Hope for film: from the frontlines of the independent cinema revolutions

“Essential for the aspiring filmmaker,” this is an inspiring, tell-all look at the independent film business from one of the industry's most passionate supporters (Todd Solondz, director of Welcome to the Dollhouse)Hope for Film captures the rebellious punk spirit of the indie film boom in 1990s New York City and its collapse two decades later to its technology-fueled regeneration and continuing streaming-based evolution. Ted Hope, whose films have garnered 12 Oscar nominations, draws from his own personal experiences working on the early films of Ang Lee, Eddie Burns, Alan Ball, Todd Field, Hal Hartley, Michel Gondry, Nicole Holofcener, and Todd Solondz, as well as his tenures at the San Francisco Film Society, Fandor, and Amazon Studios, taking readers through the decision-making process that brought him the occasional failure as well as much success.Whether navigating negotiations with studio executives over final cuts or clashing with high-powered CAA agents over their clients, Hope offers behind-the-scenes stories from the wild and often heated world of “specialized” cinema--where art and commerce collide. As mediator between these two opposing interests, Hope offers his unique perspective on how to make movies while keeping your integrity intact and how to create a sustainable business enterprise out of that art while staying true to yourself. Against a backdrop of seismic changes in the independent film industry, from corporate co-option to the rise of social media and the streaming giants, Hope for Film provides not only an entertaining and intimate ride through the business of arthouse movies over the last decades, but also hope for its future.“There is nobody in the independent film world quite like Ted Hope. His wisdom and heart shine through every page.” —Ang Lee, Academy Award winning director of Brokeback Mountain An Inspiring, Tell-all Look At The Indie Film Business From One Of The Industry's Most Passionate Producers, Hope For Film Captures The Rebellious Punk Spirit Of The Indie Film Boom In 1990s New York City, Its Collapse Two Decades Later And Its Current Moment Of Technology-fueled Regeneration. Ted Hope, Whose Films Have Garnered 12 Oscar Nominations, Draws From His Own Personal Experiences Working On The Early Films Of Ang Lee, Eddie Burns, Hal Hartley, Michel Gondry, Nicole Holofcener, Todd Solondz And Other Indie Mavericks, Relating Those Decisions That Brought Him Success As Well As The Occasional Failure. Whether Navigating Negotiations With Harvey Weinstein Over Final Cuts Or Clashing With High-powered Caa Agents Over Their Clients, Hope Offers Behind-the-scenes Stories From The Wild And Often Heated World Of Low-budget Cinema-where Art And Commerce Collide. As Mediator Between These Two Opposing Interests, Hope Offers His Unique Perspective On How To Make Movies While Keeping Your Integrity Intact And How To Create A Sustainable Business Enterprise Out Of That Art While Staying True To Yourself. Against A Backdrop Of Seismic Changes In The Indie-film Industry, From Corporate Co-option To The Rise Of Social Media, Hope For Film Provides Not Only An Entertaining And Intimate Ride Through The Ups And Downs Of The Business Of Art-house Movies Over The Last 25 Years, But Also Hope For Its Future-- Machine Generated Contents Note: Ch. 1 Inspiration -- Ch. 2 Patience -- Ch. 3 Joyfulness -- Ch. 4 Commitment -- Ch. 5 Ambition -- Ch. 6 Collaboration -- Ch. 7 Creativity -- Ch. 8 Time -- Ch. 9 Community -- Ch. 10 Change. Ted Hope ; With Anthony Kaufman. Includes Index. Includes Filmography. "Hope for Film captures the rebellious punk spirit of the indie film boom in 1990s New York City and its collapse two decades later to its technology-fueled regeneration and continuing streaming-based evolution. Ted Hope, whose films have garnered 12 Oscar nominations, draws from his own personal experiences working on the early films of Ang Lee, Eddie Burns, Alan Ball, Todd Field, Hal Hartley, Michel Gondry, Nicole Holofcener, and Todd Solondz, as well as his tenures at the San Francisco Film Society, Fandor, and Amazon Studios, taking readers through the decision-making process that brought him the occasional failure as well as much success. Whether navigating negotiations with studio executives over final cuts or clashing with high-powered CAA agents over their clients, Hope offers behind-the-scenes stories from the wild and often heated world of “specialized” cinema–where art and commerce collide. As mediator between these two opposing interests, Hope offers his unique perspective on how to make movies while keeping your integrity intact and how to create a sustainable business enterprise out of that art while staying true to yourself. Against a backdrop of seismic changes in the independent film industry, from corporate co-option to the rise of social media and the streaming giants, Hope for Film provides not only an entertaining and intimate ride through the business of arthouse movies over the last decades, but also hope for its future"-- "An inspiring, tell-all look at the indie film business from one of the industry's most passionate producers, Hope for Film captures the rebellious punk spirit of the indie film boom in 1990s New York City, its collapse two decades later and its current moment of technology-fueled regeneration. Ted Hope, whose films have garnered 12 Oscar nominations, draws from his own personal experiences working on the early films of Ang Lee, Eddie Burns, Hal Hartley, Michel Gondry, Nicole Holofcener, Todd Solondz and other indie mavericks, relating those decisions that brought him success as well as the occasional failure. Whether navigating negotiations with Harvey Weinstein over final cuts or clashing with high-powered CAA agents over their clients, Hope offers behind-the-scenes stories from the wild and often heated world of low-budget cinema-where art and commerce collide. As mediator between these two opposing interests, Hope offers his unique perspective on how to make movies while keeping your integrity intact and how to create a sustainable business enterprise out of that art while staying true to yourself. Against a backdrop of seismic changes in the indie-film industry, from corporate co-option to the rise of social media, Hope for Film provides not only an entertaining and intimate ride through the ups and downs of the business of art-house movies over the last 25 years, but also hope for its future"-- Provided by publisher Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 1. Inspiration 12 2. Patience 38 3. Joyfulness 62 4. Commitment 88 5. Ambition 114 6. Collaboration 130 7. Creativity 152 8. Time 176 9. Community 210 10. Change 234 Appendix: 141 Problems and Opportunities for the Independent Film World 266 Filmography 304 Index 306