Interviews
Making the Decision to Re-Release
Carolyn Strachan discusses re-releasing her 1981 documentary, "Two Laws," on DVD.
January 8th, 2009 | Erin Trahan
After 26 years on 16mm, a groundbreaking documentary becomes available on DVD. Filmmaker Carolyn Strachan recalls the making of Two Laws/Kanymardra Yuwa, about an Aboriginal land rights struggle, and how her ongoing desire to find an audience that appreciates its use of wide-angle lens and community-driven storytelling prompted the re-release.
In 1981, filmmaker Carolyn Strachan received acclaim in her home country of Australia for Two Laws/Kanymardra Yuwa, a documentary about the struggle for Aboriginal groups from the Northern Territory to live within both their own and Australian law.
Distribution by Wal-Mart
A Q & A with filmmaker Jeremy Dean, whose documentary, "Dare Not Walk Alone," was recently picked up for distribution by Wal-Mart.
December 19th, 2008 | Nikki Chase
Documentary filmmaker, Jeremy Dean, talks about facing a "personal moral dilemma" when Wal-Mart picked up his first film, Dare Not Walk Alone (view trailer here). He discusses his role as a filmmaker in marketing his film and how taking a risk with the subject of racism, and letting the story unfold in a unique and unconventional way, helped propel it into the foreground of films related to the Civil Rights Movement.
Jeremy Dean found a dusty VHS tape tucked away in the basement of a historical society and was captivated by its the black and white footage of the civil rights struggle. “As I sat alone watching Dr. King speaking to a packed church and the demonstrators fearlessly marching for freedom, it became a key that unlocked a mystery.
Distributor FAQ: Talking to Oli Harbottle of Dogwoof Pictures
A look at the inner-workings of the successful distribution company, Dogwoof Pictures.
December 9th, 2008 | Nikki Chase
Dogwoof Pictures, a London-based distribution company, is experimenting with modes of distribution with Dogwoof Indie, which allows filmmakers to keep the rights to their film. Dogwoof is currently celebrating their most recent Dogwoof Indie release from filmmaker Franny Armstrong, The Age of Stupid (view the trailer here), starring Pete Postlethewaite as a man in 2055 who looks back on old footage of 2008 and wonders why we didn't stop global warming when we still had the chance. The Independent's Nikki Chase picks the brain of Dogwood release coordinator, Oli Harbottle, to get the scoop on this thriving distribution company.
Already a successful London-based distribution company, Dogwoof has launched its own DVD store, an independent distribution site called Dogwoof Indie (which allows filmmakers to keep all rights to their film), and Dogwoof TV, a platform that brings independent movies from the web to the television (in conjunction with blinkx BBTV).
Of Finance and Fantasy: The Aviatrix Takes on Funding in Texas
An interview with filmmaker Toddy Burton reveals the inner-workings of film funding in Texas.
October 23rd, 2008 | Jericho Parms
The state of Texas doesn't exactly bring to mind a thriving artistic community, but The Independent sits down with filmmaker Toddy Burton, the Austin-based director of The Aviatrix, who gives us an inside look on what it's like to produce and fund a film in the Lone Star state.
“Making a movie is like moving a mountain,” says Toddy Burton, the Austin-based filmmaker behind The Aviatrix, a film about a girl struggling with cancer who finds an escape from her troubles by becoming The Aviatrix, a superhero who rockets through outerspace.
The View From the Other Side
The Independent sits down with Matt Zoller Seitz, former film critic for the New York Press and the film-brain behind "The House Next Door" blog.
October 23rd, 2008 | Vanessa Willoughby
Film critic Matt Zoller Seitz brings a unique perspective to independent filmmaking, sharing his views on the medium that he's picked up both as a critic and a director (see the trailer for his film Home). Seitz shares with The Independent what the end product looks like from the other side of the camera and offers advice to filmmakers from the perspective of the critic.
It takes guts for a critic to venture into the medium they analyze, but acclaimed film critic and blogger, Matt Zoller Seitz did just that, releasing his first feature-length film Home in 2006.
From Dreams to the Screen: From Nightmare to Toronto
Australian screenwriting duo, Armstrong & Krause talk about their writing process, horrific influences and how near-death experiences led them to the craft of portraying nightmares.
September 22nd, 2008 | Courtney Fathom Sell
Up-and-coming Austrialian screenwriting duo, Armstrong & Krause, talk to the Independent about brainstorming horror films and their new film, Acolytes (see trailer), which screened at the Toronto Film Festival in September.
For the most part, our nightmares are something on which we try not to dwell. However, in the case of Australian screenwriting duo Shanye Armstrong and S.P. Krause, nightmares are explored, outlined and used as the basis for many of their chilling storylines.
Living with a Mutation
An interview with the director and subject of "In the Family," a documenary about living with the breast cancer gene.
September 11th, 2008 | Amanda Axelson
Joanna Rudnick, director and subject of the documentary In the Family (see the trailer) discusses living life with the knowledge she has an 85 percent chance of getting cancer and what effect this documentary has had on her life, so far.
It’s hard enough being a single woman dating in your early thirties. But, imagine having to tell the person you're dating that you carry the gene mutation for cancer, and will eventually need to remove your ovaries and possibly breasts. Now, imagine having to tell that person you’re delaying the process because you’re waiting to have kids.
Boom or Bust: The Cinema Guild's Ryan Krivoshey
Cinema Guild director of distribution, Ryan Krivoshey talks with the Independent about the evolution of independent film distribution
September 1st, 2008 | Jericho Parms
Ryan Krivoshey, the Cinema Guild's director of distribution, talks with The Independent about the evolution of independent film distribution, how the perception of the documentary has evolved since 9-11 and how Internet distribution has had an impact on the way films are seen.
Much has changed since 1968 when Philip and Mary-Ann Hobel created The Cinema Guild and television was the niche market for all things educational.
Quest for Truth
An interview with director and producer Rory Kennedy about her latest film "Thank You Mr. President: Helen Thomas at the White House"
August 16th, 2008 | Amanda Axelson
Filmmaker and political activist Rory Kennedy talks with The Independent about her latest documentary Thank You Mr. President: Helen Thomas at the White House about influential political journalist Helen Thomas. The film premieres on HBO on August 18th with additional airings throughout the month.
Rory Kennedy didn’t always know she wanted to be a filmmaker, but she did see herself as a political activist. As the daughter of former U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy, politics run strong in her blood. In wanting to make an impact on people’s lives, she gravitated towards film as a means of educating herself and others about political and social issues.
Rider Strong Moves On
Rider Strong talks about his new short, Irish Twins, and "coming down with" hope for Obama
August 14th, 2008 | Erin Trahan
Once a child actor, Rider Strong charts a new course for his career by writing and directing (with brother Shiloh) the short film Irish Twins currently on the festival circuit (see the trailer), not to mention earning the “funniest ad” award for MoveOn.org’s recent Obama in 30 Seconds contest (watch it). Strong talks with Erin Trahan about his first short, his future political career, and why he's a lot more like Arnold Schwanzenegger than one might think.
Rider Strong grew up on television. Not like most of us, consuming it after school with a Hi-C juice box and a Swiss Cake roll, but as Shawn Hunter, the beloved boy next door on Boy Meets World. Considering the fate of other child actors, spending ages 13 to 20 under the hot lights of American television could have been his one-way ticket to rehab.
See all The Independent's