Theres room in the world for both of these things.
Weve seen Hollywood fold its hand and ask to be dealt out of the pandemic.
Its every movie for itself until further notice.
And YouTube hasnt exactly swept in to fill the gap.
And secondly, what could the YouTube world do during a pandemic it wasnt already doing?
Its not like the platform isnt already flooded with people stuck inside using smart phones to make videos.
The inherit problem is that venerable old Hollywoodisthe status quo.
And YouTube, well, its not the fresh upstart with big ideas from little people it once was.
In either world youre typically beholden to doing things a certain way if you want to be successful.
But the status quo no longer exists, its been put on indefinite hiatus.
Worse, people could die.
And that means on-screen talent too.
I first noticed quarantine cinema on NetflixsTiger Kingdocuseries.
The entire episode used remote filming techniques (everyone on screen filmed themselves alone).
Not bad for an episode of what might turn out to be the biggest TV show of 2020.
Other filmmakers are putting their casts together in new and innovative ways.
TNW spoke with independent filmmaker Andrew Shearer, the founder of DIY film studioGonzorriffic.
But not all of its bad.
Weve used iPhones, DSLRs, and whatever we can get our hands on.
Im not opposed to shooting with a GoPro.
Weve shot on VHS.
Its more about having fun and working with talented people.
Best of all, anyone can create quarantine cinema.
Every shot mattered, every edit could be gut-wrenching, and reshoots were enough to give a producer apoplexy.
In those days, cinematic victory was handed to the wealthy or the clever.
Until the pandemic hit, it looked like B-movies and DIY underground cinema was dying off.
As Shearer told us:
Technology has always been our friend.
But now, its more than just having a way to film a project.
Its about getting out of bed.
Having something to look forward to is a blessing in itself.
And what we do is unique and fun because its made by people who are unique and having fun.
But when life hands you plague lemons, you make plague lemonade.
Its time for a return to celebrating the biggest, boldest creative minds in film.
We need more B-movie and proud!
Heres hoping the post-pandemic entertainment world learns something from the DIY spirit behind todays quarantine cinema.
Also, consider this my formal petition for Gonzoriffic to makeSpace Boobs in Space Part 2.
Its the quarantine movie we deserve and need.
