DIY Filmmaking: Danger or Exposure to Hollywood?

Every year, more and more people are becoming interested in filmmaking. Which only makes sense, considering the increase in available technology to the average citizen. You can even make a movie on your smart phone for $100 or less. Granted, not everybody who has jumped into the Filmmaking world over the past 10 years has produced quality films. With that being said, there are inevitably more quality independent/DIY films to discover.

Allow me to explain:

Think of it in terms of the US scholars compared to the scholars in China. You can't say that any one student in China is smarter than any student in the US. So why is China leading in Honor students?

Concentration.

Not the concentration that gets you through a paper at 3 A.M., but the concentration of numbers. China has more honor students than the US has total students. So obviously when the population is higher, there will be more of a wide array  to chose the best from. Which increases the concentration.

This leads directly back to filmmaking. The more people that create, the better the general pool of quality films will be. Especially with indies gaining such acceptance, and of course the possibility of a new cult classic. This poses an interesting question though. Does DIY and indie filmmaking benefit the exposure of Hollywood films, or endanger the long standing filmmaking powerhouse?

This question is briefly addressed in the following interview through Film Courage:

Takeaway from Professor Robert Gurst:

• Inevitably something will change, it's a matter of when.
• DIY movies are more personal.
• Audiences have a hunger to return to emotional links.
• DIY returns to 1895 experimental filmmaking.
• Believes it will benefit Hollywood in the long run.