That is an interesting question when you consider the success of United Artists. No not the one recently restructured with Tom Cruise, the one that dates back a few years.
The organisation created out of “The Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers” which was founded in 1941; by Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin, Walt Disney, Orson Welles, Samuel Goldwyn, David O. Selznick, Alexander Korda, and Walter Wanger.
Many of these became the founders of United Artists and although it wasn’t exactly a co-op it was formed to be a solution to the monopolistic practices of the major film studios of the time. To provide a vehicle for new, young and exciting producers, directors and writers.
The Indy Film Co-op is a modern equivalent but not formed with such aspirations to challenge the studio system or replace mid budget Independent production organisations but to encourage people who love film and can contribute to a group of filmmakers and who want to make low budget movies for the fun of it.
No, this isn’t an invitation to make cheap youtube masterpieces or porno movies for college graduates but to join a collective of like minded individuals who want to make films to entertain and movies that others will want to watch.
Years ago when cinemas use to show two films in a presentation, one of the movies would be affectingly known as the B-Movie and many wonderful film gems were created as the support movie for the main feature.
From classics such as “The Night of the Living Dead” to pictorial statements of an age like “A Boy and His Dog. Giving opportunities to filmmakers like Roger Corman, actors such as Vincent Price, writers like Robert Towne and directors as famous as Francis Ford Coppola.
The Indy Film Co-op wants to capture today’s breeding ground of up and coming talent and provide a means for their expression, passion and creativity by generating a place of opportunities for those that want to contribute.
Now the big word is contribute, that is the essence of a co-op. It is not a place for someone to walk in and think they are owed an opening or a facility to provide them with everything they need to become a filmmaker.
It is a place to learn, participate, grow, meet people and make movies by helping others make movies who in turn will help you make movies as part of The Indy Film Co-op.
Ron Aberdeen , Ross on Wye United Kingdom
