Reel Independence

This is a great little find, three well written interviews with people working in ‘independent’ film in North America. Just to give you an idea of the kind of ground this nifty mag covers, I’ll list the articles: An interview with Todd Solondz whose movie about the darker side of adolescene, Welcome to The Dollhouse, opens in April 1996. A piece on House, the former Daniel MacIvor play made into a film by Laurie Lynd and opening in Canada sometime this winter. But the most interesting piece was the interview with John Pierson by Lana McKenzie. Pierson is a paradoxical indie film financier, the guy at least partially responsible for providing us with indie films that break into wide distribution, films like Roger & Me, Slacker, Clerks…While the interview was way too pleasant and accepting of Pierson’s role and the kinds of movies he has brought to the public attention, it was still a fascinating look at the power structures that exist in ‘independent’ film. I like the text-only format of this publication and can only suggest that they get a little more confrontational with their notion of independence.

newsletter / vol. 3, #8, 8 pages / publisher: Lana McKenzie / main creator: Lana McKenzie / $10 for six / Walmer Postal Outlet, 360A Bloor St. W., PO Box 19030, Toronto, ON, M5S 1X0

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