Promoting your film is apparently getting harder for Indie Films, with the ad-blocking of edgy productions, according to Anthony Kaufman of Filmmaker Magazine.
Here’s a quote:
“Indeed, in an age where digital marketing and distribution is the most widespread and efficient way to reach audiences, many independent filmmakers and small distribution companies are complaining that platform content restrictions are hurting their business. What’s more, the company’s strict policies have even created an industry-wide chill, with some executives saying they won’t even acquire “edgy” new films because they know they won’t be able to market or release them widely online.”
How do we then challenge the control of the cultural narrative and the growth of State power?
How do we as Indie producers promote and distribute our work, if the films we make are censored by the algorithms of conformity?
Kafka’s ghost, appears to be haunting our world again! But then he would encourage us in this plight:
“Don’t bend; don’t water it down; don’t try to make it logical; don’t edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly.” Franz Kafka.
https://filmmakermagazine.com/125074-doc-and-art-film-blocking-how-algor...
2 people like this
I guess my only thought here is maybe we need a more separation within the word Edgy. some of the films that were referenced in the article, in my opinion, go a bit over what I consider edgy, which may just be a difference in perspective.
For billion dollar companies perspective is equivalent to bottom line, so although I don’t like what it sounds like is happening, from a business stance it makes sense.
I guess ultimately in short what is Edgy?
1 person likes this
Vega Montanez yeah, I see what you mean Vega. Edgy seems to be a definitive term, but it’s actually quite vague when you try and define it. Maybe it’s like a metaphor. Once you try and dissect it, it just falls apart? When I think of edgy I think of a film like Oskar Roehler’s Atomised. It focuses on those at the margins of society; people who in this way are part of a non-conformist narrative on the edge of reality. So maybe for me, edgy means stories which don’t comply to characters in mainstream culture, but are marginalised and therefore form a different narrative than we expect.
There you go, that my two cents worth!