Links, Ponders & Wonders

12.12.24 edition

Links, Ponders, & Wonders (aka LP&W) is a regular diversion on HopeForFilm (HFF) from longer essays and advice. LP&W are weekly tidbits — now limited to 5 per post — of what I find intriguing or inspiring in terms of non-dependent creative expression. It is meant to be sampled over your morning cocktail or afternoon vitamin shot. Endulgence with your evening coffee — prior to your siesta — is also a highly recommended ritual. As always, nothing is definitive. Or encouraged to be a one-way street. Let us know what we missed. Please pile on.

1

Eff “Indie”. Can we rename what we are doing?

If you have been hanging in HopeForFilmLand long, you might know I have a thing about the term “Indie”. We shouldn’t park in the driveway, or drive on the parkway. A nickel shouldn’t be bigger than a dime. And enough already with sun rise or sun set. Let’s say what we are and do what we say.

“Indie” is not independent. We never have been. The ecosystem for such work is totally dependent on the mainstream and the dominant. And although a culture can be entirely parasitic that’s not how I think it thrives or grows vibrant. I do believe that working together we can build something better, and it starts with the goal of not being dependent on their system, but instead wholly reliant on ours.

I also think we for something to be recognized it must be both named and defined. You have to no what it aims to be. It must have First Principles. I do not believe “Indie” have found theirs. The closest it came was “voice” by which they meant a cocktail of perspective and tone in “storytelling”. “Indie” surrendered many of the most wonderful attributes of cinema in favor of compliance with a formulaic adherence to the dominant narrative code of three act structure, cause and effect, and the hero’s journey. I don’t know about you, but I want something different.

“Indie” was the 90’s and it stuck around too long. Let’s get off that horse. It is already dead.

Being an American, I work backwards. Let me start with the branding. I have a new name for the sort of thing I aspire to. Try it on. Let me know how you think it fits, how it hangs and flows.

NonDe

NonDe is pronounced Naan-Dee. NonDe means non-dependent. NonDe is in a forever state of becoming. NonDe embraces the process. And more on that later.

I am going to give it a ride, and I hope you’ll join me. I have to go make some hats.

---

2

Three rules for making a box office flop