Life is busy – you’re ringing in a new year and canceling a whole new set of plans. It can be tough to stay up-to-date on the latest film industry news, profiles, analysis, and advice (and – in unfortunate abundance this month – obituaries). 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 (January 2022)
A Massive List of Winter 2022 Grants All Filmmakers Should Know About (via Oakley Anderson-Moore for No Film School)
Start your year off right: With some money!
How Peter Bogdanovich Shaped the Backstory of Modern Cinema (via Richard Brody for The New Yorker)
An appreciation of the criticism and programming side of the late Last Picture Show director.
Halle Berry Pens Tribute to Sidney Poitier: ‘An Angel Watching Over All Of Us’ (via Halle Berry for Variety)
The first black Best Actress Oscar-winner memorializes the first black Best Actor Oscar-winner.
How Film is Putting Indigenous Languages in the Spotlight (via Harmeet Kaur for CNN)
Native languages hit the screen, from written dialogue to dubbing.
Film/TV Sets Under Strain: Is the COVID-19 Safety Status Quo Good Enough? (via Katie Kilkenny, Carolyn Giardina, & Winston Cho for The Hollywood Reporter)
The state of on-set safety protocols.
Vince Vaughn Remembers Lounge Legend and Swingers Standout Marty Roberts (via Jason Newman for Rolling Stone)
Saying goodbye to an LA entertainment staple (and memorable ’90s indie soundtrack-provider).
Virtual Sundance. Weak Box Office. Is Streaming the Only Hope for Indie Film? (via Ryan Faughnder for Los Angeles Times)
One film financier on why indie filmmakers should take theatrical off their distribution wish lists.
Film Festivals Are Evolving for the Better (via Angela Watercutter for Wired)
How Sundance transitioned to its second virtual festival.
Gas Food Lodging Remains a Blueprint for Resisting Hollywood Formulas 30 Years Later (via Katarina Docalovich for Paste Magazine)
Reflecting on Allison Anders’ breakout film of Sundance ’92.
Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker in 2022 (via Greg Gilman for MovieMaker Magazine)
Where to live your life and film your movie (or film your life and live your movie) this year.
Revisiting the Try-Outs For the Orgy: Could John Cameron Mitchell’s Gleefully Sexual 2006 Film Shortbus Get Made Today? (via Mark Harris for Vulture)
Looking back at the… unconventional… casting process for the 2006 (non-porn) indie groundbreaker.
He’s a Doctor. He’s an Actor. He’s an Indie Heartthrob. (via Kyle Buchanan for The New York Times)
Some actors wait tables or drive Uber between acting gigs. The Worst Person in the World star Anders Danielsen Lie practices medicine.
In case you were ignoring us (aka blatant self-promotion)
Filmmaker Interview: Fran Kranz, writer/director/producer of Mass
The actor-turned-director talks to us about his Spirit Award-winning debut.
SAGindie’s Sundance ’22 Movie Picks
The films on our staff’s must-see lists for this year’s (once-again virtual) fest.
Filmmaker Interview: Sujata Day, writer/director/producer/star of Definition Please
The actor/filmmaker on her move from web series to feature film.
A video worth watching
Why movie theaters aren’t dead yet (via Vox)
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.