“Anora” director Sean Baker asked the independent film system to change during a powerful speech at Film Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday afternoon while accepting the best director.
The filmmaker, who has built his career on modestly budgeted independent functions such as “Take Out”, “The Florida Project” and “Tangerine”, talked about the state The struggling indie film industry.
“Anora”, which collected three awards at Indie Spirits, including best feature and best lead performance for Mikey Madison, was made for just $ 6 million.
“Indiefilm is struggling right now, more than ever,” Baker said as he took the stage to accept the award. “Gone are the days for DVD sales that made it possible to take a greater risk of challenging films. That revenue stream is gone, and the only way to see significant backend is to get a cash office here with profits that far exceed what any of our films will ever see – unless you are Damien Leone and beats gold with a franchise as “terrifier. ‘But as we all know, it’s an extreme rarity.
He detailed the time and effort that it often takes to get a micro -budget film that has been made, which often left some room for other income streams for filmmakers to fall back to survive.
“For me, and I believe that for many of my comrades, the average number of years dedicated to making a movie is around three … If you are a writer (or) director trying to break in right now, there is one Good chance you are to make a movie free or do almost nothing about production or sale, “Baker said.” How do you support yourself with little or no income in three years? “
Baker broke down the harsh economic reality behind independent filmmaking.
“Let’s say you are lucky enough to be with Guilden. Take the DGA and WGA mini -requirements and then share them with three, charge taxes and possibly percentages that you owe your agents, managers and lawyers, and what do you have left? It is simply not enough to get past today’s world, “he continued,” especially if you try to support a family. I personally do not have children, but I actually know that if I did, I would not be able to make movies like I did. ”
“Why am I talking about this today? Since I am an indie movie Lifer, and I know there are other indie films in this room, those who do not see indie films like phone cards, those that do not make these movies to land a series or a studio movie, “Baker said.
“Some of us want to make personal films intended for theater publishing with subjects that would never be green -lined by the big studios. We want complete artistic freedom and the freedom to throw that is right for the role, not who (we are) is forced to throw, given a box office or how many followers they have on social media. “
The Oscar-nominated director said that the current indie film system because it exists “must change because this is simply unsustainable.”
“We create a product that creates jobs and revenue for the entire industry. We should hardly get by, ”Baker said. “Creative involved in projects that extend over years must start to get higher, much higher fees in advance and since backend simply cannot trust anymore. We must demand it. If not, indie films will simply become call cards. And I know that’s not what I registered for. “
“So let’s demand what we are worth,” he said, closed his speech. “I know that if you are in this room, you have proven that you are worth it, so let’s no longer underestimate us and we can work together. It can be filmmakers, work with agencies, work with financiers, movie sales, companies and Distributors, to make indie -films sustainable for creative and keep indie movies alive. This is for Indie Film Lifers, who is fighting for the good struggle.
It is a concern that Baker has talked about in recent months in the middle of the “Anoras” path to the Academy Awards. He told me The flap That the independent film industry is in a tough place and that “it has never become easier” to work in it.
“With inflation and everything it costs more to make these little Indians. Now, if you go completely guerrilla, you can still make your movie for nothing. It is actually easier today because of the tools such as iPhone and the fact that you can edit at home, “Baker said. “But then you can’t afford stars. It is very complicated, plus the streaming services have really changed things. There is much more content now and a lot of competition. “
“I feel for future filmmakers who have to deal with this new world,” he continued. “I feel I got my foot in the door just like it hit – just in time, do you know? And I have been able to continue to do so because I was established as a director who does not work with stars and whose subject may not be mainstream-friendly. But I can’t imagine having to break in and do what I’m doing now. “
