I was particularly a fan of two previous films by Billy Ray. One was Shattered Glass and the other was Breach, so based on those two films I was excited [to be paired up with Jeffrey, who’d worked on both]. I was very lucky. He was very generous. At the mixing stage of Crazy Heart, he invited me to mixing studio. I sat back and watched a mixing session. I was shadowing him at a pivotal moment where he felt comfortable having me around....
“Any producer-director relationship is like a marriage,” said producer Lynette Howell at the Film Independent Forum last month to (Half Nelson, The Place Beyond the Pines). Howell, along with Albert Berger (Nebraska) and Lisa Cortés (Precious, The Woodsman)—the producers behind some of the most acclaimed independent films in recent years—compared notes on how they approach the development stage. “That’s where you begin your journey as a couple, and that’s where you start to get to know who that person is,” said Howell, “and figure out what’s important to them and they get to figure out what’s important to you....
Cholodenko’s three delicious features—High Art, Laurel Canyon and The Kids Are All Right–the first verging towards tragedy, the second in a seriocomic middle ground, and the third perfectly nailing its comic landing—combine wonderfully specific social observation, penetrating psychological insight, and a palpable sensuality that lights up all her work with an erotic glow. As a writer and director, she’s drawn to the theme and spectacle of seduction: Sheedy’s seduction of Mitchell is half the story of High Art, while Mitchell’s career-minded seduction of Sheedy forms the other half....
Border politics, immigration and identity are just three of the issues propelling the action in director/cinematographer Michael Dwyer and writer/co-director Kaitlin McLaughlin’s tense new indie thriller Hostile Border. But really, Dwyer and McLaughlin’s dark, stylish tale of one young deportee’s dangerous journey across the border and (maybe) back again is about one thing and one thing only: the American Dream. Hostile Border premiered at the 2015 LA Film Festival under the title POCHA, eventually winning the Festival’s Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature....
Even the way he squared off on the chair on stage before a packed house, knees forward, back straight, was a testament to Robert Duvall’s no-bullshit aura. Following last night’s Film Independent at LACMA screening of The Judge, Duvall and co-star Robert Downey, Jr. were greeted by a standing ovation at the Bing Theater at LACMA, where the celebrated actor’s blunt, fear-no-consequences remarks during the Q&A charmed the crowd and stole the night....
HIDDEN FIGURES When: January 6 Where You Can Watch: Theaters Director: Theodore Melfi Starring: Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe Why We’re Excited: Judging from the caliber of storytelling, diversity and powerhouse performances headed to the big screen, we have a feeling 2017 is going to be a great year for movies. And Theodore Melfi’s incredible based-on-a-true-story Hidden Figures is proof enough that the year is kicking off with spectacular spirit, telling the remarkable and somewhat-untold true story behind one of the most unforgettable moments in U....
Swiss Army Man When: Now Playing Where: Theaters Directors: Dan Kwan, Daniel Sheinert Starring: Paul Dano, Daniel Radcliffe, Mary Elizabeth Winstead Why We’re Excited: Swiss Army Man is the feature debut from the directing duo of Dan Kwan and Daniel Sheinert, who took home the Sundance Film Festival Directing Award for this unusual survival story. The dramedy’s Festival premiere was met with mixed reactions, but the film has nevertheless become one of 2016’s most buzzworthy indies—especially regarding the performances from leads Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe....
But! If you truly want to watch a movie that’s going to make you lose sleep at night, might we suggest these 10 indie documentaries and narrative features based on true-life tales of the macabre? After all, what could be more terrifying than a maniac made of flesh and blood? Here are 10 Indies We Love based on or inspired by actual, horrific (or just plain weird) events. Considering these non-fictional nightmares could happen anywhere, at any time… well, we suggest watching with the lights on....
If you missed any acceptance speeches and the memorable opening monologue, you can check out our YouTube channel. BEST FEATURE – Moonlight BEST DIRECTOR – Barry Jenkins, Moonlight BEST FEMALE LEAD – Isabelle Huppert, Elle BEST MALE LEAD – Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE – Molly Shannon, Other People BEST SUPPORTING MALE – Ben Foster, Hell or High Water BEST SCREENPLAY – Barry Jenkins, Tarell Alvin McCraney, Moonlight BEST EDITING – Joi McMillon, Nat Sanders, Moonlight BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE – O....
At the Kirk Douglas Theatre on Sunday June 18, writer/producer Doug Jung (Star Trek Beyond) took the stage to double as panelist and moderator, joined by writer/producer/actor Simon Barrett (V/H/S, You’re Next) and screenwriter/novelist Linda Woolverton (Maleficent, The Lion King, 1991’s Beauty and the Beast). HUMBLE BEGINNINGS The panel began in reverse, with the audience first listing their questions for the panelists to use as a jumping-off point for discussion....
