"In a humorous twist, the strikes had a more profound impact on transforming the industry than COVID," assessed legendary independent film producer Christine Vachon during a session at the Industry Days program of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival on Tuesday.
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| Christine Vachon THEO WARGO/GETTY |
Her remarks were made during a fireside chat titled "The Independent Film Ecosystem and Production in the Changing Industry," where Vachon was joined by Jason Ropell, chief content officer of arthouse streaming service Mubi.
"Disruption creates chances and fosters evolution," argued Ropell. Vachon echoed this sentiment: "Jason borrowed one of my favorite lines," she quipped. "From great disruption comes great opportunity. I've witnessed many celebrations over the perceived demise of independent film."
"But she argued: 'It remains a business as long as there is demand for truly original stories, and I believe the industry continually proves that. Somehow, there will always be avenues to create and distribute them.'
Vachon also issued a caution: 'There's a lot of pessimism due to the significant disruptions. The strikes were challenging; I won't sugarcoat that. They certainly altered the industry in various ways.' She didn't elaborate further on those changes.
Instead, she pointed out positive signs: 'Every month, I see people gravitating towards those genuinely original stories, and I see audiences returning to theaters,' emphasized the seasoned industry figure.
She also reflected on the upheaval caused by COVID in the film industry, noting, 'It almost feels surreal now, thinking back on how we managed to make movies during COVID, but we did.'"
Ropell also emphasized that reports of indie film's demise were premature. "The independent sector is incredibly resilient. Throughout the history of independent film, there have been challenges and disruptions," he noted. "But the industry has consistently survived and thrived. I recognize that current disruptions may seem daunting—they always do."
His takeaway: "Things evolve, and the present moment is always the best time. This is real-time. Optimism is justified based on recent developments, such as the positive mood at Cannes. It bodes well for the future. A positive outlook on evolution is crucial for our progress."
Vachon summarized the role she and other industry figures play: "We navigate a film's path to marketability, which evolves with the times."
For her, certain elements are crucial. "It's about the script's originality and relevance to the zeitgeist. It's about the filmmaker's reputation or their fresh, bold approach that we believe in, which can attract top-tier talent," Vachon explained. "All these factors contribute to crafting a path that is both commercially viable and artistically distinctive."
Do creatives need to consider all this when pitching projects? "Great writers usually bring us projects they're deeply passionate about. Passion often indicates a compelling reason behind the idea, with ripple effects," Vachon shared.
Addressing industry shifts in the streaming era, Vachon emphasized the importance of theatrical releases during the KVIFF session. "In the early days of filmmaking, theatrical was everything. Even established ancillary markets like cable TV often didn't embrace our films. The success of our films relied heavily on their theatrical performance."
"As things have changed and evolved," Vachon noted, "young filmmakers are increasingly nuanced in their approach. They come to us with ideas for theatrical films, television series, miniseries, and content tailored for streaming platforms. This kind of nuanced thinking is a constant topic of discussion." She emphasized the critical question of a film's theatricality: "What will compel audiences to rush to theaters instead of waiting to watch at home?"
On Tuesday, Ropell also delved into the role of streaming in the evolving film landscape. "Streaming has significantly expanded the audience for various types of films, including independent cinema," he observed. "There's a new generation of viewers, customers, and cinephiles who have been exposed to films they otherwise wouldn't have accessed without streaming technology."
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| Jason Ropell, chief content officer of Mubi (left), and indie producer Christine Vachon at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival. COURTESY OF GEORG SZALAI |
His insight: "There's a growing demand and appreciation for this genre of cinema fostered by the early days of streaming. While the technology has brought disruption, it has also yielded many positive outcomes."
How does Ropell view Mubi? He described it as "a modern, globally scaled studio—an evolved form of studio." Elaborating further, he stated, "Mubi encompasses all aspects of modern studio operations—from development and production to agile distribution through our platform, and subsequent sales including foreign sales via Match Factory. It provides a comprehensive ecosystem for films, from inception to distribution a decade later. This setup aims to meet global demand for independent films and allows for diverse ways to support projects that interest us."
And he stressed their ambition for further expansion. "We aim to grow to meet audience demands," he emphasized. "Our ambition is to scale up to that level, which means we must have a global presence. This includes global theatrical distribution capabilities alongside our existing global streaming capabilities. Over time, you'll see us moving in that direction."
Regarding key ongoing projects, Vachon highlighted, "We've just completed filming Celine Song's new movie, 'Materialists.' Celine previously made 'Past Lives,' which premiered here in Karlovy Vary last year. It's been fantastic to work with her again and witness her growth as a filmmaker. I'm eager for post-production and the film's release."
She also mentioned an upcoming project with Todd Haynes and Joaquin Phoenix: "Todd is known for his diverse filmmaking style, never repeating himself. Each project with him is an adventure, and this one will be no different. I tend not to look much further ahead than that."
Asked about her perspective on the state of indie film beyond her projects, Vachon expressed, "I'm not one for nostalgia. I'm certain there's a vibrant group of young filmmakers and storytellers doing incredibly exciting work. My generation didn't invent it, nor do we own it. It's important to acknowledge that these stories exist, even if they don't always reach me because I'm not 25 anymore. I'm thrilled that they're out there."
This year, Vachon returns to KVIFF as a member of the main competition jury, following last year's honor from the festival.
