Many people have recognized and commented recently on the current state of Hollywood films. They have complained about a lack of originality, a disinterest in casting new and upcoming actors and more recently, the use of AI. Hollywood has always been restrictive and risk-averse in past decades, but we are now in a period of Hollywood — not for the first time — where it is especially so. However, independently made films are working to fill the gaps. Just as in past when cable television offered creative liberty in a time when Hollywood movies were limiting what stories could be told, independent films are free to tell stories less confined by social norms and profitability.
As has been the case since its founding, Hollywood’s priority is creating as many profitable films as possible, deciding what gets made by weighing cost and return. This, naturally, means that the same popular, successful actors and creators are used again and again, as their presence often times guarantees an audience. This is especially true when the film is released in theaters; with the popularity of streaming services, there are fewer movie-goers, making a theater release expensive and risky. This means the tried-and-true method holds the most weight and taking risks on new filmmakers, actors and ideas is less likely.
However, there is a solution! The problems facing Hollywood do not mean that cinema itself is at risk. We’ve seen similar predicaments before and there have always been creators creating despite what the majority in the field is doing. Those who love film and have real stories to tell continue to find ways to do so. Their efforts are often extremely low-budget and feature no known actors, meaning they get less attention, but they also have more freedom to tell their stories as they want to instead of seeking profit.
In the past, when Hollywood movies were limited in what stories they could tell, other creative outlets stepped in. In the mid-twentieth century, the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) created a blacklist of filmmakers to force conformity and discourage the production of films that didn’t fit with American ideals. This led to a lack of creativity in films, as well as a general fear filmmakers had for what stories they would be allowed to tell, lest they lose their jobs. However, when the film industry was being limited, many creatives still found ways to tell the stories they wanted to tell, using other mediums such as cable television, which was generally less restricted. Cable television was and is a paid service, meaning advertisers impacted creative decisions less so than with film.
The most recent and popular example of a low-budget project gaining attention is the series “Heated Rivalry,” which, seeing as it’s a queer story and starred two relatively unknown actors, was a decently risky project. The series is a testament to independent and low-budget projects telling less mainstream stories, and is hopefully part of a continued interest in similar projects. “Heated Rivalry” proved to film funders and audiences that these types of stories are desired, and showed independent filmmakers fighting to tell their stories that they shouldn’t feel discouraged by the current state of the film industry.
It’s understandable that with the price of cinema tickets, streaming services and renting or buying a movie online, people are less inclined to spend significant money on a film that they don’t feel assured will be worth their time and hard-earned cash. It’s easier to have faith in a film when it’s high-budget and is attached to big recognizable names. However, independent films often have more creative integrity, thought and attention put into them. With independent projects, films, with creators have to focus on a well-written strong plot with interesting characters, as they aren’t able to lean on stars or a large budget. So, take a risk and support independent films. Encourage authentic stories and art qua art rather than art qua profit.