INTERESTING FACT

As an independent filmmaker, I read all the indie film magazines, check all the websites, keep up to date in the world. Why is it that every one of these resources, without exception, recommend the Professional Hollywood model, the recipe cards and treatments for writing, the pre-visualization and the shot list for directing (and storyboards), the budget (small but still impressive) for production (often including crew of 10 or more), and the (even larger) post-production budget and workflow.

They parrot each and every one of the above listed techniques and MANY more, which is fine...but...

Their "inspiration list of filmmakers" is always the same: Kevin Smith, Robert Rodriguez, Ed Burns, Shane Carruth, Lars Von Trier, The Blair Witch guys, Open Water, the list goes on, but the one thing ALL these films have in common?

EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE FILMS was made by AVOIDING EVERTHING listed in these indie film publications/websites. Outline, recipe cards, full crew, etc...

The secret, it seems to me, is that making an AMAZING independent film means doing NOTHING the way the studios and bigger budget productions do it.

I'll continue to read those publications, because there are the occasional tips (how to make a dolly for cheap, faking the fig rig, dimmers, etc...), but I'm not going to be "wooed" to the darkside of "dependent"(mediocre)filmmaking.

Use your limitations and look at the way the filmmakers you admire make movies.

Do it.