Life is busy – you’re masking up again, half-watching the Olympics, spending billions to go to space, and studying the new COVID production protocols. 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 (July 2021)
After the Pandemic at the Alamo Drafthouse (via Richard Whittaker for The Austin Chronicle)
The survival story of the indie theater chain.
Van Toffler on Why the Indies Will Survive (via Van Toffler for The Wrap)
The Gunpowder & Sky CEO’s call to support independent voices.
Where Have the Low-Budget Movies Gone? (via Anthony Kaufman for Filmmaker Magazine)
A look at the current stumbling blocks for low-budget filmmakers.
Who Could Buy the Film Studio Behind Moonlight and Lady Bird? (via Adam Epstein for Quartz)
Have an extra $3 billion lying around? Instead of going to space, you could be the new owner of A24!
The Death of the All-Powerful Director (via Adam Nayman for The Ringer)
How Michael Cimino’s Heaven’s Gate ended the “New Hollywood” era (and United Artists).
The Anthony Bourdain Documentary Faked His Voice. Would Other Filmmakers Do the Same? (via Sam Adams for Slate)
The big docu drama of the moment.
California Filmmakers to Get More Tax Breaks in New Law. Do Incentives Keep Shows Here? (via Katherine Swartz for The Sacramento Bee)
The details of CA’s new tax credit – and the stats on whether it’s likely to lure productions to the state.
American Film Festivals Have a Future If They’re Willing to Change (Almost) Everything (via Eric Kohn for IndieWire)
A film fest survival guide.
How Jess Weixler Made a Movie While 8 Months Pregnant (via John Ortved for Vogue)
Third-trimester acting tips.
Who Owns My Name? (via Amanda Knox for Medium)
What is owed to the subject of a movie “inspired by a true story”?
In case you were ignoring us (aka blatant self-promotion)
Filmmaker Interview: Zoe Lister-Jones and Daryl Wein, writers/directors/producers of How It Ends
Learn how the husband-wife filmmaking duo made their new apocalypse comedy during COVID lockdown.
A video worth watching
Shhhh… we’re learning about silent props (via Insider)
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.