The Talent Management of Indie Authorship: From American independent cinema and short "films" to pay-TV and streaming

by Andrew Stubbs-Lacy

Overview

This book explores the role that talent intermediaries, including talent agents, talent managers and producers, play in packaging, marketing and selling screen media products, services and brands by constructing and positioning their clients and collaborators as indie—auteurs. Exploring several case—studies across a range of screen media during an era of media convergence, including American indie cinema, high—end television, music video, advertising and branded content, the book explores the strategies that talent intermediaries adopt and the industrial, cultural and social connotations and hierarchies that indie—auteurism as a promotional discourse and tool carries and reinforces. As a result, the book stakes out new ground that complicates popular ideas of indie—auteurs as highly autonomous and innovative filmmakers by exploring how this authorial discourse migrates between media and is constructed and reconfigured in relation to changing industrial and cultural contexts.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781474482646
Publisher:	Edinburgh University Press
Publication date:	08/31/2024
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.00(d)

About the Author

Dr. Andrew Stubbs—Lacy is senior lecturer of Film Industries and Studies at Staffordshire University.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter 1. Producing with Indie—Auteurs: The Coen Brothers and an indie periodisation

Chapter 2. Managing Indie—Auteurs in an Era of Media Convergence: Steve Golin, Propaganda Films and Anonymous Content

Chapter 3. Propaganda/Films: The indie—auteur and the legitimation of short—form production

Chapter 4. Packaging Indie—Auteur Television: The single—director model, cinematization and the pursuit of legitimacy

Chapter 5. Navigating Specialty Film’s Decline and Disruption: Specialty film, studio blockbusters, and the maverick male myth

Chapter 6. Black Agents and Agency: Charles D. King, Macro and the talent management of Black indie—auteurs

Conclusion: The Migration of indie—auteurism and new directions

Editorial Reviews

"Although the idea of indie film authorship remains potent, it comes under intense scrutiny in The Talent Management of Indie Authorship. In this remarkable study, Andrew Stubbs—Lacy demonstrates compellingly how such authorship is painstakingly (re—)packaged and (re—)produced by talent intermediaries as they guide their clients’ navigation of an increasingly converged media industries landscape."

Yannis Tzioumakis

Significantly contributes to the ongoing enquiry concerning the cultural impact of Hollywood and the nature and limits of “creative labour”.

The Political Economy of Communication - Barry King

"Through his focus on talent managers and producers, Andrew Stubbs—Lacy offers a fresh take on the dynamic relationship between American independent film and the media industries since the 1980s. He skillfully illustrates how these intermediaries helped a range of writer—directors build and sustain their indie brand identities as they moved across different media forms."

Alisa Perren