Go Indie... MOVIES!
I just watched Saints and Soldiers, finally. I was really impressed - to the point where it may be one of my favorite war movies of all time (right up there with Glory, Das Boot, and Saving Private Ryan). I knew it was an indie film, but I figured it had to have a bigger-than-normal indie budget. But even for a budget of 5 to 10 million, they really stretched their dollar to bring something with lots of humanity - yet also a fair amount of action (especially at the end).

Then we watched the featurette on the "making of" Saints and Soldier. They mentioned that their budget was "UNDER A MILLION DOLLARS." I was floored. I still am floored. My new heroes are the re-enactors who volunteered their time, talents, equipment, costumes, and expertise to the movie. I know it's a common practice in movies to draw upon these groups, but WOW. I had no idea. Maybe if I'd watched the movie a few more times, I'd notice that you had the same four or five vehicles in all the scenes. Like how Star Wars: A New Hope only had two large ships in the hangar bay that they kept moving around to give an illusion of lots of fighters.

I guess it just goes to show what can be done with a lot of passion and creativity. And about how movies don't need to be about the greatest special effects and name actors.

Labels: Indie Evangelism

- posted by The Rampant Coyote @ 10:15 PM (Permalink)