“What exactly does a producer do?” People outside the movie industry always want to know. So The Independent’s Rebecca Reynolds finds out from one the most prolific producers she knows: Ed Polgardy, the quintessential indie producer who has independently financed large and small films outside the studio system in a plethora of genres, all while wearing his signature black hat.
Senior Film Critic Kurt Brokaw reviews the insightful documentary Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am, a chronicle of the author’s life and work told mainly from her perspective in eye-to-eye interviews.
Senior Film Critic Kurt Brokaw reviews his picks for short films from the 18th Annual Tribeca Film Festival—Carlito Leaves Forever directed by Quentin Lazzarotto; The Neighbors’ Window directed by Marshall Curry; The History of White People in America: These American Truths directed by Ed Bell, Clementine Briand, Pierce Freelon, Jon Halperin, Aaron Keane, and Drew Takahashi; and Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (if you’re a girl) directed by Carol Dysinger.
Senior Film Critic Kurt Brokaw reviews his picks for feature and documentary films from the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival—Gay Chorus Deep South directed by David Charles Rodriques; The Apollo directed by Roger Ross Williams; Georgetown directed by C.Waltz; and Other Music directed by Puloma Basu.
Critic Evan Crean shares reviews of his favorite new release films from 2019 Boston Underground Film Festival, which ran from March 20-24 at the Brattle Theatre.
The 48th annual edition of ND/NF, curated by The Film Society of Lincoln Center and Manhattan’s Museum of Modern Art, spotlights 35 features and shorts from promising directors worldwide. Senior film critic Kurt Brokaw examines five dramas and documentaries, including Chinonye Chukwa’s Opening Night prison drama, Clemency, premiering in New York just 13 days after California’s governor granted temporary reprieves to over 700 inmates on the state’s death row.
A conversation between editor Michele Meek and contributor Emily Watlington about the new book Independent Female Filmmakers, which recounts the legacy of 15 groundbreaking female filmmakers from Deepa Mehta to Cheryl Dunye to Martha Coolidge, while also highlighting the history of The Independent itself.
Ever doubt your sanity after selling your condo and moving halfway across the country? Meet Camille Hollett-French, writer, director, and actor of Her Story (In Three Parts): No. 3 In the Absence of Angels. Despite doubts and financial obstacles, her efforts were awarded when was selected to screen at the 2019 Slamdance Film Festival, the Park City film festival focused on emerging artists and low-budget independent films. In this piece, Courtney Gardner writes from a conversation with Hollett-French about the use of film to discuss sexuality and shame, and about what it means to go for the jugular.
Directors, Writers, and Editors Deragh Campbell and Sofia Bohdanowicz are adept at indie film budgeting or what they call the “microbudget.” In this interview, they talk about creating and funding their film, sharing some of the tips they’ve learned along the way, such as keeping the shoot to a minimal number of days, finding locations that would offer space for free, and raising funds from Canadian grants and screening fees.