Life is busy – you’re giving the USA whatever gift you give for a 250th birthday (accidental maiming/arson?). It can be tough to stay up-to-date on all 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! (Also, RIP 4Columns!)
This Month’s Good Reads (July 2026)
What Is the Definitive Movie About America? (via The New York Times)
NYT film critics on the movies that best chant “USA! USA!” (thematically or spiritually).
Alamo Drafthouse Launches Distribution Program to Screen Unreleased Film Festival Movies in Theaters (via Rebecca Rubin for Variety)
Piss off your fans with phone ordering… win them back by releasing their film (and saving historic theaters)?
Courtney Love Looks Back on Her Life as a Movie Star (via Yasi Salek for The Criterion Collection)
The grunge rock goddess reflects on her brief acting career alongside Alex Cox, Miloš Forman, Paul Rudd, and more.
When Carolco Was King (via Curtis Tsui for Metrograph Journal)
A look at the heyday of Carolco, the indie studio behind macho hits like First Blood, Total Recall, and Terminator 2.
Celebrating a Century of Actor Harry Dean Stanton at The Brattle (via Sean Burns for WBUR)
Remembering the late Paris, Texas star on what would have been his 100th birthday.
How Superhero Movies Lost Their Power (via Daniel Parris for Stat Significant)
The (declining) numbers of the formerly-too-big-to-fail genre.
This One Time at Film Camp (via Leslie Dinaberg for Santa Barbara Independent)
Capture the flag, campfires…. and call sheets? A peek inside SBIFF Sleepaway Camp.
Netflix and Sony Are Reportedly Circling Letterboxd. They Want More Than Movie Reviews (via Georgia Fearn for Inc.)
Will cinephiles’ favorite app turn into a studio marketing product?
Inside Barrio Triste, the Gritty Debut Film by Bad Bunny Collaborator Stillz (via Carlos Aguilar for De Los)
How an anonymous music video director made his debut feature in five days with the help of Harmony Korine, Colombian crime lords, and a cast of unknowns.
What It Costs to Self-Distribute and Promote an Independent Film (via Stephen Follows)
Tips and case studies for putting out your movie yourself.
Writer, Jr. Agent, Indie Producer: The 10 Worst Jobs in Hollywood (via Richard Rushfield for The Ankler)
It’s a living!
The 100 Most Powerful Directors in Hollywood (via Nate Jones for Vulture)
Who’s got the automatic green light these days?
Back to Camp Firewood: David Wain and Michael Showalter on 25 Years of Wet Hot American Summer (via Mark Asch for Letterboxd Journal)
The State alums and writing partners on the history of their camp cult comedy classic.
Paramount Wanted to Close Its Warner Deal Quickly. Now It’s in Limbo. (via Joe Flint for The Wall Street Journal)
How the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger got paused.
Videos worth watching
How a 100-year-old arthouse installed a 70mm Imax projector in five weeks for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey (via The Wrap)
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.
