Roger Ebert on John Cassavetes
“You know, he made films in his house with his friends. When he started making movies in the 1960’s, there wasn’t any independent film movement. Basically, you had a 16mm camera down in the basement, shooting some kind of abstract imaginary art film or you were in a big Hollywood studio and Cassavetes was the one who showed a whole generation you can make your own film. You don’t need a studio. You don’t have to hire a star for a million dollars. And now today we have things like the Sundance Film Festival, Toronto Film Festival, filled with first films being made by young directors in their 20’s and 30’s who are really following in his footsteps.”
