David Hoffman | The 1960s YouTube Style Creators Provoked A Movement @DavidHoffmanFilmmaker | Uploaded July 2024 | Updated October 2024, 12 minutes ago.
I made this for documentary four PBS in 1970. It captured the dawn of the amateur filmmaker era, when creators used 8 mm and 16mm. In a way, the young people revealed in this documentary are just like YouTubers are today. In another way, it looks like this film was made 100 years ago.
The late 1960s marked a significant period for independent filmmaking, with young filmmakers taking advantage of affordable and accessible equipment like Super 8mm and 16mm film to create their own movies. This era laid the groundwork for what would later evolve into the modern-day YouTube creator movement.
Introduced by Kodak in 1965, Super 8mm film was a popular choice for amateur filmmakers due to its affordability and ease of use. It offered improved picture quality and simpler handling compared to the earlier 8mm format.
More expensive and higher quality than Super 8mm, 16mm film was commonly used in educational films, low-budget theatrical features, and television production.
Affordable cameras and editing equipment became available, allowing young filmmakers to shoot and edit their films independently. Brands like Bolex, Bell & Howell, and Arriflex were popular among these filmmakers.
The 1960s counterculture, with its emphasis on anti-establishment values and creative expression, greatly influenced the independent film scene. Filmmakers sought to challenge mainstream narratives and explore experimental techniques.
There was a strong do-it-yourself (DIY) ethos among these young filmmakers. They often worked with minimal budgets, using friends as actors and shooting on location rather than in studios.
Independent filmmakers experimented with new storytelling methods, non-linear narratives, and avant-garde styles. This period saw the rise of experimental cinema, where traditional rules of filmmaking were often disregarded in favor of artistic exploration.
A few key film festivals emerged as important platforms for showcasing independent films were the Ann Arbor Film Festival, the New York Film Festival and the San Francisco International Film Festival. I won an award at each of these festivals for my early 16 mm films.
In addition to formal festivals, there were numerous underground film screenings held in art galleries, college campuses, and community centers. These informal gatherings were crucial for the independent film community, fostering a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose. My group of New York independent documentary filmmaker run films in St. Marks Church downtown in Manhattan – every Wednesday. It was fun and we got to know each other as independent creators.
Independent filmmakers often faced significant financial challenges. Funding was scarce, and many relied on personal savings, small grants, or support from like-minded patrons. I found a way to make a living largely from PBS, the early days of The Discovery Channel, and corporations wanting to have documentaries made that ran on television.
I made this for documentary four PBS in 1970. It captured the dawn of the amateur filmmaker era, when creators used 8 mm and 16mm. In a way, the young people revealed in this documentary are just like YouTubers are today. In another way, it looks like this film was made 100 years ago.
The late 1960s marked a significant period for independent filmmaking, with young filmmakers taking advantage of affordable and accessible equipment like Super 8mm and 16mm film to create their own movies. This era laid the groundwork for what would later evolve into the modern-day YouTube creator movement.
Introduced by Kodak in 1965, Super 8mm film was a popular choice for amateur filmmakers due to its affordability and ease of use. It offered improved picture quality and simpler handling compared to the earlier 8mm format.
More expensive and higher quality than Super 8mm, 16mm film was commonly used in educational films, low-budget theatrical features, and television production.
Affordable cameras and editing equipment became available, allowing young filmmakers to shoot and edit their films independently. Brands like Bolex, Bell & Howell, and Arriflex were popular among these filmmakers.
The 1960s counterculture, with its emphasis on anti-establishment values and creative expression, greatly influenced the independent film scene. Filmmakers sought to challenge mainstream narratives and explore experimental techniques.
There was a strong do-it-yourself (DIY) ethos among these young filmmakers. They often worked with minimal budgets, using friends as actors and shooting on location rather than in studios.
Independent filmmakers experimented with new storytelling methods, non-linear narratives, and avant-garde styles. This period saw the rise of experimental cinema, where traditional rules of filmmaking were often disregarded in favor of artistic exploration.
A few key film festivals emerged as important platforms for showcasing independent films were the Ann Arbor Film Festival, the New York Film Festival and the San Francisco International Film Festival. I won an award at each of these festivals for my early 16 mm films.
In addition to formal festivals, there were numerous underground film screenings held in art galleries, college campuses, and community centers. These informal gatherings were crucial for the independent film community, fostering a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose. My group of New York independent documentary filmmaker run films in St. Marks Church downtown in Manhattan – every Wednesday. It was fun and we got to know each other as independent creators.
Independent filmmakers often faced significant financial challenges. Funding was scarce, and many relied on personal savings, small grants, or support from like-minded patrons. I found a way to make a living largely from PBS, the early days of The Discovery Channel, and corporations wanting to have documentaries made that ran on television.
