U Weekly. Serving The Ohio State University in Columbus Ohio

The art of independents

By Reyan Ali

Let's face it: Ohio gets a bad rap when it comes to the general perception of its "cultural relevance." Yet, unbeknownst to elitist bicoastal naysayers that are quick to assume that the Buckeye State is lacking artistic homegrown talent, small armies of Central Ohio-bred minds are at work at any given moment aiming to create and disseminate their original material. The Cowtown film series running weekly Sept. 11 through Nov.13 is a prime example of how many fresh names there are that are just are just waiting to burst through the gates of the Midwest. By the conclusion of the series, a total of eleven films spanning a variety of types will have been screened (in addition to a number of short films) from filmmakers originating from as close as Columbus to as far away as Ironton (Southern Ohio) and Cleveland (Northern Ohio). As it turns out, Ohio is indeed alive and thriving.

Singularly curated by local filmmaker Peter John Ross to showcase the latest material from a group of creators that are "just people [he] knew," each screening will include a full 90-minute-long feature, bumpered by short films. The genres of the features run the gamut from week to week: There's "The Courier," (September 18) an action movie about the dangerous life of a delivery man filmed in hi-def; "Johnny Appleweed," (October 2) a stoner comedy ; "The Rapture," (October 9) an ambitious sci-fi epic; and "Horrors of War," (November 13) a WWII fright-flick involving Nazi zombies and werewolves. Each film will be followed by a Q&A with its creator(s).

The circumstances of each film's creation are as disparate as the diversity in genres: One project has taken 12 years to finish, another a year. If the series proves to be successful, plans will be underway for at least three more films created in the beginning of next year for a whole new series.

Perhaps more important than the inception of the series itself is what it signifies in a culture dominated by big budget films manufactured by big studios: With today's easily available technology, digital filmmaking can become anyone's game. Some of the movies in the Cowtown series are shot on film, some on high-definition video, others using $800 camcorders, and even some others significantly thriftier equipment like Super 8 cameras. As Ross notes, "[Digital video] doesn't look like cheap video anymore, giving a very cinematic look to what you are doing on video," referring to the style's outdated aesthetic associations with either "talk shows, the news, or cheap porn." Much has changed: "Ten years ago, you were either a professional or amateur, [but] now there's this middle ground of semi-professional filmmakers." He points to OSU-based filmmaking collective Reel Buckeye Productions as one of the local forces that are taking the premise of populist creation to its most logical conclusion. As affordable design methods only scratch at the surface of creative possibility, these new means allow filmmaking to reach the hands of individuals who intend to make the most of the medium.

Yet, even as methods of production quickly evolve, the purpose of creating a film still remains the same. As Ross remarks, "What really matters is that a story is being told. Sometimes, [a film in the Cowtown film series] might not be as technically adept as another one, but they're all good stories." The process of creation will be also forever be unwavering in its difficulty: "Making a movie is easy. Making a good movie is incredibly hard."

Tickets for each film are available at $3 each or a $10 pass for the entire series. Each film premieres at 7 p.m. on Thursday night, varying according to the week. Even as they are unrated, the majority of the films lean toward R ratings. For more information on the Cowtown film series and the full schedule, visit http://cowtown.sonnyboo.com.

Originally Published: September 17, 2008

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