Film is the youngest art form, the one most reliant on technology. Arguably, inventions have shaped cinematic history just as much as directors, writers, and stars have. This time, it's different. In particular, prices of digital video cameras and desktop editing suites have plummeted in the last couple of years, demystifying and democratizing the world of moviemaking. What has been a costly and elaborate collaborative process is quickly becoming a one-person show.
Digital video is a big part of the microcinema boom.
A classic microcinema offering is a film that probably would not exist if new technology hadn't allowed its creators to cut costs or inspired them to try something different. A good example is Silence, a short by Brent Sims and John A. Taylor that was featured at the Cannes Film Festival last year. Microcinema scenes are buzzing in San Francisco and Seattle and in the basements and back alleys of cities like New York, Baltimore, Houston, and Pittsburgh. Increasingly, the Net is becoming a potent distribution channel and showcase. Already the results are leaping out of the avant-garde and into the mainstream.