Archive for January, 2011

Indie Film Consignment Not Rated Widescreen Version Sold by Walmart

Indie Film Consignment Not Rated Widescreen Version Sold by Walmart

Indie film Consignment not rated widescreen version sold by Walmart and I was unaware until today. I had no idea until getting a text message from a few friends including actor Ruben Navarro and editor/actor Tim Beachum.

The texts I received today only surprised me because I was informed by the movie distributor that Walmart did not want to offer the movie because the subject matter was too graphic and has one of the longest striptease scene in indie cinema history.

I was aware that some entertainment retailers had requested that the distributor change the artwork. Walmart now displays one version of the artwork and IMDB shows another that includes an exotic dancer working a stripper pole. This movie is inspired by true events and not for every movie viewer.

When Slice of Americana Films was told that Walmart would not carry the movie it was not a big surprise. This is not for the PG-13 crowd considering it is a not rated indie film. As a screenwriter, producer, and director I am trying to figure out what changed the corporate mindset to offer the movie all of a sudden.  The major upside for indie filmmakers as a creative community is we might not have to edit two versions of a movie for domestic release.

Editing is a vicious monster that will attack a movie during post at every weak point and technical glitch that is exposed. In my personal opinion if film investors are paying for the budget and want a director’s cut and alternate endings give it to them. It has become one hell of a gimmick nowadays to package all the crap that was not good enough to be included in the original movie to sell it. Most classic movies do not have director cuts or alternate endings.

I have not bought the Walmart version of Consignment to watch if it has been edited or not. If the Slice of Americana Films master cut stands with all scenes it could be a glimpse to what we do not have to do during production or editing. It was a joke on sets that you shot the European version of a scene and stepped back to shoot the American version of same scene. It is a nice thought to imagine the movie you made was what it was without bonus footage, alternate endings, and director cuts. This is indie filmmaker Sid Kali typing FADE OUT