“Dear White People, the amount of black friends required not to seem racist has just been raised to two. Sorry, your weed man, Tyrone, doesn’t count.” “Dear White People, stop touching my hair.” “Dear White People, please stop dancing.” —Samantha White, Dear White People On stage, while introducing last night’s gala screening of Dear White People at the Los Angeles Film Festival, Stephanie Allain, Festival Director and Executive Producer on the film, whispered in writer/director Justin Simien’s ear....
2018 has been a terrific and busy year for sound designer Jacob Ribicoff, who recently nabbed dual Emmy nods for his work on director Ramin Bahrani’s dystopian HBO adaptation of Fahrenheit 451 and for Ken Burns’ critically acclaimed multi-part PBS docu-series, The Vietnam War. Ribicoff previously won an Emmy for his work on Burns’ 2007 WWII epic The War and has worked on films including Manchester by the Sea, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, The Light Between Oceans and many, many more....
The February 28 panel—titled The Independent Spirit: A Directors Roundtable—featured the multiple-time Spirit Award-nominated filmmakers discussing their most recent projects including all the success and adversity faced in order to get their films across the finish line. For Baker, The Florida Project was a return to childhood. The film follows a six-year-old girl, Mooney (Brooklynn Prince), living with her single mom (Bria Vinaite) in a budget motel outside Disney World in Orlando, FL and struggling to eke out an existence as one of America’s “hidden homeless....
Journalist and NPR media critic Eric Deggans joyfully moderated the discussion, touching on the exciting, changes, opportunities and rewards of long-form nonfiction storytelling, which in the age of COVID has only expanded. (For more Directors Close-Up highlights, check here.) “Is it just me or is the industry expanding in a way that we haven’t seen before?” Deggans asked of the panel, which included Spirit Award nominees Maro Chermayeff, Christine Clusiau, Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady, Steve James, Peter LoGreco, Sam Pollard and Shaul Schwarz....
Collaboration is an essential element of the filmmaking process and three of the films represented took advantage of this synergy in the screenwriting process. While the backgrounds and connections between the writing partners varied, the group consensus was that it’s often quite valuable to have a second opinion. The power of receiving feedback from a trusted ally. First-time screenwriters Vannessa Block and Michael Sarnoski felt Pig achieved an authentic vision due to the duo possessing additive skillsets… and having productive disagreements....
What if you could have a dream team of directors sit down and tell you—face to face, heart to heart—what’s up… How they found their way to that magical performance. How the rise of VOD platforms is affecting their creative process. What’s the key to writing moving characters? Directors Close-Up is just like having that dream team. On February 3, Film Independent kicks off the annual five-week conversation series with Ava DuVernay, the visionary director behind one of this year’s most provocative feature films, Selma....
So we ‘re thrilled to announce that we recently awarded fellowships to two emerging filmmakers with promising projects: Philiane Phang received the Ammon Family Foundation Fellowship for a Female Director and Christina Choe has been awarded the Roger & Chaz Ebert Foundation Fellowship. Both are among our 2015 Directing Lab Fellows. Each award is for $10,000. “Receiving this fellowship is immeasurable,” Choe says. “Emotionally, it’s a validation to keep going when often the road to making a first feature can be challenging....
The evening spotlighted many of the actor’s most notable roles, culminating of course with his turn as Civil Rights leader and March on Washington organizer Bayard Rustin, for which he has earned nominations from the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards in addition to the Oscars. Watch the full conversation below: Film Independent’s Josh Welsh and Alana Waksman–Fi’s President and Nonfiction Programs and Fiscal Sponsorship Coordinator, respectively–began the evening with introductory remarks....
Shadowing is a great opportunity for all directors. I don’t know any director who doesn’t enjoy being on someone else’s set and watching how they do things. This was certainly the case for me with Jamie. She’s whip-smart, fast, inventive and generous with her thoughts and time. She answered every question I had, made me feel invested and welcome, and gave me the inside scoop on everything. I learned a lot and had a shit-ton of fun....
To encourage writers to consider applying, we asked 2016 Screenwriting Lab Fellow Felicia Pride to pen a guest blog chronicling her experiences and journey through the program. This is what she had to say. You don’t connect to someone through their happiness. You connect to them through their vulnerability. -Meg LeFauve During the 2016 Film Independent Screenwriting Lab, my father had to be rushed to the emergency room after being found unconscious on the bathroom floor....
