Intended as a low budget depiction of 1960's hippie counter-culture, Easy Rider became a multi-million dollar success, gaining "cult" status. It made stars out of Dennis Hopper and Jack Nicholson; the film launched Nicholson's career as a film actor (it earned him his first Oscar nomination) and won Hopper the Best New Director accolade at the 1969 Cannes Film Festival. In its day, the film was considered to be controversial for its relatively positive depiction of alcohol consumption and drug taking, however it is nonetheless a celebration of the 1960's hippie ethos.The soundtrack is also fitting for the decade, with music from Steppenwolf's anthemic "Born To Be Wild", Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix.
1. big budget "blockbusters"
2. smaller independent films.
To demonstrate the differences between the 2 types of film, here's a comparison between Easy Rider (indie) and a big budget Hollywod blockbuster, Independence Day (1996)
(independent)
- counter-culture
- themes: drugs, alcohol, free love
- independently funded (ie. from the Sundance Film Festival)
(Hollywood)
- mainstream culture
- themes: family values, American ideals/patriotism
Independent cinema also faces enormous pressure from the big Hollywood studios, causing quickly made small buget films such as Billie Eltringham's This Is Not A Love Song to be streamed or available for download on the internet. On 5th September 2003 this film became the world's first film to be shown at a small selection of cinemas and simulatenously streamed online. It ran until 19th September 2003, and will be made available on DVD in late 2004.. Go to www.thisisnotalovesong.co.uk for more info.
The Hollywood system of film production provides the following in the face of independent films:
- money (very important, as obviously any film cannot be properly made without the proper financing)
- influence and power
- marketing (films are essentially products to be sold)
- stars (which give the film its "personality")
Now, this may seem all well and good and if a film is backed by a major studio, all seems cushty (as Del Boy would put it) but there are also problems with this system:
- the "star system" is restrictive
- the studio may also demand artistic and genre restriction (ie. may be keen to produce only certain types of film to suit the "house style")
- especially in today's society, there is a need for commercial success which means it is not enough for a film to break even, it has to make $700 million worldwide!!
Independent cinema describes cinema that is outside the norms and conventions of the Hollywood system.
Why, when moviegoers have all they could want from Hollywood, do we need indie cinema?
- there is an improved choice for consumers. Without a bit if indie variety, its all a bit samey...
- it also provides cinematic diversity
- films present an alternative ideological message
- independent cinema acts as a "testing ground" for new cinematic talent
Characteristics of an indie film include:
- creative, innovative style
- low budget
- less constraint by genre
- lack of SFX
- smaller target audience (ie. Human Traffic (Justin Kerrigan, 1999) targets the British youth drug culture)