Well after taking a glance through todays SUN newspaper and seeing the line up for TIFF one still has to think where this festival went wrong? Not wrong in making money. But wrong in the turn from a festival that was for independent films and them turning to the dark side and only promoting studio films that pawn themselves off as independent. Yet they have star power like Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Rachel McAdams etc Also the government funds TIFF. Something us indie folks have trouble getting. Try getting funding from our beloved(Sarcasm Alert) government for film at an indie level its almost impossible. But yet if your TIFF its no big deal. As brought up in a past blog we as "TRUE" indie filmmakers don't have funding and have to usually shoot on the fly. But yet the cities want to charge us for permits at a whopping $500 per location well watching you under their radar. Like also stated its fine if your blocking off traffic or a busy area. Most of us have to use guerilla style of filmmaking. We have to do what we have to do. But back to TIFF. Film festivals are for us indie folks. Not for the big wigs at the studios. Its so very hard to get into this festival. I commend those who try. If you watch a film called
Official Rejection it describes in detail about the process of film festivals like CANNES, SUNDANCE and TIFF. Just it really confuses me and upsets me that its come to this. Gone are the days when true independence was TIFF. Now TIFF pawns off studio films as independent so they can in turn bring in the cash. I mean HollyWood is really holding on to talent that should have been dropped(Namely Michael Bay). Thank Bay for destroying Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street and Texas Chainsaw Massacre and of coarse Transformers. Now move over he is set to destroy the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles next. I saw parts of the leaked script and my God its horrible. It should be left in hiding and never see the light of day. To many old talent out there its time for fresh blood and something new. There is so much talented indie filmmakers out there. I've seen some really good stuff. I'm recommending a few short films out there that I'll list here that were very well done.
TELL &
Losses
Both Directed by
Film Riot's Ryan Connolly
Directed by Neill Blomcamp
THE RAVEN
Directed by Ricardo De Montreuil
