How do you define an exploitation? Not really a clear narrative – more about the visual elements
Excessive
You have films that are violent, then you have films that explot violence which are much more violent
An exploitation filmis any film which tries to succeed financially by “exploiting” a current trend, a niche genre, or a lurid subject matter. Subjects these films exploitinclude, but aren’t limited to, sex, violence, or romance.
Not designed to appeal to everyone – very niche, demographic not broad, so less big overall – don’t cost as much to make, but don’t expect to get a lot of $
One niche of independent cinema
Independednt: Miramax
Independent: themes they revisit, character
All Australian films are to an extent independent
Sex lies and video tape – a hook to lure audiences, no actual sex in the film – just spoke about sex
Independent films: actively reflexive
Dialogue is emphasised as “talk is cheap”
Generally a lack of a sense of resolution
Wyatt, Justin. ‘The Formation of the ‘Major Independent: Miramax, New Line and the New Hollywood’ in Steve Neale & Murray Smith (eds.) Contemporary Hollywood Cinema. London & New York: Routledge, 1986, p74-90
So many new companies are joinging the low-budget bandwagon due to home video.
The major independents have fragmented the marketplace for independent film further and further – through producing films parallel to the majors and through stressing art house acquistions which have the potential to cross over to a wider market
Staiger, Janet. ‘Independent of What?’ in Geoff King, Claire Molloy & Yannis Tzioumakis (eds.) American Independent Cinema: Indie, Indiewood and Beyond. London & New York: Routledge, 2013. p15-27
Jaw strategy: distribute both independent (to service niche markets) and big budget (for mass distribution)
Perren, Alisa. ‘Sex, Lies and Marketing: Miramax and the Development of the ‘Quality Indie’ Blockbuster. Film Quarterly, Vol 5, No. 2, 2001. p30-39
The August 1989 relaease of sex, lies and videotape by Miramax marked a turning point in American independent cinema, In tfact, the film should be perceived as central to the development of New Hollywod aesthetics, economicsm and structure
