Mumblecore

Ever heard of Mumblecore? It's been around for a little while, but some notable news sources, such as the NY Times and Village Voice are just now picking up on it. The Wikipedia entry for Mumblecore defines it as:

An independent filmmaking movement characterized by ultra-low budget production, focus on personal relationships between twenty-somethings, improvised scripts, and non-professional actors.

Need some examples? Andrew Bujalski's "Funny Ha Ha" kicked off the movement. So what's the big deal? And why the heck are you writing about a film movement on this blog?

The NY Times points out a fundamental connection between the Mumblecore movement and technology:

Mumblecore bespeaks a true 21st-century sensibility, reflective of MySpace-like social networks and the voyeurism and intimacy of YouTube. It also signals a paradigm shift in how movies are made and how they find an audience. “This is the first time, mostly because of technology, that someone like me can go out and make a film with no money and no connections,” said Aaron Katz

Technology has clearly changed not only the way movies are being made, but their distribution as well. The Mumblecore movement is a great example of filmmakers taking more of a DIY approach. This is just the beginning.

Link via Fimoculous.