Inventing a new way to do indie films

1 - Indie films are art projects.  But a significant amount of money can be raised to make and release movies, the projects can even make a profit - but the main goal is to make interesting art/auteur movies - not commercial cinema that costs tens or hundreds of millions of $s to promote and distribute. Indie film/real indie films/real movies are something outside of the Hollywood system.

2 - The cost of making and releasing a movie can be spread out over a year or longer.  Movies can be self-funded or funded with help of crowdfunding, grants, donations, supporters/investors, gifts, merch sales.

3 - Keep production small - similar to Hong Sang-soo movies - small crew, small cast. But, individual filmmakers may be able to figure out great new ways to do amazing things in movies. Not Hollywood solutions, but epic indie film solutions.

4 - Have a marketing and distribution, promo, ad budget when self releasing the movie.  Fine to do wide VOD availability with media coverage, ads, reviews.  Also fine to do DIY theatrical screenings, festival screenings. But, remember that distribution is a budgeted thing that takes as much effort as production, and is as important as production.

5 - Build a body of work -make and release a lot of movies.

6 - Keep in touch w/ fans/customers, other filmmakers, film institutions, film critics and reviewers - they can help with making and releasing your movies.