Zombies attack two affable department store security guards and maul each other to get the best Black Friday deals. Sounds like a pretty viable logline for the ever-popular buddy comedy-turned-zombie-thriller, right? Even more realistic is this faux-trailer, which might make for the basis of a great drinking game: take a shot every time you see a trope from the fine arts of trailer-cutting.
When you stop laughing, take a minute to look just below the surface of this apt seasonal spoof to investigate a question that could change your holiday season for the better. If you're giving gifts this year, can those gifts support indie film instead of corporate monoliths? We've got a few ideas.
1. Support a crowdfunding initiative
'Tis the season for giving. This idea can be a double whammy. You can peruse Kickstarter, IndieGoGo, or Seed&Spark for films-in-progress that might jive with your giftee's interests, and then donate to the campaign on his or her behalf. That way, you're helping an indie film get made and giving your friend a unique gift—which most likely includes having their name listed in a film's credits.
2. Regift those rewards
If you're looking to support a crowdfunding campaign but want your own name tied to the efforts, how about using your reward(s) as gifts? Often the rewards are very cool items: everything from other films made by that director, to original artwork or other one-of-a-kind items, to having the film's composer write a song in your (friend's) honor.
Movie swag from Cinemetal and Mondo
3. Buy the coolest film swag
There is an unbelievable wealth of apparel and merch out there for the film lovers in our lives, and the best part is that the profit from some of this stuff goes directly to indie cinemas and filmmakers. Some of our favorites are the vinyl soundtracks from recent indie favorites like A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night and The Greasy Strangler put out by Alamo Drafthouse affiliate Mondo, and the mashup Cinemetal T-shirts from the IFC Center in New York.
4. Gift certificate to your local indie theater
Got an indie theater or two in your area? This one's a no-brainer. Movie gift certificates have broad appeal for people with all different interests, and if you’re lucky, they'll even bring you along to the next screening.
5. Fandor for film fans
Even if you don't have an indie cinema near you, you can give the gift of films. People in your life might already subscribe to Netflix or Amazon Prime, but what about Fandor? This online streaming platform has thousands of hard-to-find contemporary films available, including many of the international and festival favorites that we cover here on No Film School. The best part? You can be pretty sure your gift is directly supporting indie filmmakers; Fandor gives an unprecedented 50% revenue share to their films' rights holders. Gift subscriptions start at only $25 for three months.
Got any ideas to add to this list? Let us know in the comments.
