In our little South African film industry we keep having philosophical arguments about moneyVStimeVSquality. We have an obsession with trying to make Holly-wood-esque films but only have 10% of their budgets, if we’re lucky that is. I understand the schism and it is one that is driven toward making quality films and thus argumentatively being able to make money back on them. This is all fair and well, however, I think we sometimes start at the end not considering the history of our American counterparts…

We mostly call ourselves indie filmmakers, and yes we are because there are no studios to make us hired help. The history of indie film makers is a long and treacherous one and long and treacherous is not what I have experienced in CPT or JHB. There aren’t film makers making a rough movie with no cash and then showing it in garages and small theaters all over the city. I dont hear of some crazy director taking three actors to make a dark film in a dangerous place. To be honest, when I do they are normally referred to as weird…which to me is weird.

This is the point of indie film making. To push and then break conventions. To make films that we think could make an impact, taking an idea from conception all the way through to exhibition (in an empty parking lot on a makeshift screen run off car batteries). Forgetting that feeling that it wont sell, or asking what am I going to do with it when its done… In many ways we are spoiled to thinking that being an indie means that you wright a script or treatment then find funding and Voilà, film in bag. According to film history this is lucky, not prerequisite.

Referring back to the US and the way a film society builds there I found out more regarding “new” for lack of better word genre Mumblecore.
Wiki

Mumblecore is an American independent film movement that arose in the early 2000s. It is primarily characterized by ultra-low budget production (often employing digital video cameras), focus on personal relationships between twenty-somethings, improvised scripts, and non-professional actors. Filmmakers in this genre include Lynn Shelton, Andrew Bujalski, Mark Duplass, Jay Duplass, Aaron Katz, Joe Swanberg, Todd Rohal and Ry Russo-Young.

At the end of the day these films are about some young adults talking about arb stuff and dealing with life, vaguely. There was no audience that asked them to make these films, no investor specifying genre, just a feeling, then an idea for a script and, to the point, a movie. What makes it great is that it then becomes something people do. Now nine years after the “inception” of “bedhead cinema”, one of these films is opening SXSW film fest.

So I’m thinking to myself. We have film makers like Jon Barker (Bunnychow) and Elan Gamaker(Search for a South African Husband) who have reached moderate success with their films, yet they are the only two film makers that jump to mind. There should be tons of films being showcased and watched on a monthly basis. Just by numbers: Film schools graduate about 100 kids a year, AFDA is now already in its 13 or 15 year…the film industry is FULL of budding filmo’s with nothing better to do than do what they paid 100k to learn how to do.

I want to be part of a film society that is not afraid of taking risks regarding content or making plans. We need to breed a culture of film making if we all want to be film makers. Right now we are service junkies and while this pays the bills it sure as hell doesn’t satisfy our reason for waking up in the morning…

We should consider what we wanted when we said “when I grow up I want to make movies”. Look at film history in the context’s that we like to adore, and then consider your own environment and what is possible for you. Our film society needs to grow together. Film makers and film watchers should support one another, even it means only rocking up for the exhibition (in an empty building with a single wall painted white for the projection and a bucket of beers in the corner) and giving some constructive critisism.

This way, in a decade, well have our own style of film making and many more films being made every year…

More people doing stuff
Off The Shelf
Inspired Minority