Indie Film Lab

(0 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Independent or 'indie' film often refers to works produced or distributed outside the Hollywood studio system. By that definition, the Lord of the Rings trilogy are the most commercially successful independent films of all time. Many films labeled as indie are often low-budget productions that adhere to the narrative conventions of dominant cinema. This survey course will consider these intra-industry tensions and trace the development of American independent cinema from its early roots in neorealism to more contemporary hybrid forms. We will consider the role of technology in this (r)evolution including the impact of 16mm cameras, analog and digital video and iPhones. This course will also recognize indie film as a site for inclusion of underrepresented filmmakers including women and BIPOC artists.