Without getting too bogged down in insider film stuff, there's a dirty little industry secret I'd like to share with you. Even if a filmmaker makes a movie that plays a major festival and wins a few awards, that doesn't guarantee them a distribution deal. And even if they do get hooked up with a respected company, that doesn't mean that they'll ever see a dime of profit. It's a hard knock life, which might explain why for every "Juno" there are five movies like "The House Bunny."

Take first-time filmmaker Lance Hammer, whose stark, gritty drama about life in the Mississippi Delta, "Ballast" (which won directing and cinematography awards at this year's Sundance Film Festival) is slated to open at the Sundance Cinemas Kabuki this Friday night. The question on our minds: Why did he recently decide to break a deal with IFC Films and self-distribute his debut instead?

"It's a combination of creative control and a financial issue," Hammer explains. "The most important part is creative control because that's the concept of indie film—very personal voices. I respond to artists with singular voices, who can pursue a process without making any compromises. That's the way I made this project. But when you sign a contract with a big company that's not possible. You give away your work to them. Because of the nature of the market, distributors cannot offer up money for an advance. I think if you're giving it away for free, you should at least be able to demand creative control."

The unconventional end product, which is soundtrack-free, full of mumbled dialogue, and quite possibly the most interesting film we've seen this year—makes a move that many might consider crazy well worth the risk.

The Sundance Cinemas Kabuki is located at 1881 Post Street (415) 346-3243.

Similar Topics:film, indie, Sundance Film Festival

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