2008 Woodie Awards
Indies Open Oscars' Eyes
Academy Awards finally become hip to the power of indie films.
Jesus Esquivel
Issue date: 3/1/06 Section: Opinion
It seems that the latest formula for a blockbuster is to dress a man as an overweight woman, slap a wig on him, add a few jokes and the end result will be a No. 1 at the box office. emy
Movies like those are made to be liked by thousands and are made for wide distribution by the major studios that produce them.
Perhaps it's because of all the garbage being produced by big studios that Academy members are finally becoming hip to the potency of indie films with sociological implications; thus the best picture nominees: "Brokeback Mountain," "Capote," "Good Night, and Good Luck," "Crash" and "Munich."
Four of the five films in the best picture category can be regarded as independent films; Steven Speilberg's Universal-funded "Munich" is the exception.
Though last year Alexander Payne's "Sideways" was an uplifting name to hear in the best picture category, it never stood a real chance against Goliaths like Martin Scorsese's "The Aviator," the whimsical "Finding Neverland," the audience favorite "Ray" and the category winner "Million Dollar Baby."
This year, the ratio of indie movies to major studio movies in the best picture category is the exact opposite.
"I think that's terrific that independent films are getting more and more mainstream press," said Dawn Hudson, executive director of Film Independent, the group involved with the Independent Spirit Awards, an award ceremony that commends independent films, in an interview with The Times.
She believes that major studio "films are designed to be released on 3,000 screens. Indie films are not. That is not the impetus for making them. It is a passion to tell the story."
A passion that movies such as "Big Mama's House 2" and the current No. 1 "Madea's Family Reunion" lack.
Coincidentally, three of the best picture nominees for the The Independent Spirit Awards are also nominated for the Academy Awards; "Brokeback Mountain," "Good Night, and Good Luck" and "Capote."
Movies like those are made to be liked by thousands and are made for wide distribution by the major studios that produce them.
Perhaps it's because of all the garbage being produced by big studios that Academy members are finally becoming hip to the potency of indie films with sociological implications; thus the best picture nominees: "Brokeback Mountain," "Capote," "Good Night, and Good Luck," "Crash" and "Munich."
Four of the five films in the best picture category can be regarded as independent films; Steven Speilberg's Universal-funded "Munich" is the exception.
Though last year Alexander Payne's "Sideways" was an uplifting name to hear in the best picture category, it never stood a real chance against Goliaths like Martin Scorsese's "The Aviator," the whimsical "Finding Neverland," the audience favorite "Ray" and the category winner "Million Dollar Baby."
This year, the ratio of indie movies to major studio movies in the best picture category is the exact opposite.
"I think that's terrific that independent films are getting more and more mainstream press," said Dawn Hudson, executive director of Film Independent, the group involved with the Independent Spirit Awards, an award ceremony that commends independent films, in an interview with The Times.
She believes that major studio "films are designed to be released on 3,000 screens. Indie films are not. That is not the impetus for making them. It is a passion to tell the story."
A passion that movies such as "Big Mama's House 2" and the current No. 1 "Madea's Family Reunion" lack.
Coincidentally, three of the best picture nominees for the The Independent Spirit Awards are also nominated for the Academy Awards; "Brokeback Mountain," "Good Night, and Good Luck" and "Capote."
