Independent Film

Independent films are separate from mainstream production companies such as Warner Bros. or Universal. These smaller production companies like A24 and Redshark don't manage the making of the film but distribute it. This means that, instead of directors being given a brief they must follow and being told to avoid certain issues, the crew has complete creative control over the making of the film.
However, this also means that, in order for independent films to get picked up by the producers, they have to be entered in many film festivals such as Cannes and Sundance. Those that win awards and prizes in these festivals are more likely to be produced by these production companies.
It can also be that the producer is a single or few people who invest in the film and get it distributed through their own private investment hoping to make back a profit. In short, one of the main things that makes an independent film independent is that it is not controlled my the mainstream or Hollywood production companies. It is produced independently of them.

There are also some conventions of independent films that make them easily recognisable. Quite a lot of them are based around the social realist genre. Looking at some controversial subjects that are hard to watch because they are real. These issues can range from domestic abuse and rape to sexuality. Not all independent films adhere to this though as many of Tarentino's first films were independent such as 'Reservoir Dogs' and 'Pulp Fiction'. So while many rely less of CGI and special effects so use a more realist perspective an independent film can be any genre of any calibre.

Many independent films use lesser known actors though some have one stand out 'Hollywood Star' that might be in it for star appeal or because they believe in the message the film is trying to convey. This is noticeable in 'Fishtank' as Michael Fassbender is one of the main characters. He may not have been as famous as he is now when the film was released in 2008 but nevertheless he is the only known star in the film.

Independent films are usually low budget as well. This can mean anything from $5 to $10 million however they can be a lot cheaper than this as well. 'Reservoir Dogs' cost only $1.2 million to make. Films like this often aren't released in cinemas at all but if they are they are in private cinemas such at the 'Electric Cinema' in Birmingham. Again, these cinemas are independent of the mainstream and franchised organisations.

So, in all, an independent film is independent of all mainstream input and values. It is made to convey a message or for fun. Not to make money.

Case Study - 'Reservoir Dogs' - Quentin Tarentino

This is an independent film as it is low-budget and was circulated around film festivals rather than main stream cinemas. Its production costs were $1.2 million and on the opening weekend it only grossed $147.839. The opening weekend being the 25th of October 1992. It was expanded to 61 theaters and totaled $2,832,029 at the domestic box office. The film grossed more than double that in the United Kingdom, where it was banned from home video release until 1995. Due to this it was re-released in British cinemas in  June 1994.
The film festivals it circulated include Sundance where it was nominated for the grand jury prize as well as film festivals in Toronto and Chicago. It won 10 awards and was nominated for 20 amongst these were awards for best director and screenplay.
The cast included no huge names but several fairly famous actors such as Tim Roth, Steve Buscemi and Chris Penn. Several of these actors went on to star in many more Tarentino films and built up a personal relationship with him; Tim Roth being a prime example. There were no big production companies involved as it was independently produced by Lawrence Bender.
Trenton may now be a well-known director but this was his debut as both a writer and director meaning, while it could now be considered mainstream, it was an entirely independent film. This links to the controversial aspect of the film, meaning the ear cutting scene, which was particularly shocking at the time. Tarentino, throughout all of his films, maintained his artistic vision as there are clear similarities in some of his later work to his original artistic debut 'Reservoir Dogs'.