JohnLocke'sBlog

January 2024

Greetings, once again.

The aim of this Blog remains, as always, to assist in the promotion of the independent film industry worldwide.

The Blog has been running now for five years. In that time we have had the honour to meet, speak with and cover the filmmaking of numerous independent filmmakers and their associates. We have demonstrated time and again how much can be achieved with limited budget, modest means but a burning desire to make films.

This work to make independent films takes place with very little finance, backing or expectation of the kind of investment and promotion that some of the excellent commercial studios enjoy. Most of the independent  films made here will never make it to the commercial circuit and will struggle even to recoup their production costs. Yet the work and the creativity goes on. Examples of this extraordinary work will continue to be featured here with reviews, promotional material, photographs and opportunity for discussion and exposure for the filmmakers concerned.

Despite the lack of ready finance there are always examples of independent film makers who make it to the main circuit, with a distributor, or who, successfully, hawk their work around door to door on the independent circuit and who, in some cases, actually make their money back! And there are shining examples from history of the cinema. Cocteau’s 1946 Beauty and the Beast was made with no budget at all at a time when millions across post-war Europe were starving. It set the standard for special effects that is still followed today. Only ten years later, in 1956, Lamorissa’s The Red Balloon was also made on a tiny budget and has delighted the World ever since.

So, this site will also reflect, rather than review, classic films. But the emphasis here will be on how the great film makers achieved stunning effects on relatively low budgets by today’s standards. The point of this will be to emphasise to young, up and coming film makers, that the size of your budget should not inhibit you in your film making. It is quite possible to achieve stunning effects these days at very little extra cost indeed. Modern examples will also be indicated. I will also seek to indicate modern equipment that may be of interest.

One final note on this: I hope this Blog will help to promote this wonderful industry of ours in all its shades, in all its forms. So whatever aspect of the industry in which you happen to be involved whether on the technical side, writer, director, producer, performer, whatever if you have something you think I should write about or feature then let me know. I will be only too happy to assist.

The principle of the Blog will always be positive. There are enough critics out there ready to knock down, this Blog will only help build and support. If you wish a promotional piece about your work, your film or your ambitions then please feel free to contact me: johnlockeactor@gmail.com

One final recommendation for 2024 to all rising film-makers: Join the International Moving Image Society. This excellent, ancient, film organisation, created at the very dawn of the industry, has gone through a substantial revamp and offers unparalleled opportunities to network and build connections. Take a look at what it does and how it might help you! Link below!

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Blessings and happy film-making!

Thank you

John Locke (January 2024)

Please note: As of January 2024 there is no sponsorship or other advertising revenue for this site. We answer to no-one but the independent filmmakers Worldwide!