How Media Consumption is Changing the World: Genre Research

INDEPENDENT "INDIE " FILM

Hi blog! Since we're now learning about the different genres of film and representation in class, I have decided to do this genre research activity about the independent or indie film genre.

WHAT IS THE INDIE FILM GENRE?

Independent film, more commonly known as indie film, is defined as any film that is produced outside of the major film studios. Rather than being produced by major studios such as Universal Pictures or Columbia Pictures, these films are produced by independent companies, such as A24.

INDIE GENRE CONVENTIONS - CONTENT AND PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES

The term indie can be a little misleading, since indie films are any films not produced by conventional systems of production. This allows the term to be very broad, but the indie genre has evolved over time. Many indie films share characteristics, which has allowed the genre to have its own distinct characteristics. Lots of indie films are low-budget, but now major film companies have created their own separate branches that produce films that can be labeled as indie. Some common characteristics of indie film are:

Low budget, although some may have large budgets
Realist techniques; many of these films tell the stories of average people
Minor use of effects
Few characters
Many indie films do not use large A-List actors/actresses, but major film companies with separate indie branches often cast well-known actors/actresses

INSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS - HOW IS INDIE MARKETED?

Prior to being released in theaters, most indie films are sent to film festivals for viewing and eventually may be sent to theaters. Many films produced by major film studios are sent directly to theaters rather than being sent to film festivals. Indie films rely on heavy use of marketing and advertising. Many indie films tend to have a marketing and advertising budget that is much more than the actual production budget.

INDIE FILM #1 - MOONLIGHT

Moonlight is classified as an indie film since it was produced by an independent company known as A24. The film is centered around the life of a young black man growing up in Miami. The film's budget was very small, as its budget was around $4 million. The film first made an appearance at the Telluride Film Festival in 2016. There weren't many big actors/actresses in the movies, and the cast was relatively small.

INDIE FILM #2 - JUNO

Juno is classified as an indie film because it was produced by an independent company known as Mandate Pictures. The film tells the story of an average teenager who becomes pregnant and falls into some trouble with the family that was going to adopt her child. There are few characters in the movie, and compared to other major films, the film budget was relatively low at around $6.5 million. The film does not rely on heavy use of special effects and focuses on the life of an average teenager, hence the use of realist techniques in the movies. The film was first displayed at the Toronto International Film Festival.