Thanks for the props Ted and it’s a great year to have you back at Slamdance for the 3rd time officially. Perfect timing, we’ve watched Nondē’s conversation expanding thanks to FilmStack and I think this movement can net results. It’s also really great that this in person Nondē / FilmStack event is happening in Los Angeles where so many talented filmmakers / actors / crew live and want to work in LA! Let’s preserve and redirect Hollywood by expanding and pushing the conversation and participation! Let’s Go!!!
Thanks also for posting the Slamdance Neil Young / Jonathan Demme talk I did a few years ago now. It was epic and there’s a great story: I purposely started the talk off with the idea of failure (without telling them), because I noticed in my pre interview research that in 1983 both Neil and Jonathan experienced the biggest failures of their careers. Jonathan was fired from SWING SHIFT starring Goldie Hawn and Neil was sued and later dropped from Geffen records for making a “non Neil Young” record. Within 2 years of these events Demme made “Stop Making Sense” followed by “Silence of the Lambs” and an Oscar win as best director. Neil had the biggest record of his career “Rust Never Sleeps” - From that jumping off point we had a great 2 hour conversation on being an artist and the importance of not fearing failure but rather embrace it in the arena of art meets commerce. The lessons and power it can bring forth are also career changing.
Took a screenshot of this because I love failure-before-breakthrough stories. Love that you'd noted they’d both had rough setbacks right before their breakthroughs and that you didn’t tell them you’d broach this in your discussion.
When Sundance said "no. Too late" Slamdance welcomed us and we sold our film a week later. This was in 1998. Glad they are still being the best alternative!
Talks about Nondē production and distribution are nice but they will remain Substack chitchat if there isn't a re-valuation first, supported by extensive press and publicity - largely absent at regional US festivals.
And that has to go with re-valuing filmmakers too. It's shocking to see how respected we are abroad, yet considered by the US film industry something like bums to be fleeced.
Come with a practical and implementable idea to help generate such press and consideration. I am sure it would perhaps involve... newsletters. We need more cultural writers and thinkers. Let's all find ways to solve it. I know you have some ideas Estellle. Let's share them!
The press and consideration you mention doesn't need to be created, it's already there: in the many Filmstacks that exist. The NonDe even have their Bari Weiss and what comes next will follow the same trajectory this lady had because most people in the NonDe movement don't want at all to "build something new", they are just yearning to be accepted by the old system. It's already happening, amazingly fast. And I'm sorry to say that it's not the people who launched this movement who will benefit from the 'buy out', it's the younger corporate type. In the end, nothing will change for filmmakers. Possibly, it will be worse.
Bought my tickets, taking the ride. Can’t wait.
Thanks for the props Ted and it’s a great year to have you back at Slamdance for the 3rd time officially. Perfect timing, we’ve watched Nondē’s conversation expanding thanks to FilmStack and I think this movement can net results. It’s also really great that this in person Nondē / FilmStack event is happening in Los Angeles where so many talented filmmakers / actors / crew live and want to work in LA! Let’s preserve and redirect Hollywood by expanding and pushing the conversation and participation! Let’s Go!!!
Thanks also for posting the Slamdance Neil Young / Jonathan Demme talk I did a few years ago now. It was epic and there’s a great story: I purposely started the talk off with the idea of failure (without telling them), because I noticed in my pre interview research that in 1983 both Neil and Jonathan experienced the biggest failures of their careers. Jonathan was fired from SWING SHIFT starring Goldie Hawn and Neil was sued and later dropped from Geffen records for making a “non Neil Young” record. Within 2 years of these events Demme made “Stop Making Sense” followed by “Silence of the Lambs” and an Oscar win as best director. Neil had the biggest record of his career “Rust Never Sleeps” - From that jumping off point we had a great 2 hour conversation on being an artist and the importance of not fearing failure but rather embrace it in the arena of art meets commerce. The lessons and power it can bring forth are also career changing.
Again. Let’s gooooo!
Took a screenshot of this because I love failure-before-breakthrough stories. Love that you'd noted they’d both had rough setbacks right before their breakthroughs and that you didn’t tell them you’d broach this in your discussion.
When Sundance said "no. Too late" Slamdance welcomed us and we sold our film a week later. This was in 1998. Glad they are still being the best alternative!
Woohoo!!! Great to see some OG Slammers on here!!!
I so love Jonathan Demme. Thanks for digging that one out!
Talks about Nondē production and distribution are nice but they will remain Substack chitchat if there isn't a re-valuation first, supported by extensive press and publicity - largely absent at regional US festivals.
And that has to go with re-valuing filmmakers too. It's shocking to see how respected we are abroad, yet considered by the US film industry something like bums to be fleeced.
Come with a practical and implementable idea to help generate such press and consideration. I am sure it would perhaps involve... newsletters. We need more cultural writers and thinkers. Let's all find ways to solve it. I know you have some ideas Estellle. Let's share them!
The press and consideration you mention doesn't need to be created, it's already there: in the many Filmstacks that exist. The NonDe even have their Bari Weiss and what comes next will follow the same trajectory this lady had because most people in the NonDe movement don't want at all to "build something new", they are just yearning to be accepted by the old system. It's already happening, amazingly fast. And I'm sorry to say that it's not the people who launched this movement who will benefit from the 'buy out', it's the younger corporate type. In the end, nothing will change for filmmakers. Possibly, it will be worse.
I hope you are wrong on this Estelle. This time will be different!
Wow, kudos? So... how does one wrangle an invite to Market Monday?
Is there a link to the first presentation I can view to prepare for this one? Thank you for shepherding this movement.
You mean the Show & Tell one? They are getting it ready…
Thank you!! Looking forward to the replay!