IFP Film Week - R.J. Cutler I attended 15 panels in total at IFP Film Week, 10 of which were dedicated to “making your first feature” and five more focused on documentaries.  The independent film industry like many other industries in the U.S. was deeply affected by the downfall of the economy, but I believe there’s a silver lining - today’s chaotic environment is forcing independent producers to rethink everything and not rely on the same ol’ film festival formula. It’s time to embrace the Web in new, innovative ways and figure out how to create a sustainable business model. It will be interesting to see how it develops.  Well at IFP, a lot of ideas were shared, but one of my favorite panels of the week was a Q&A with R.J. Cutler, director of The September Issue and producer of The War Room, one of my favorite political docs. Listening to Cutler talk about filmmaking in person was a real treat for me because I agree with his philosophy that a documentary film can have commercial appeal. There’s no doubt that Cutler acknowledges the importance of social documentaries, but he also believe documentaries capturing the human experience, art and commerce are just as important. Yes, to support his point note that not one of the documentaries by the Maysles brothers have ever focused on a social issue - and they’re among my favorites because they artfully capture an essence of a person. It’s psychological, an exploration of why people do the things they do, which immediately draws me in. Cutler also made a point to all the documentarians in the crowd that really stuck with me. He said don’t listen to convention, ”the convention changes because you make a film that changes it.” Case in point, apparently it’s rare for an American documentary to screen overseas, but The September Issue is playing widely internationally. The film takes a look at the relationship between Vogue’s Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington as they embark in making the magazine’s largest issue, but even at first glance you can see it’s an idea that people around the globe can connect to because it involves human drama and a look into an exclusive industry we’d never have the opportunity to peak into otherwise. If you’re interested in learning more about R.J. Cutler, MakingOf features a great interview with the director who talks candidly about securing Anna Wintour’s trust. Take a look here. **Funny enough, it looks like Anna is sitting in the front row in this picture here, but I can assure you she’s not.
Pop-upView Separately

IFP Film Week - R.J. Cutler

I attended 15 panels in total at IFP Film Week, 10 of which were dedicated to “making your first feature” and five more focused on documentaries.  The independent film industry like many other industries in the U.S. was deeply affected by the downfall of the economy, but I believe there’s a silver lining - today’s chaotic environment is forcing independent producers to rethink everything and not rely on the same ol’ film festival formula. It’s time to embrace the Web in new, innovative ways and figure out how to create a sustainable business model. It will be interesting to see how it develops.  Well at IFP, a lot of ideas were shared, but one of my favorite panels of the week was a Q&A with R.J. Cutler, director of The September Issue and producer of The War Room, one of my favorite political docs.

Listening to Cutler talk about filmmaking in person was a real treat for me because I agree with his philosophy that a documentary film can have commercial appeal. There’s no doubt that Cutler acknowledges the importance of social documentaries, but he also believe documentaries capturing the human experience, art and commerce are just as important. Yes, to support his point note that not one of the documentaries by the Maysles brothers have ever focused on a social issue - and they’re among my favorites because they artfully capture an essence of a person. It’s psychological, an exploration of why people do the things they do, which immediately draws me in.

Cutler also made a point to all the documentarians in the crowd that really stuck with me. He said don’t listen to convention, ”the convention changes because you make a film that changes it.”

Case in point, apparently it’s rare for an American documentary to screen overseas, but The September Issue is playing widely internationally. The film takes a look at the relationship between Vogue’s Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington as they embark in making the magazine’s largest issue, but even at first glance you can see it’s an idea that people around the globe can connect to because it involves human drama and a look into an exclusive industry we’d never have the opportunity to peak into otherwise.

If you’re interested in learning more about R.J. Cutler, MakingOf features a great interview with the director who talks candidly about securing Anna Wintour’s trust. Take a look here.

**Funny enough, it looks like Anna is sitting in the front row in this picture here, but I can assure you she’s not.


1 Notes/ Hide

  1. brieflynoted posted this