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YouTube recently published “Animation’s New Wave,” a report touting the latest insights into independent animation on the platform. The report makes case studies of a handful of super successful shows, like Helluva Boss, (The only U.S.-based show mentioned), as well as international shows like Argentina’s Wasted, and Knights of Guinevere from Australia. The report includes…
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Spring has sprung, and that means the spring film festival season is upon us. You might be attending your very first festival as a filmmaker, whether you’re there with a film in the fest, or just as an audience member. My first film festival was SXSW in 2004. It was a bit overwhelming, and also…
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Mark Duplass (and his brother Jay) first landed on the indie film scene when their 2005 film The Puffy Chair debuted at Sundance, and later screened at SXSW. I was at that SXSW, when it felt like we were on the cusp of an indie revolution. In addition to the Duplass Brothers, that year also…
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The world lost one of the most notable and unique directors of our time when David Lynch, 78, passed away in January 2025. There were many interviews with Lynch through the years about his feature films including Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive, and The Elephant Man. Oh, and here at Scrappy Cinema, we recommend the odd…
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Just a few years ago the “golden age” of streaming led to a resurgence in appreciation (and funding) for documentary projects. These days many non-profits have exited the market, and documentarians are facing challenges in financing and distribution. In 2020 Sandbox Films was formed with a focus on documentaries with science at their heart, providing…
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Every year, it seems the Academy Awards run long. And each year, the Academy and its broadcast partners try to find a way to shorten the show. I’ve always found this odd because no one seems to have an issue with the Super Bowl, or other live events going long. In theory, you broadcast these…
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Filmmakers aren’t the only ones who frequently have to be “scrappy” to make their dreams a reality. Independent cinema owners face their own challenges, and even more so, owners of drive-in theaters. On the latest podcast, we’re chatting with Matt McClanahan and Lauren McChesney, the owners of Shankweiler’s Drive-In Theatre, which happens to be America’s…
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Sometimes the best stories are practically in your own backyard. Director Billy Miossi has managed to make two shorts based on unique people who happen to live really close to his Cincinnati home. In Goldie, Miossi tells the story of Tim Goldrainer, a cover band star in the Cincinnati area, who also serves a very…
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Over 38 years, the South by Southwest festival (better known as SXSW) has grown to be important for both music and film. For filmmakers, the scrappy (ahem) and indie feel of the festival in the early days, was a welcome respite from the often-stuffy feel of other festivals at the time. As the popularity of…
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The extra depth and texture Foley artists can bring can truly elevate a film. Even with all of today’s sound effects libraries, there is still a strong need for the effects and heart that a Foley artist can bring to a film. For independent filmmakers on a budget, Foley can feel like a luxury: A…