WHY YOU SHOULD TRY OUT INDIE FILMS
We know everyone is itching to get that role in the next big block buster, but don’t forget about the little guy along the way. Working in indie films can give your career an unexpected boost and challenge you in new ways.
Get In Character
It might seem obvious that acting would also come with the prerequisite to ‘get in character’, but sometimes large-scale television and movies have some cookie-cutter roles that are pretty easy to figure out. A lot of actors find that indie films give them an opportunity to explore an entirely new person, not just a character. It’s a challenge to really push yourself into a new head space and can often times produce some truly amazing results, both on film and for yourself.
And if you find you’re having some trouble with capturing a scene while working on an indie film (or any role for that matter), John Swanbeck has some advice for how to make the camera care.
Meet New Directors
Indie films give you the opportunity to work with up-and-coming directors, writers, producers and more. Staying in touch with these connections can help both of you. When a filmmaker starts making it big, they sometimes like to reach out to those they started with, and that can be you! Conversely, when you’re accepting all those awards, don’t forget to think back to the indie films and their crews that helped you out along the way.
Unexpected Co-stars
Many indie films contain a mix of seasoned actors, as well as fresh faces.
Think about “Little Miss Sunshine”: the film had a host of already well known actors (Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell, and Toni Collettte to name a few), but brought in two experienced, but relatively unknown actors, Paul Dano and Abigail Breslin. Since then, Breslin’s career has taken off as she continues to take roles in large-scale movies, while Dano stays slightly more on the indie side of film.
This means along with getting to work closely with well-known stars, you’re also setting yourself up to someday be in their place!
Curious about how to get your foot in the indie door? Brette Goldstein has some advice for becoming a part of the indie film community.
