Audley recently started up a Change.org petition as a call to action to aspiring filmmakers to give up on their dreams and allow the market to once again become solvent. This petition comes after recent pieces at The New York Times and Salon indicate that the best way to save independent film is by creating less independent film.
As a critic, I have to watch hundreds of hours of poorly made films that contain little or no creativity and for the most part are a complete chore to sit through. As technology becomes more accessible and less expensive the frequency of these films increases. But none of that matters when I pop in a screener for a film that I know nothing about and have little expectations for and find myself completely blown away. While this only happens a handful of times every year, it makes the entire process worth it and reminds me of why I love what I do. Yes, advances in technology have led to an influx in bad independent films, but it has also enabled some truly gifted filmmakers to make their visions a reality. I’ll gladly wade through endless amounts of found footage horror just to find that one special movie that I can tell everyone to see.
While the petition itself is nothing more than a conversation piece, articles stating that less independent films need to be produced is not only counter-intuitive, but is a poisonous concept to be touting. The damaged studio system is a much more pertinent topic to discuss, and one that could make a bigger impact on the industry. Maybe there wouldn’t be so many independent films if the studios decided to back some original content instead of reboots, remakes, and adaptations.
Check out Kentucker Audley’s petition on Change.org.
