Independent films, otherwise known as indie films, are created outside of big movie studios and in recent years have seen a major decrease in popularity. The film industry has the goal of pumping out more and more meaningless sequels to rake in even more money. And they know that we will go and see them out of pure curiosity.
Unlike the Hollywood blockbusters, independent movies can do their own thing, they’re not stuck in a continuous cycle of the same plot over and over again like blockbuster films tend to be. They reach the depths of human emotion and are often made off of shoestring budgets, giving them a sort of unique air about them.
But when you take a look at most blockbuster films, they almost always follow the same guideline and always have over-the-top sets and special effects.
When Moana 2 came out Nov. 27 in theaters across the country, many were expecting it to be repetitive, unnecessary and over the top—and it did more than meet those expectations. The first Moana was such an iconic hit that it was always going to be impossible to replicate, so the studio’s answer was bigger and brighter which in their minds meant better.
Hollywood tends to generally take this route because it is effective to reach their goal: generate views and generate money. The sequels are always less focused on the plots because the first movie did that for them. Blockbuster films are always lacking in emotion–it’s almost as if on their journey to connect to as large of an audience as possible they forgo the little details that sprinkle in necessary bits of emotion.
Even with the new age of technology, over the last ten years the quality of movies has decreased because of the formulaic content that production companies can’t seem to move past. Ever since the golden age of movies in the 70’s where no director was afraid of indulging in controversy and exploring violence, Hollywood has been reaching. But maybe overstepping? The issue is, no producer or director of these newer movies can seem to look past over-the-top effects.
A.O. Scott, who has been a trusted film critic for The New York Times has a passionate belief that when you walk out of a movie theater the world should look a little bit different and leave you with a feeling of longing to be in that world.
But do movies really leave you with that sense of passion anymore? That feeling of falling asleep later that night, imagining you’re in that world growing among those characters?
Indie films prioritize artistic expression and are always more introspective than blockbuster films; they dig deep into aspects of the human being that when blockbuster films can’t.
There are so many independent films we forget about that truly changed the film industry. Take The Blair Witch Project, a horror mockumentary filmed with a low budget and high dreams so raw that it left you wondering if it was based on a true story or if you could go on that hike tomorrow morning.
Many Hollywood films have tried to replicate the feeling The Blair Witch project leaves you with, but none have been successful. The sense of rush that studios face to put out a certain amount of movies per year causes directors and writers to spend less time considering if the film will make you stay up at night or want to become a filmmaker yourself for it was so good. It’s all about hitting that benchmark of movies per year, and this takes away from the movies themselves. The other half of the problem stems from studios’ inclination to over-dramatise the film in order to draw in more viewers. Hollywood is known for its drama and spectacle, but in recent years all we see is over-done CGI.
It is time we take back the reins of the film world and look deeper into the true meaning behind what movies are and why we have them. Movies are not only a form of entertainment but they’re also supposed to be an art form. It is easy to take the route of a simpler film but it is so important to keep honoring the independent films that are made with true passion with the intention to connect and move the audience.
