I've watched over a half-hour of AMC's sanitized version of today's 2009 Independent Spirit Awards--and it's time for a profound change to be made.
Most winners tend to be the "independent" films that aren't shoestring-budget affairs but moderate-t0-big scale offerings which have recognizable mainstream actors and secure distribution deals with major studio boutique divisions (Sony Classics, Fox Searchlight, Universal's Focus Features, etc. etc.)
Cases in point so far include Penelope Cruz (Supporting Actress for VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA), James Franco (Best Supporting Actor for MILK) and Dustin Lance Black (First Screenplay for MILK).
As the Sundance festival inadvertently begat Slamdance, so must the Independent Spirit Awards split itself, amoeba-like into two categories. The larger-budget, star-and-"name"-behind-the-camera talent-driven films can compete for all the Spirits they wish. But a separate awards ceremony should be created to honor the achievements of actors, writers and directors making microbudget features/shorts--which get nonstudio distribution--in hopes of (for the most part) eventually receiving studio backing--where it becomes a bit more challenging to balance the worthy goal of artistic independence with turning a profit in the theatrical/video marketplaces.
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