American Independent Cinema

YANNIS TZIOUMAKIS is a senior lecturer in screen studies at Liverpool John Moores University.

• Introduction : problems of definition and the discourse of American independent cinemaPart 1. American independent cinema in the studio years (mid-1920s-late 1940s).1. Independent filmmaking in the studio era : tendencies within the studio system2. Independent filmmaking in the studio era : the Poverty Row studios (1930-50s)Part 2. American independent cinema in the post-studio era (late 1940s-late 1960s).3. Independence by force : the effects of the Paramount Decree on independent film production4. An audience for the independents : exploitation films for the nation's youthPart 3. American independent cinema and the 'New Hollywood' (late 1960s to late 1970s).5. The new Hollywood and the independent Hollywood6. American independent cinema in the age of the conglomeratesPart 4. Contemporary American independent cinema (1980s to date)7. Mini-majors and major independents8. The institutionalisation of American independent cinema9. American independent cinema in the age of media convergenceEpilogue : from independent to 'specialty' cinema

A substantial and insightful examination of the infrastructure of independent American cinema. This is a true advance on previous studies and deepens the reader's understanding of how independent films get made and distributed. For this reason the book will be an invaluable addition to the literature on Independent American Cinema. - Professor Warren Buckland (editor of The New Review of Film and Television Studies)