Week 14: "Indiewood"

Question 1

What are the three levels of “independence” in cinema, according to GeoM King?

Answer 1

Independent cinema is a relative concept that exists in a range of degrees

Industrial-economic: financial expectations

Formal aesthetic: stylistic dimensions, narrative structures, camera work, editing

Social- cultural- political: ideological implications

Question 2

What is meant by the terms “indie” cinema and “Indiewood”?

Answer 2

Indiewood- a term that refers to the resulting hybrid zone between independent and mainstream-Hollywood qualities

Question 3

What new infrastructures and digital-video developments impacted American independent cinema in the 1990s and 2000s, and how have they helped films reach a “crossover” market?

Answer 3

Infrastructures:

Growing network of independent distributors- Miramax and New Line Cinema

High profile of independent film festivals- Sundance

Expansion of film “aftermarkets”- home video and cable