The title might indicate that the book would be a discussion and review of individual Indie films. For the most part, it is not. Rather it takes a broad overview of the American Indie film industry. It attempts to explain what the industry is currently and how it developed over time. There is an introductory chapter which attempts to map the Indie industry, which is followed by 22 chapters written by academic authors from the UK, USA, Australia and China that go into greater detail. These chapters are arranged in eight parts which helps bring focus to the industry.
The first part deals with the culture surrounding Indie films. The second part looks at the cross-over or cross-pollination of Indie music and film. It also takes a look at how the tone, sensibility and structure of feeling are portrayed in the quirkiness of that culture. The third part deals with how and where these works are reviewed and how they are marketed.
Part four deals with movements within the Indie culture and moments that are significant in the Indie industry’s progression, such as going mainstream. Part five looks at regional Indie film productions and the effect location has on production. Part six examines the portrayal of politics in Indie films. Part seven looks at new ways of financing productions such as using crowdfunding, independent financing and Kickstart. Part eight looks at acting in Indie films and how an actor becomes a star in the industry.
This is a scholarly work. The articles are well written and heavily footnoted, and there is a good index.
