The Big & Little Changes In Our Once “Indie” Film Business

45+ Things that influence the system we are in and the system within us.

How did we get here? I don’t know about you, but this is the sort of thing I need a list for. I know, I know; it would be nice to write about each bullet point for you, but before I do that I have a few two hundred other things pressing. This should get you going.

My immediate takeaway is that the internet is the thing. It changed everything. Sort of obvious, eh?

photo by Chris Ciancimino

One of the things that strikes me though, is that I had to build this list myself. I searched and couldn’t find what I was looking for. I am sure some of you have wanted this sort of list, but couldn’t find one. Others of you didn’t know you wanted it or needed it but now that you have it, you will see how crucial it is. After all, to know where we are most likely headed, we need to understand where we’ve been (and why).

The absence of such a list as this speaks of why we need a ThinkTank For The Future Of Film and the like. “Indie” and our industry in general fails to capture institutional knowledge. It is not surprising when the global cinema ecosystem is lacking such leaders.

Personally I don’t how we graduate so many film students without having such a list already built — or is that we can’t graduate students and tell the truth that only a small percentage of them will find their professional life these days making cinema? Personally, I think it is best to face reality and exit the dream world.

45 Influential Changes To The State Of American “Indie” Films 1980 Onwards