Rewriting Indie Cinema: Improvisation, Psychodrama, and the Screenplay

Rewriting Indie Cinema explores alternative scripting approaches used by independent filmmakers since the 1950s, allowing for more complex characterization and a shift from the page to performance. It traces a strain of indie cinema that used improvisation and psychodrama, and demonstrates how this has blurred the divide between fiction and nonfiction.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 360 pages
\n Publication date: 16 April 2019
\n Publisher: Columbia University Press
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Rewriting Indie Cinema delves into the realm of alternative scripting techniques employed by key independent filmmakers since the 1950s, challenging the traditional screenplay format. This captivating book, authored by J. J. Murphy, explores the evolution of American film from the era of John Cassavetes and Shirley Clarke to the present-day mumblecore movement. Murphy traces a lineage of indie cinema that embraced improvisation and psychodrama, a therapeutic form of improvised acting rooted in personal experiences.

Beginning in the 1950s and 1960s, Murphy highlights the work of independent directors such as John Cassavetes, Shirley Clarke, Barbara Loden, Andy Warhol, Norman Mailer, William Greaves, and others who sought to forge a new path in narrative cinema. These filmmakers pushed the boundaries of traditional storytelling, employing techniques that blurred the lines between fiction and nonfiction.

In the twenty-first century, filmmakers like Gus Van Sant, the Safdie brothers, Joe Swanberg, and Sean Baker continued this tradition, leveraging the freedom and versatility offered by digital technology. Rewriting Indie Cinema meticulously analyzes key films and dissects their innovative scripting techniques, showcasing how filmmakers have sought to capture the nuanced intricacies of everyday behavior.

Through its comprehensive exploration, the book offers a fresh perspective on American indie filmmaking, challenging Hollywood's industrial practices and offering a deeper understanding of the creative process. Murphy's insightful analysis provides a valuable contribution to film studies, shedding light on the evolution of indie cinema and its profound impact on the art form.

\n Weight: 494g\n
Dimension: 153 x 227 x 22 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780231191975\n \n