Changing lenses: Finding my Independent Spirit

Every year there comes a time when I have to change perspective on how I'm viewing the Oscar race. It comes about for various reasons. There are years where the films and performances I love aren't getting the attention I think they deserve. There are years when I am not really invested in any of the films in contention, and then there are the years that I am just not feeling it.

In addition to pulling away from social media, I have been more focused on my own art. I'm being filmed as a subject for a documentary which is pretty damn exciting and a bit terrifying, I have the Oxford Film Festival coming up in 3 weeks, at which I have a short film I assistant directed as well as a slate of films I programmed. And I finished a 2nd draft of my screenplay. Somehow...with all of this going on, the Oscars and Hollywood seem so...distant for me.

I think my indifference this week comes down to the fact that most of the focus is currently on what is going to get nominated for Oscars. A couple of days ago, I gave you my predictions for Best Picture and Best Actress, and although I enjoy predicting the winners, predicting the nominations has never really been my thing.

With the exception of "1985," a film that was disappointingly overlooked, even by the LGBTQ Entertainment Critics, "Final Portrait" and "Lean on Pete," most of my Top 10 should show up somewhere on Oscar nomination morning. If "Suspiria," my favorite film of the year, manages to be snubbed, which could happen, it will at least get some recognition at the Independent Spirit Awards when it receives the Robert Altman Award, given to the film's director, casting director and ensemble cast. An award it absolutely deserves. 

One of the films in my Top 10, or Honorable Mentions is probably going to win Best Picture. "Roma," "A Star is Born," "BlacKkKlansman," "Black Panther." Sure..."The Favourite" could sneak in there, but with the preferential ballot, that is highly doubtful.

Next week, I'm sure the excitement of the snubs and surprises will get me all hyped up again, but in the meantime, I shift gears. With those Oscar nominations will come films I have yet to discover. And the films...the films themselves are why I got into this in the first place. Even now I have a slew of films to watch for Film Independent and the Independent Spirit Awards.

And that's where I need to focus, moving forward in this less than motivating time. My life (the documentary, the film fest, my own film) is literally showing the way. Independent film. The Oscars appear to be heading toward its most Popular year in ages...but I will always have my independent spirit, if I just dig deep for it.

Lets take a look at the films nominated for the Independent Spirit Awards (by category) that I have yet to see.

Best First Feature
Sorry to Bother You
The Tale

John Cassavetes Award
A Bread Factory
Socrates
En el Septimo Dia (do not have a copy)
Never Goin Back (do not have a copy)

Best Screenplay
Sorry to Bother You

Best First Screenplay
Nancy
The Tale
Thoroughbreds (do not have, but can probably find!)
Blame (do not have)

Best Cinematography
Mandy

Best Editing
The Tale
Mid 90s
American Animals (do not have, but can probably find)

Best Female Lead
Helena Howard in Madeline's Madeline

Best Male Lead
Christian Malheiros in Socrates

Best Supporting Female
Tyne Daly, A Bread Factory
J Smith-Camerson, Nancy

Best Supporting Male
John David Washington, Monsters and Men

Best Documentary
Hale County This Morning, This Evening (didn't finish)
Minding the Gap
Of Fathers and Sons
On Her Shoulders
Shirkers

Someone to Watch Award
Alex Moratto, Director of Socrates
Iona Uricaru, Director of Lemonade (don't have this one)

Truer Than Fiction Award
Alexandria Bombach, Director of On Her Shoulders
Bing Liu, Director of Minding the Gap
RaMell Ross, Director of Hale County This Morning, This Evening

SO...that is 16 films to watch. Not counting the 5 I don't easily have access to.

Sorry to Bother You
A Bread Factory
Socrates
Nancy
The Tale
Mandy
The Tale
Mid 90s
Madeline's Madeline
Monsters and Men
Hale County This Morning, This Evening (didn't finish)
Minding the Gap
Of Fathers and Sons
On Her Shoulders
Shirkers
Lemonade

American Animals (do not have, but can probably find)

Thoroughbreds (do not have, but can probably find!)
Blame (do not have)

En el Septimo Dia (do not have a copy)
Never Goin Back (do not have a copy)