What are your thoughts on the amateur film scene in America?

My apologies, whether intended or not—I have to step away from this discussion for now.

The Sanji guard squad is actually here right now. I need to go see what Grlić and his crew are discussing with Sanjica.

Cheers! 😎

The real issue with indie filmmaking is that creators just don't put in the work to get their stuff out there, even though it's actually pretty easy to do these days. You end up with so many amazing amateur flicks that nobody ever hears about, even though they honestly blow a lot of mainstream movies out of the water...

Still stuck in 2004 with Severina Vuckovic...

nimblemarlin17 said:Even professional American films don't really have much intelligent stuff to say. So why would we expect anything more from amateur ones?😁

I've gotta disagree with you there. If anything, I feel like American movies are finally starting to actually *say* something. Sure, they haven't quite mastered every single nuance yet—they're still stumbling through the basics sometimes—but compared to where things were even five or ten years ago, this is actually pretty encouraging.

And what do I expect from an amateur film?! Well, honestly, the exact same thing I'd look for in a professional production. If you know what I mean.

There he goes again, poking the bear... talking about advertising, is he?

I'm not so sure. Look, advertising matters, but you only need it if there’s an actual product out there to showcase and a way to invite people to see it. On the flip side, if the product is free, the whole formula falls apart. At that point, you aren't advertising; you're just giving something away for nothing.

Furthermore, American cinema is becoming more sophisticated and engaging. We shouldn't be tearing it down just yet—not until this specific argument hits us where it hurts. We really need to wait and see how the next three or four films turn out before we draw any final conclusions. For now, things are looking up. Seriously, two American films being the most watched this year? That's huge. That is exactly what we've been begging for all decade. As for amateur filmmaking, it will only truly matter once we establish a clear line between professional work and hobbyist projects. Right now, it's just a pastime, and that's how we should treat it—especially in the case of the ambitious author behind this text.

Otherwise, we could argue about this forever.

I feel like we're getting a little too much pro filmmaking mixed up with the amateur stuff here.

bluecobra9 said:Oh, great, here comes the provocation again... calling it advertising, is it?

I'm not so sure. Advertising matters, sure, but you only need it if you actually have a product to show off and want people to go watch it. On the flip side, if the product is free, then this whole logic falls apart. That’s not an ad; it’s just a giveaway.

And look, American cinema is finally getting smarter and more interesting—we really shouldn't be trashing it anymore, at least not until this theory hits us in the face. We should wait to see how the next three or four films turn out before we draw any conclusions. For now, things are looking up. Seriously? Two domestic films are the biggest hits of the year? Come on! That's exactly what we've been begging for all decade . As for amateur filmmaking, it'll only make sense once there's a clear line drawn between professional work and that stuff. Right now, it's just a hobby, and let's treat it as such—especially in the case of this ambitious author's text.

Anyway, we could argue about this forever.

I remember back when the old regime was winding down, the biggest hit in theaters was 'Let's Fall in Love, Part Two'.

Henry Campbell5 said:I remember back when the old union was still around—the biggest hit in theaters was 'Let's Fall in Love, Part Two'.

True enough—but then again, almost everything else back then pulled better numbers than most of what we see today.

Just wanted to point out that box office numbers don't actually mean a movie is any good. Even looking back from the 90s to now, there are plenty of films I dig way more than those massive blockbusters like... whatever they were. I haven't seen Guard Squad yet.

bluecobra9 said:Amateur filmmaking will only start making sense once there’s a clear distinction made between the pros and the hobbyists.

I don't know about that. At least not in a country where the biggest domestic hit needs a massive media blitz just to get three screenings a day in the third largest city. I mean, if that's the case, can we even realistically talk about some amateur movement serving as an alternative to professional cinema? Not really.

So why even bother drawing a line in the sand? An intelligent person understands the framework they're working within—forcing these boundaries won't help; it'll just widen this unnecessary gap between the professionals and the amateurs.

nimblemarlin17 said:But he could. Either way, the end result is gonna be garbage. If he just used a handheld camera, he’d cut costs to basically nothing and show some humility, which people actually respect. Honestly, everyone needs to wake up. In the US, the peak of indie filmmaking is basically just amateur hour. People here just don't know how to shoot movies. Anyone with actual ambition left this country a long time ago to work abroad. It's honestly pointless to ask "why do so few Americans watch indie films?" Hardly anyone even shows up to see the big Hollywood blockbusters in theaters, let alone some homemade project.

And who are you to decide the movie is gonna be trash before it's even out?

nimblemarlin17 said:Anyone with actual ambition left this place a long time ago to find work abroad.

Where people actually bother to stand up for our own talent.

