Amazon has announced that it will be expanding its involvement in the entertainment industry by financing movies, an announcement that has the indie movie makers very excited. The intended budget for these movies will range from $5 million to $25 million, which will include a theatrical release and then available for streaming on Amazon Prime Instant Video service.
Independent Cinema, or “indie films” as a genre has seen a decline in recent times due to the bigger studios opting for the spectacle and extravagance of big budget options that appeal to the viewers’ adrenal glands rather than their minds. Indie films are rather invested upon with the purpose of being dangled as a bait for accolades as can be seen with the list of Oscar’s Best Picture nominees. One of them being Whiplash, which was made on budget of $3 million.
The other indie films in the mix are The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Imitation Game, Birdman, The Theory of Everything and Boyhood. There are only two big budget inclusions this year, American Sniper and Selma. This is obviously brilliant, but what happens to the not so Oscar worthy movies. Indie films give the up and comers (actors or directors) a chance to hone their skills as well to get noticed. Take a look at the filmography of any successful director, from Hitchcock to Fincher, and you will see that they had their beginnings in a minor budget motion picture at the foundation of their careers.
This is where Amazon Prime has given the Steven Spielbergs of tomorrow the potential to make the movies that can get them on the map. Amazon has garnered some kudos in the entertainment world with their foray into television, the online series Transparent winning 2 Golden Globes.
Controversies aside, Woody Allen has recently come on board for his first attempt at serialized drama proving that Amazon is becoming a force. The other challenge for unknown film makers is distribution, even though this genre is known for its artistic storytelling, it needs to be sustainable, not only that, but churning out a good profit will help its cause. The Oscar bait have their marketing ironed out, the nomination alone will see a peak in video on demand and DVD sales with possible re-releases of the lesser watched titles. As mentioned, Amazon will afford their productions a theatrical release and then available through Amazon Prime, a month or two later, striking while the iron is hot.
Ted Hope, a popular industry executive with a love of independent movies, has been hired to lead, adding more weight to this new initiative. With production slated to begin in 2015, movie connoisseurs are reeling at the potential that this will unveil.