FANTASIA 2020: Clapboard Jungle: Surviving the Independent Film Business
fantasia
Where the narrative of young filmmakers finding breakthrough success has become a new normal for some studios, these individuals float on top of an ocean filled with independent filmmakers still fighting for their big break – as exposed in the documentary Clapboard Jungle: Surviving the Independent Film Business. Coming from director Justin McConnell, who has his own decades of experience fighting to finance his films, the documentary curates a unique and informative collection of interviews with various figures within the filmmaking industry alongside showing McConnell's own journey over the last 5 years in producing multiple projects. These two elements merge together to create a film that brings to light a side of the filmmaking process rarely seen by those outside the industry in a captivating matter that is sure to have anyone engaged from start to finish.
The major selling point of the film are the interviews within it. Where Clapboard Jungle: Surviving the Independent Film Business might be eager to promote the involvement of Academy Award-Winning Director Guillermo del Toro, the perspectives shown range all the way from major filmmakers to smaller horror directors that audiences more than likely have never even heard of. It is this openness to various theologies and perspectives of the filmmaking industry that causes the film to strike a real chord and add legitimacy to what it is trying to say. The film is well aware and open that there is no single journey through the filmmaking industry and takes the time to explore individual perspectives, never treating any as being more correct than the other.
Where the comprehensive approach to finding the deeper meanings and lessons within other perspectives gave an undeniable depth to the conversation throughout the film, it was the personal journey that Justin McConnell goes on that elevated the piece past just simply being a solid meditation on the state of the filmmaking industry. This isn't someone speaking on the struggles filmmakers go through without the credibility needed to do so; the audience gets to see McConnell struggle for 5 years to get a project of substance above ground and experiences unbelievable access to the rollercoaster of emotions he experiences. It is impossible not to root for McConnell to find success, which seemingly is around every corner with promising meetings and interest from investors, only to then wait in agony as nothing concrete formulates. So many see bad movies and are quick to judge the filmmakers for the end product but after viewing Clapboard Jungle, it is more clear than ever that every film that actually gets made should be respected at least for getting that far.
Despite this truly captivating story, there are undeniable small issues within the film holding it back from being a true masterpiece. As with many documentaries with such a large database of interviews and wisdom, there are some rough edits as the film tries to build its own coherent thoughts with varying ideologies coming from the interviews. Some clips begin to feel unnatural with how they are placed and used within the film. The ending also feels abrupt and a bit unsatisfying. Where it naturally is hard to conclude a film like this, as there will not be a true conclusion to the story for decades, Clapboard Jungle only dances with finding a true emotional catharsis and final statement to close the film on that would put the icing on the cake.
Especially for those interested in the filmmaking process and, specifically, the dirty work that goes into financing and selling a project, Clapboard Jungle: Surviving the Independent Film Business is a near must watch. The film might have some small issues with its editing and conclusion but overall, this was a truly engaging watch that will have audiences on the edge of their seats from beginning to end.
