Will indie-film buyers get grabby?
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The new indie film ‘What Just Happened?’ is already generating some healthy buzz among distributors, a sure sign that the film-buying season is near. But as the writers strike drags on, the heat surrounding this Barry Levinson comedy and a handful of other coveted indies entering next year’s festival market just might reach nuclear levels.
At least, that’s the optimistic view among filmmakers. According to this theory, the writers strike seems likely to last a long time, pushing studios to grab promising material that’s ready to go. Some even speculate that the demand could be a boon to the foreign-film market as buyers look for inexpensive movies of quality.
That’s one view of the upcoming festival season. The other is that dismal box-office returns from a string of fall indies have made some buyers more cautious than usual about festival films. Some contend the market needs a cooling-off period after the glut. And there are lots of films on the way. So many, in fact, that some speculate the strike would have to last into the spring before panic sets in. Read more
--Gina Piccalo