a voice, and most importantly, create a conversation with her audience.
There is no doubt that these are exciting times but what could be a sad reality, is that by the time filmmakers truly realize the opportunity within their grasp it could all be over.
