Gregory Anderson is an Independent Film producer. He gave a presentation at MIT that we attended, describing the issues and struggles around being and indie film producer. First, he told us his background story:
Greg's first movie was called "Chocolate City." He and a few friends wrote and produced this movie; but as an independent, they found it challenging to distribute their film. They did not want to have anyone else's hands in this movie. The way they distributed their film was by traveling city to city across the US, creating a hype for "Chocolate City." When there was finally enough buzz about it, everyone wanted to see it. Greg received a call from a distribution company that wanted to work with his film - he agreed, but only if they would send out the film 'as is.' For a first movie, "Chocolate City" proved to be successful for the crew.
Mr. Anderson is willing to do whatever possible to keep art into film. Recently before the meeting, he turned down a $5 million offer to produce a movie because it was altered to fit the Hollywood corporate structure. Money alone is not enough for Greg to lose his independent reputation and to give up his personal goals and beliefs for film making.
Greg's ultimate goal is to combine art and pop culture, or rather, bring art into pop culture. He refuses to let Hollywood block the art out of his movies.
The hardest struggle for an independent film maker is to have the final director's cut on their movies. The Hollywood business of film making is closing in on the independents, making it very difficult for them to release completely original films. Successful indie film makers often get sucked into the Hollywood business, which no longer makes them independent. Houses that used to help indie film makers have also moved corporate.
I think that it is important to have people like Greg in this world to help our society progress past greed. He has proved to make a successful living with film and does not need to become a billionaire because of it. He proved that film does not have to fall into a typical, repetitive structure in order for everyone to watch and enjoy it.
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As discussed in class, I find it unfortunate that independent film makers have it so hard when it comes to keeping true to their art form and work but also make a decent amount of money doing it. However I admire the resistance to temptation for more money when a distributor offers more money but would change the film and tarnish his reputation.
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