Besides being independent of the studio
system (and of pining away for their greenlights), we're also independent of film schools -- and their tuition rates. Why spend thousands of dollars on school equipment and a student crew, when you can spend a LOT
less renting latest-technology equipment and hiring a professional crew?
Additionally, film schools are filled with tech
talk. You'll learn a lot about microphones (there are two things you need to know about microphones), but few people know
how to teach story-telling as a craft in it of itself. Film schools often communicate, subtly or not so subtly, that
the ability to tell good stories is something you either have in you or not, but that it can't be taught.
Ela Thier's screenwriting workshop. Photograph by Guy Shahar
Ela Thier's Independent Film School is
about the craft of story-telling which we believe is a learnable skill. Like everything else, the more you do it, the better
you get at it. And if you find the courage to be yourself, you'll do it in an original and interesting way. How do you write
a script that readers can't put down? How do you get the performance you want from your actors? How do you plan out shots
that infuse your film with meaning and emotion? We're not about the shiny equipment.
We're about what you do with that equipment to tell unforgettable stories.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
Filmmakers today are in a position
to profoundly shape society. Create an inspiring youtube video for no money, and millions of people will watch it. Remember the Free Hugs guy? Nearly 42 million people watched his video, not counting the millions that watched
the "sequels". The come-back Julia Roberts movie, Duplicity, with all the
studio power and money behind it, grossed sixty million. That means that about 6 million people watched it. I guess people
prefer hugs to duplicity…?
Additionally,
technology keeps making it easier to create professional-looking films with little or no money.
With enough confidence and a good group of people working with you, you can be a filmmaker. You don't need anyone's permission.
The Independent Film School (IFS), founded and run by Ela
Thier and based in New York City, is committed to providing you with serious, craft-based workshops that are designed to boost
both confidence and connections. With friends and confidence, everything else follows:
skill, creativity, staying power.
Every workshop at
IFS has a networking component. We know that artists are shy; you won't be fending for yourself, squirming as you give out
business cards. Benefit from guided exercises that facilitate productive introductions, follow-ups, and collaborative relationships
on an on-going basis. Our effective networking tools will come in handy everywhere
else you go as well.
Secondly, what
all our workshops have in common is our confidence in you. No other artist, no matter how accomplished, is more significant
than you. Your desire alone, to create a script or a film, is all the evidence we need to
know that you are a true artist. In a non-judgmental and encouraging environment, where no question
is too basic and no idea is ridiculed, we'll be working together to create a greenhouse that turns creative
seeds into forests.
But our
unconditional enthusiasm for your efforts does not mean being lax on standards. We know that the
more one masters their craft, the more inventive they become. Our feedback is honest and rigorous because having high expectations,
of everyone, regardless of age, gender, race, experience or background, is key to artistic growth.
You don't need to wait for someone to greenlight
your project. We've already greenlit your project, and we don't even care if you know yet what it's about. If you want
to make a movie, we'd be honored to be a part of it.
Oh, and by the way, the free hugs are a youtube oldie by now,
but if you haven't yet seen it, it's a classic:
