It was Lee who summed up the whole experience of making microbudget films. "With the kind of stories I wanted to tell, I was having trouble getting support from the traditional routes of finance. So I went down the microbudget road because it gave me the freedom to tell different types of stories. I find that traditional distribution is looking backwards. When they put a value on your project, they only look at films that have come before. I am trying to create stories that I haven't seen come out before. I think that microbudget filmmakers are changing perceptions, they are excited about the possibilities of what can be accomplished and that is the value of what they are getting out of the experience too, not just about money, but about accomplishment and forging a path. " It is kind of what I get out of marketing independent films too. Few are getting rich working in low budget films, but the possibilities of what can be accomplished, especially now with digital distribution and connecting with audiences on a personal level like never before are really exciting and microbudget and low budget filmmakers are better able to embrace these possibilities because they have no legacy system to turn around. No established model to protect and few if any staff to safeguard. The independent's strength is in adaptability and collaboration and as long as we are willing to accept the responsibilities that come with being independent, the future is bright for us.
So, what are my top 3 takeaways from Cannes?
1) Go, especially before you make a film. It is very valuable to realize that what you are asking to do when you pursue filmmaking as an occupation is participate in a business. A very competitive and conniving business. That point is made crystal clear when you enter the Marche floor.
2) Soak up as much knowledge as you can from this or any major film event. Try to go without preconceived notions of how things work. At the moment, everything is in flux, no matter what anyone is trying to tell you. Everyone from the most stalwart studio to the newest venture is trying to figure out the future. Your ideas are just as valid as anyone else's and you have every right to choose and pursue your own path to success.
3) Cannes is very inspirational. The films that play in the festival are considered among the top in the world, no matter what their gross ends up being. It is exciting to feel a part of this industry and I am not sure you can feel that any better than at Cannes. I am not talking about the fame and the glitz. The true artistry, the creativity, the meeting of the minds. All of this really crystallized for me why I would be drawn to such a bizarre profession, visual storytelling. There is so much energy and hopefulness in being around filmmakers from around the world that it sends you home with the feeling that you aren't alone in your struggles and that your game has to come up so much more to compete.
See you next year on the Croisette!
