What is an Experimental Film?
by Fred Camper
Camper lists six different qualities (not qualifications) of experimental films. I think one of the most important points he mentions is the first one, that experimental films are made by one singular person or small group of people on a very small budget. I think a lot of times, filmmakers get caught up in the giant Hollywood blockbuster budgets we so frequently see, and we begin to think that the only way to create a great film is with a multi-million dollar budget. Experimental film obliterates that notion. It celebrates very personal and emotional connections and obliterates the notion that film needs to make a large profit to be considered a "good" film. Personally, I sometimes forget that the amount of money you make does not dictate the quality of your work.
Amateur vs. Professional
by Maya Deren
In this very brief document, Deren negates the myth that "amateur" filmmaking is something to be ashamed of or looked down upon. Instead, she celebrates the freedom that amateur filmmakers have - they are not bound to the same economic deadlines or conventions of mainstream Hollywood. In fact, the smaller the budget and crew in a film, the more freedom you can enjoy. Amateur filmmakers can explore vast possibilities in their films because they do not have to shoulder the burdens of Hollywood. This is a glorious thing; this type of freedom allows for more ingenuity and groundbreaking creativity. Instead of allowing small budgets and a small crew confine you, Deren encourages filmmakers to use the opportunity to break barriers and explore.
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