President Trump? Does the idea concern you at all?
The events in America – the President Trump thing – is a giant wakeup call for filmmakers too! We must end complacency & apathy and learn to fight for what we believe in. No more rolling over when irritating and immoral issues are raised. We must speak up.
Let’s look at what the election of Trump and here in the UK – the Brexit vote really mean. Trump and Brexit is a strong vote against the establishment elite. What is alarming about Trump’s election is how a man promoting the vilest of opinions and attitudes managed to win the minds and hearts of just over half of Americans. While you are at it, we can learn from Trump. He managed to use social media to a ‘T’. There are many things filmmakers can learn from President Trump. Study. Learn. Embrace. Use these powerful tools to your benefit.
There is just too much hatred in the world. Is not hatred caused by misunderstanding of how people live and work, how the pray and dream in other nations, religions and cultures? Does not Trump’s vitriolic campaign show a profound ignorance of exactly this?
Even more importantly, we must remember that cinema is the most powerful force there is. Filmmakers Learn to use it to educate and inform our audiences. We can use cinema to help break down the horrible culture of misogyny, racism and arrogance promoted by the likes of the new President of America.
President Trump and Brexit are both anti-progressive votes. Don’t get sucked into depression about these events. View this as a time for refocusing and renewal.
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Photo Credit: Bertie Watson
I founded Raindance Film Festival in 1993 because the British film industry was closed, polite, and congratulating itself while shutting new filmmakers out.
I co-founded the British Independent Film Awards in 1998 because British indie film deserved more than a shrug, a pat on the head, and a Tuesday night screening.
Raindance didn’t start as a brand. It started as a rebellion: film training without gatekeepers, a festival without permission, and a community built by filmmakers who weren’t waiting to be invited in.
Later, we took it global: Toronto, Vancouver, New York, LA, Berlin, and Brussels, because independent film doesn’t belong to one city, one class, or one accent.
I’ve produced 700+ short films and seven features, including Deadly Virtues (2014) and ALICE, which won the SXSW Grand Jury Prize (2019) not because someone “discovered” us, but because the work earned its place.
I’ve written three books used by filmmakers worldwide because too many courses taught compliance instead of survival.
In 2009, I was awarded a PhD for services to film education, ironic, given that most of my career has been about tearing down the rules that education insisted you follow.
I don’t believe in waiting for permission.I believe in making work, building systems, and forcing the industry to catch up.
Specialties: Independent Film (the real kind) · Producing · Writing · Film Education · Festivals · Breaking Broken Systems
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