ABSTRACT
Some independent film financiers feel incapable of playing script doctor or may be in the game to have fun and take chances, and therefore may be more hands off than their studio counterparts when it comes to development. Often times, script development and finalizing a script are the least of an independent filmmaker’s problems. Since scripts meant for independent production are usually written before a financing party has been identified, filmmakers get to write exactly what they want to write. Of course, the logistics involved in lower-budget independent filmmaking must be considered when developing stories. Sometimes independent filmmakers have an excellent script, an experienced director, and cast members, but no money. In the 1970s and 1980s, independent producers could realistically hope to finance, produce, and get their own shows on the air. There are companies that specialize in independent film distribution, such as IFC Films, Roadside Attractions, A24 Films, Tribeca Film, Samuel Goldwyn Films, Strand Releasing, and Screen Media.
