Life is busy – you’re working, eating, making movies, watching movies, forgetting there’s an extra day on a month’s calendar. It can be tough to stay up-to-date on the latest film industry news, profiles, analysis, and advice. That’s why we’ve curated some essential reads you may have missed over the past month. So take some time to catch up with this month’s good reads.
This Month’s Good Reads (February 2020)
Sundance Film Festival Names Tabitha Jackson New Director (via Jake Coyle for Associated Press)
Some new leadership for the annual fest.
He Was Star Wars‘ Secret Weapon, So Why Was He Forgotten? (via Scott Feinberg for The Hollywood Reporter)
Meet Ashley Boone Jr., the first black president of a major Hollywood studio.
The Cinematographer of Knives Out Wants To End the Film-vs.-Digital Debate (via Charlie Heller for Polygon)
Steve Yedlin wants to change the conversation about film vs. digital.
I Don’t Want to Be the Strong Female Lead (via Brit Marling for The New York Times)
The Another Earth and The OA actor on wanting more from her characters… and deciding to ultimately write one herself.
How to Get Your Film Into Festivals: MovieMaker’s Screener Survey (via Caleb Hammond for MovieMaker)
Programmers, producers, and festival directors offer their tips and trade secrets.
A New Study Looks At Gender Disparity In Short Film (via Andrew S. Allen for Short of the Week)
How are women directors faring behind-the-camera in the short film world?
Is DIY Film Infrastructure on the Brink of Collapse? (via Oakley Anderson-Moore for No Film School)
With the collapse of Distribber and now Tugg, what is the future of DIY film distribution?
9 Black Filmmaking Pioneers From the Earliest Days of Cinema (via Joi Childs for Rotten Tomatoes)
Before Black History Month is over, get to know legends like Oscar Micheaux, Hattie McDaniel, and Paul Robeson.
“I’m Not Special”: Lulu Wang Serves Cocktails Garnished With Industry Truths And Filmmaking Advice At Behind-The-Bar Q&A (via Carlos Aguilar for RogerEbert.com)
What’s better than a post-screening Q&A? A Q&A with booze being served by the director of The Farewell.
Bong Joon Ho’s 20 Upcoming Directors for the 2020s (via Bong Joon Ho for Sight & Sound)
Fresh off his Oscars sweep, the Parasite auteur offers his take on the next generation of great filmmakers.
In case you were ignoring us (aka blatant self-promotion)
Low Budget Contract Changes (effective 2/1/20)
Notice to indie producers!
Sundance Film Festival 2020 Recap
Award-winners and more highlights from Sundance 2020.
2020 Film Independent Spirit Awards – Nominees & Winners
The Farewell! Uncut Gems! Laura Dern! See the full list of winners and more highlights.
IFP’s Independent Filmmaker Labs
First-time directors: Open call for submissions to IFP’s annual labs!
Filmmaker Interview: Rashaad Ernesto Green, director/producer/co-writer of Premature
Green, winner of the Film Independent’s 2020 Someone To Watch Award, talks about making a Black indie romance that he greenlit himslef.
Filmmaker Interview: Andrew Heckler, writer/director of Burden
Learn about the making-of the 2018 Sundance Audience Award-winner, nearly 20 years in the making.
A video worth watching
Film a driving scene without putting pedestrians in danger! (via Mark Bone)
How ’bout you? Read anything good this month?
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If you’re an independent filmmaker or know of an independent film-related topic we should write about, email blogadmin@sagindie.org for consideration.