Indie Producer - Ted Hope

“May you live in interesting times.”

We’ve all heard this old Chinese curse by now. Well, for indie filmmakers and consumers this is right where we’ve found ourselves.

It also makes me think about a quote I came across the other day by computer scientist and Disney/Pixar exec Edwin Catmull:

“Predicting the future gets in the way of making the future.”

In his blog, trulyfreefilm, Ted Hope recently posted an insightful challenge to the indie film community, here are a few excerpts:

“if we filmmakers finally surrender unrealistic expectations and instead embrace our opportunities, and precede along logical, practical, passionate and community-oriented lines, we are going to have it better than we’ve ever had it before. These interesting times are gong to open up film culture in a freer, more engaged way”

“I don’t think film-going is any more a passive experience than filmmaking is, and cinema is where creation and consumption unite. If we embrace the active spirit of film-going, if we accept that there is a quiet dialogue running in the heads of all audiences, we are going to start to find some answers on how we – the filmmakers – survive this vast paradigm shift our culture is now engaged in – because I am confident we are not just going to survive, but we are going to prosper and bring better work to more audiences in all sorts of new ways.”

“For film to make sense as a business in today’s world, filmmakers must accept the responsibility of bringing their audience to their movie and to engage them in a meaningful way. Filmmakers must reprogram themselves to accept that it is their obligation to seed, corral, and drive their audience.”

“Do you want a world where the only American cinema is blockbuster tentpoles told by privileged white men? I may be one of those, but I know I don’t.”


Please take a look at the ENTIRE POST HERE.

I guess this website and blog are my own personal attempts to begin to achieve what Ted continues to speak about.

If you are interested in creating and enjoying entertaining, diverse and compelling indie cinema today then maybe the Chinese curse is exactly what we need.

Also, Ted mentions a book detailing how other creators (flimmakers included) are dealing with these changing times: Fans, Friends & Followers by Scott Kirsner

Come back and let me know what you think.