Like skiing or polo, filmmaking is often a venture undertaken by the privileged. The sheer cost of the equipment has always excluded filmmakers from being as autonomous as writers, painters or dancers. Not to mention the fact that, to make a film, one needs to persuade and then trust a skilled crew, and the best way to do that is to compensate them, even if all you can offer is a sandwich of their choice at Quizno’s. So it’s a wonder that, within a format designed to prevent autonomy and economy, people still make personal films on no budget.
The Zero Film Festival prides itself on being the first festival to feature only films with “zero budget.” It’s not clear exactly what that means (Quizno’s isn’t donating those sandwiches) but this festival, playing through Dec. 6 at various locales, essentially reframes cinema, presenting it as something truly egalitarian; like baseball, graffiti art or rock and roll (musicians being the standard-bearer of broke artists).
Highly recommended is the Thursday night lineup at 1228 S. Flower St., which starts with a showcase of Georgian filmmakers and ends with performances from, among others, the eclectic and highly danceable band Rainbow Arabia. Attendance may not actually constitute sticking it to the man, but at least your dollars won’t outfit him in new ski boots or suede polo saddles.
What other people are saying...
jake from hollywood - December 10, 2008 at 8:21 AM
awesome event. thanks for the article heads up.
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