Category: Commentary


  • Dolly Parton’s Quiet Contributions to Independent Film

    As news of Dolly Parton’s death spread across the globe last week, plaudits rightfully arrived, touting many of Dolly’s legacies. Of course there was her incredible singing and acting career, her amazing support of literacy, her commitment to East Tennessee with the creation of the Dollywood theme park, and her unwavering support of marginalized groups.…

  • Independent Film Needs Sustainable Success, Not Occasional Unicorns

    In recent weeks, there’s been increased chatter around the moment independent film is having. Sure, this isn’t the first time it looked like the indies would inherit the (film) earth. Back in the 1990s, there was a renaissance of independent films from small studios like Miramax and Sony Picture Classics, with movies like Slackers, Reservoir Dogs, and…

  • The Possible But Unlikely Silver Lining To The Netflix Warner Brothers Acquisition

    Let’s get the obvious part out of the way: The potential merger of Netflix and Warner Brothers will be bad for “the industry.” Many jobs will be lost, and the number of films made for theaters could plummet. (Although Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos says they’re committed to releasing Warner Brothers films in theaters.) That much…