indiewire.com
Every once in a while, an online media platform completely revolutionizes the way we consume a certain kind of media. Netflix did it with the way that people access to films and television series. Facebook did it by offering us a whole new way to socialize online. And Amazon all but reinvented the act of shopping. There are, however, plenty of smaller sites that have played equally pivotal roles in their respective niches. Many of which all too frequently go unjustifiably unsung.
Respect when somebody has the vision to create something brand-new - especially when that thing is as useful as it is inventive. When somebody has the wherewithal to provide you with a resource that makes your hobby or interest easier to enjoy, it can be a complete game changer. Especially when that interest is perhaps less mainstream or widely shared as, say, shopping or socializing.
This is why IndieWire is excellent - particularly for movie fans of independent cinema. Indie films, although loved by many, are still considered a niche. That is to say that there are fewer indie film lovers than there are casual Hollywood blockbuster moviegoers. Indie films have taken on something of a cult following, typically attracting people who appreciate the more subtle and artistic sides of the cinema.
Nonetheless, prior to IndieWire's launch, there was nothing like it to be found anywhere on the vast internet. Full of news and reviews of all things related to independent films, it quickly became an invaluable resource for indie cinephiles everywhere. Information and reviews that were previously much more difficult to come across (due to independents' lack of mainstream recognition and pop culture appeal) suddenly had a convenient and efficient home page.
The website IndieWire quickly rose to notoriety in 1997, receiving plenty of acclaim and praise from professional writers, film critics, and fans of indie films alike. For instance, Janelle Brown writing for Wired said of IndieWire in 1997, "Currently, IndieWire has little to no competition: trades like The Hollywood Reporter and Variety may cover independent film, but from a Hollywood perspective, hidden by a huge amount of mainstream news. As filmmaker Doug Wolens points out, IndieWire is one of the few places where filmmakers can consistently and reliably keep on top of often-ignored small film festivals, which films are opening and what other filmmakers are thinking."
Furthermore, Forbes magazine has been famously praised by IndieWire website in 2002 by applauding it in the "Cinema Appreciation" category of their "Best of the Web" list. Forbes also highlighted IndieWire's potential as a useful tool for independent filmmakers to network, citing its "message boards teeming with filmmakers." Legendary film critic, Roger Ebert has also gone on the record to recommend IndieWire, as well as eventually going as far as hiring IndieWire blogger, Matt Zoller Seitz as the editor-in-chief of his own website, rogerebert.com.
History
IndieWire was officially launched on July 15th, 1996 as an online newsletter dedicated to independent film. The site began as a free daily email newsletter created by a small collective of filmmakers and writers from both New York City and Las Angeles, California: Eugene Hernandez, Mark Rabinowitz, Cheri Barner, Roberto A. Quezada, and Mark L. Feinsod.
Although IndieWire's readership initially consisted of just a few hundred subscribers, it grew in popularity quickly. By the time the fall of 1997 rolled around, IndieWire was boasting over 6,000 subscribers.
1997 was a very big year for this scrappy startup. In January of that year, IndieWire made its first appearance at the Sundance Film Festival, one of the most reputable annual indie film festivals of all time. Thus, they began their in-depth coverage of indie festivals, which is now known as IndieWire: On the Scene. This new section of the publication appeared both in print dailies and on their website.
In July of 2008, IndieWire acquired Snag Films. This gave the site a larger budget, which it used to branch out and redesign itself in January 2009. This included a sleeker website design and the stylization of IndieWIRE as simply IndieWire.
As of 2016, IndieWire has become a subsidiary company of Penske Media Corporation. It currently has a staff of about 20 writers, including James Israel (publisher), Dana Harris (editor-in-chief), Eric Kohn (chief critic), and Anne Thompson (editor-at-large).
Design
Speaking of IndieWire's key redesign, I really like what they did with the site. It is very sleek and clean-cut. A lot of film review sites can get bogged down and cluttered by trying to lump way too much information and content into one cramped space on the page, but IndieWire has avoided making the mistake of its contemporaries (thankfully).
The information on the website is easy to read, easy to find, and it is both user-friendly and stylish. I really appreciate the minimalist approach that the site took with its rebranding; a simple white background with blue and black lettering looks classic and stylish to me.
At the top of the page is a site menu bar that allows you to browse any corner of IndieWire with ease. Just select from News, Film, TV, Awards, Toolkit (more on that in a bit), or More. Below that, a list of some of the site's trending topics and one more pace down you will see a few articles that IndieWire has deemed "Must Reads." This page naturally and gently guides the eye in a logical and effective order.
Content
IndieWire is a great resource for indie film reviews. They have a robust news section, where you can keep up with the inner workings of the independent film industry. Here, you can find recent acquisitions, new and upcoming releases, box office numbers, and a schedule of film fests.
Indiewire is now reviewing television series. They don't seem to stick to just the independents, and they have plenty of interviews, videos, awards show beats, information on the craft of filmmaking, and podcasts (which are rife with useful resources and think pieces specifically for filmmakers).
Pricing and Plans
Visit IndieWire to explore our content and find the latest reviews and insider industry information. There are no limits on how many articles you can read, and there are no paywalls to speak of. No subscription fees. Just free news, reviews, and insider industry info.
I'm not sure if IndieWire gets much ad revenue, but I think it's worth it because of all the great writing there. Advertisements are a small price to pay for the quality of IndieWire's content.
Desktop and Mobile Experience
The IndieWire app is truly excellent and provides an excellent experience for film lovers on both iOS and Android devices. The sleek, minimalist design and user-friendliness of the app is very similar to the website, without any noticeable flaws. I really appreciate how well the app compliments the site's theme and style, which makes it a great user experience overall.
Suggestions that I have for IndieWire
I don't have a lot of suggestions for this site. It is an institution of film criticism and news, and it has been doing great work for years. But I suppose if I had to take issue with anything, it would be the ads. Perhaps IndieWire could consider offering a premium tier membership of some sort in order to supplement some of the revenue brought in by selling ad space. Just a thought.
Conclusion
If you are looking for the authority on indie films, television, film festivals, and entertainment news, IndieWire has you covered. Whether you are an aspiring filmmaker yourself or just love indie movies, we have the information you need.
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