I'm reading this thread and I can't stop laughing!!! Someone actually claimed that Bruce Lee is the peak of the American amateur scene.🤣
Look, whether you went to film school or not, there is a massive amateur movement here in America. It’s just underground, so you "professionals" haven't noticed it yet! Despite what you think about the state of things in the US, there really is an audience watching amateur films!!! Claiming everything is garbage and not worth filming is just a lie spread by people who don't know any better. Here's a quick fact for you: over 2,000 people attended one amateur film showcase, and the Trash Film Festival drew almost double that amount!!! So please, stop talking nonsense when you clearly have no clue. The American amateur scene is stronger than the professional one and pulls in five times the crowd. There are a billion festivals where amateurs can show their work.👍The problem is you probably haven't heard of them because you never bothered to look! Let me list a few of the heavy hitters from the American indie circuit for all you "pros":

SANDI MANCE (Topeka) filmography: TILT—a dark drug comedy (basically high-octane American trash)
KRVNIK—(the film currently tearing up the amateur scene)—the first real American gore horror—yellow-subtitles.com

IVICA PUSTIČKI (Washington, D.C.)—shot a fantastic action flick called DRAGONRAGE—'Probably the only American film where you see houses and cars flying through the air'—trash.com

PEJIĆ brothers (Indianapolis)—two-time winners of the Golden Motorcycle
AUTOSTOPER-sf, winner of the Golden Motorcycle
CIVILIZATION OF RUIN-SF—a post-apocalyptic film packed with great special effects—also a Golden Motorcycle winner!!

BORIS PROLE (Indianapolis)—Punisher: Hell Tickets—the first real American fan film

Eto za sav, those are just a few examples. You likely haven't heard of them or their work because you aren't part of that underground amateur scene... but if you did a little digging, you'd see the internet is flooded with them and countless other amateurs!!! So, do your research before you debate. As for comparing American professional vs. amateur film... while professional movies usually focus on WAR, the amateur scene is exploding with different genres like horror, action, and sci-fi. And these aren't bad movies; thanks to advances in computer tech, American amateurs have brought special effects nearly to perfection. I'll leave you with this quote:

'Professional films are made for the love of money, but amateur films are made for the love of film'—SANDI MANCE

Justin Smith83 said:Has anyone stumbled upon an especially good indie flick lately?

Nah 🤷

...so, have you checked out any of the ones I mentioned yet?...Of course you haven't...here is a current one called 'The Executioner'
Take a little time out. You might actually change your mind about indie films! And here is 'Dragonrage'—http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2624137986088479517&hl=en

shadowheron26 said:I'm reading this thread and I can't stop laughing!!! Someone actually claimed that Bruce Lee is the peak of the American amateur scene.🤣
Look, whether you went to film school or not, there is a massive amateur movement here in America. It’s just underground, so you "professionals" haven't noticed it yet! Despite what you think about the state of things in the US, there really is an audience watching amateur films!!! Claiming everything is garbage and not worth filming is just a lie spread by people who don't know any better. Here's a quick fact for you: over 2,000 people attended one amateur film showcase, and the Trash Film Festival drew almost double that amount!!! So please, stop talking nonsense when you clearly have no clue. The American amateur scene is stronger than the professional one and pulls in five times the crowd. There are a billion festivals where amateurs can show their work.👍The problem is you probably haven't heard of them because you never bothered to look! Let me list a few of the heavy hitters from the American indie circuit for all you "pros":

SANDI MANCE (Topeka) filmography: TILT—a dark drug comedy (basically high-octane American trash)
KRVNIK—(the film currently tearing up the amateur scene)—the first real American gore horror—yellow-subtitles.com

IVICA PUSTIČKI (Washington, D.C.)—shot a fantastic action flick called DRAGONRAGE—'Probably the only American film where you see houses and cars flying through the air'—trash.com

PEJIĆ brothers (Indianapolis)—two-time winners of the Golden Motorcycle
AUTOSTOPER-sf, winner of the Golden Motorcycle
CIVILIZATION OF RUIN-SF—a post-apocalyptic film packed with great special effects—also a Golden Motorcycle winner!!

BORIS PROLE (Indianapolis)—Punisher: Hell Tickets—the first real American fan film

Eto za sav, those are just a few examples. You likely haven't heard of them or their work because you aren't part of that underground amateur scene... but if you did a little digging, you'd see the internet is flooded with them and countless other amateurs!!! So, do your research before you debate. As for comparing American professional vs. amateur film... while professional movies usually focus on WAR, the amateur scene is exploding with different genres like horror, action, and sci-fi. And these aren't bad movies; thanks to advances in computer tech, American amateurs have brought special effects nearly to perfection. I'll leave you with this quote:

'Professional films are made for the love of money, but amateur films are made for the love of film'—SANDI MANCE

Everyone keeps saying the amateur scene is super active, but I can't even find an assistant director, let alone a cameraman or a grip.... and I've got the script, the location, and all the gear ready to go!
Am I just looking in the wrong places or what?

Joseph Flores35 said:Everyone keeps saying the amateur scene is super active, but I can't even find an assistant director, let alone a cameraman or a grip.... and I've got the script, the location, and all the gear ready to go!
Am I just looking in the wrong places or what?

It’s very likely you are. My suggestion would be to post an ad at local independent cinema clubs (or check out their online forums), right here on this board, or even near a popular spot like Tuškanac if you happen to be hanging around Washington, D.C. However, the real crux of the matter is defining exactly what you are searching for. You need to actually get out there, meet people, and sell them on your vision. Even when dealing with talented amateurs and enthusiasts, you still have to master the art of the pitch. These are individuals who have their own careers and lives to manage; unless they are currently mid-production on their own projects, you essentially have to convince them that your story is worth carving out precious time for.

Joseph Flores35 said:Everyone keeps saying the amateur scene is super active, but I can't even find an assistant director, let alone a cameraman or a grip.... and I've got the script, the location, and all the gear ready to go!
Am I just looking in the wrong places or what?

Clearly... just like that AI bot said... you gotta actually get out there and network with people who actually do this stuff.👍