Making Films
The Show Must Go Green
"Going green" might be en vogue—and environmentally responsible, of course—but what does sustainable filmmaking really entail?
August 4th, 2010 | Steven Abrams
Prompted by Miranda Bailey's recent documentary, Greenlit, The Independent's Steven Abrams asks two eco-experts for tips on simple, environmentally conscious filmmaking methods.
Miranda Bailey's recent film-within-a-film documentary, Greenlit, portrays the hopes and eventual challenges of making the production of The River Why "green." There's an initial hope that making the Why production eco-friendly is doable, and even money-saving.
Distributor FAQ: FilmBuff
In an interview with FilmBuff's Chris Horton, The Independent asks about the evolving landscape of digital distribution, and whether or not it's an independent filmmaker's new best friend.
July 30th, 2010 | Courtney Sheehan
More and more filmmakers use digital release platforms like iTunes, Netflix Streaming, and Video-on-Demand. Chris Horton, head of acquisitions for FilmBuff, explains the role his company can play in digital distribution.
FilmBuff is a digital distribution service provided by Cinetic Rights Management (CRM). Although FilmBuff is less than three years old, its sister company, Cinetic Media, has been a major player in film sales since 2001.
Funder FAQ: Playboy's Surprising Mission
Playboy is one of the most recognizable brands in the world, but we're guessing not many people know that the Playboy Foundation funds social change documentaries.
June 28th, 2010 | Maddy Kadish
You'll likely be surprised when you find out exactly what types of films the Playboy Foundation is passionate about making. A hint? Nudity is not a requirement.
Damned in the U.S.A. (1991)
Heart of the Matter (1994)
In the Family (2008)
The Most Dangerous Man in America (2010)
The Times of Harvey Milk (1984)
When Billy Broke His Head…. And Other Tales of Wonder (1999)
What do all these films have in common?
No Thanks, Take-Back Manifesto
The Independent’s Courtney Sheehan isn’t signing The Take-Back Manifesto, which, among other dictates, wants to return film to its pure, panel discussion-less state.
June 28th, 2010 | Courtney Sheehan
Grumpy about raising money to make your films? Michael Tully, Vadim Rizov, and others who signed The Take-Back Manifesto earlier this spring don't want to hear it. Enter The Independent's Courtney Sheehan. She explains why she's declining to sign and what she'll be researching on behalf of The Independent's readership this summer.
“Can we get back to talking about movies, please?”
From Documentary to Fictional Filmmaker: How to Make the Transition
With her recent narrative feature, "Toe to Toe," Emily Abt learned how to move from documentary to fiction filmmaking.
June 17th, 2010 | Angela Wu
Struggle and Triumph for Haiti's Ciné Institute
Against all odds, students and faculty at Haiti's Ciné Institute use their cameras to transform pain and destruction into artful moving images.
May 6th, 2010 | Beth Brosnan
In a special report for The Independent, Beth Brosnan speaks with students and staff of Ciné Institute, Haiti's only professional film school, about life after the region's devastating earthquake. Brosnan explores how, months later, they're using filmmaking techniques to cope with tragedy, rebuild, and even thrive in the face of adversity.
On January 12th, Haiti’s only professional film school, Ciné Institute, lost its main building in the massive earthquake that devastated the Port-au-Prince region.
Tribeca 2010: Travis Senger on "White Lines and The Fever: The Death of DJ Junebug"
Travis Senger takes on '80s hip-hop and an unsolved murder in his latest film, just named Best Documentary short at Tribeca 2010.
May 1st, 2010 | Michele Meek
With never-before-seen footage and interviews with Kurtis Blow, DJ Hollywood, and club owner Sal Abbatiello, the short documentary White Lines and The Fever: The Death of DJ Junebug portrays life in the ‘80s when hip-hop was young, cocaine was in, and life as a DJ often meant you did a little of both.
After winning a special jury prize at SXSW 2010, Filmmaker Travis Senger brings his short documentary White Lines and The Fever: The Death of DJ Junebug to the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival this week. His documentary explores the old days of hip-hop and the dangerous underworld at the legendary Disco Fever.
Tribeca 2010: Melanie Schiele on "Delilah, Before"
Melanie Schiele discusses how relocating to Singapore helped inspire her short film, "Delilah, Before."
April 30th, 2010 | Michele Meek
Shot entirely in Singapore as part of the NYU Tisch Asia MFA program, Delilah, Before marks the directorial debut of filmmaker Melanie Schiele. Here, she talks about the program and the film, as the film screens at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival.
After working in various capacities as writer, director, producer and cinematographer on over 20 student shorts as part of New York University’s Tisch Asia in Singapore, Filmmaker Melanie Schiele makes her directorial debut with the short Delilah, Before.
Tribeca 2010: Michael Creagh on "The Crush"
Michael Creagh took a break from the ad world to direct his first film, "The Crush," a short that screens at Tribeca 2010.
April 28th, 2010 | Michele Meek
Filmmaker Michael Creagh, a native of Belfast, takes the plunge into writing and directing with his debut film The Crush, a short featured in the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival.
As an “ad man by day," filmmaker Michael Creagh had been “tinkering with ideas and scripts” for several years before acting on his dream. His debut film The Crush tells the story of an eight-year-old boy (played deftly by Creagh's son) in love with his teacher. When the boy's gift of a toy ring is outdone by an engagement ring, he plots his revenge against his nemesis.
Tribeca 2010: Mary Robertson on "Missed Connections"
Mary Robertson explains why eight minutes is a "delicious" length and then comes clean about whether or not she's had any "missed connections." Her short film screens at Tribeca 2010.
April 28th, 2010 | Michele Meek
Have you ever felt your eyes lock with someone across a crowded subway, only to wish later that you had ripped through the crowd to get some digits? You’re not the only one. That's the subject of director Mary Robertson’s short film Missed Connections now screening at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival.
Have you ever felt your eyes lock with someone across a crowded subway, only to wish later that you had ripped through the crowd to get some digits? You’re not the only one.
We've had great success with The Independent's Guide to Film Distributors, which features the acquisition details of nearly 200 distribution companies. But times are changing FAST so we're hard at work on a 2nd edition due out later this year. Our current edition is available at 
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