American independent cinema comprises a branch of the Hollywood industry that began in the 1970s but exploded in the 1990s thanks to a wave of interest and funding. Clerks (1994) cannot be disputed as one of the films that meets all the characteristics of American independent cinema. American independent or indie films came to thrive with time and sponsorship. Clerks was the brainchild of an American director and shot mostly in places like the Atlantic Highlands and New Jersey, USA, this film was born in America. The content of the film also aims to provide a candid portrayal of American life and demonstrates the ideals of the American independent film. On the other hand, Titanic (1997) is a classic film featuring high-concept Hollywood cinema, in stark contrast to the usual independent films. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayOne of the benchmarks of an American independent film is the low budget to meet the production costs. Directors aren't established enough to shell out huge sums of money to pay for exotic locations or to damage a lot of material. A cost-effective budget is necessary because the money often comes from the director's limited availability of funds or from unconventional financing. Characterizing the American independent film, Schamus summarizes that “the American independent scene is often energized and inspired by stories of no-budget films – films made so cheaply that there is no significant economic risk involved in their production” (Schamus 1998, p. 98). Clerks (1994) is one such low-budget production that cost only $27,575. However, this film takes off. Ultimately, it generated over $3 million in the United States. Kevin Smith independently financed this film with capital earned from the sale of his prized comic book collection, his college education fund, loans from friends and family, and insurance money. Due to financial constraints, Smith's family starred in the roles in this film. Hollywood and American independent film differ greatly from each other financially with a large Hollywood budget and a solid investor base. The funding sources usually came from a production company that already had millions of dollars in capital. The high-cost budget would be channeled toward paying professional actors and crew, distributors and perks. For the production of Titanic (1997), director James Cameron raised almost 200 million dollars. However, it ultimately reaped a bountiful harvest, raking in approximately $2 billion in profits worldwide, a testament to the fact that “the links between high concept and marketing are numerous and strong” (Wyatt 1998, p. 109). - manually by the directors. They write the scripts, orchestrate the scenes and can also act. Robert Rodriguez, aka "One-man film crew", is the example of American independent cinema directors. Author of the book Rebel Without Crew, he describes his film initiative by saying that "I would write two screenplays both about the same character, but I would shoot them on a very low budget, all by myself..." (Robert 1995, p. xv). His independent filmmaking style pushes him not only to write scripts but also to direct, edit sound, edit the script, operate the camera, perform visual effects and do production design. In the classic American independent film Clerks (1994) there is another Kevin Smith film that fits the definition of a one-man crew.Kevin Smith directed, produced, edited and also starred Kevin Smith. He also took care of photography. The independence of American films is further strengthened by the worldviews of the directors who in most cases uphold a personal and radical perspective. On the other hand, for high-concept Hollywood films, the producers employ several members to carry out the production task. A crew of nearly 2,000 men and thousands of major and minor actors made up the personnel of Titanic (1997). The division of labor is much broader and includes stuntmen, makeup artists, sound team, production team, visual effects team, sound system department, costume/wardrobe department, editorial, extras and ancillary staff. the American independent film contains a number of profanities, nudity and controversial scenes that simply reflect the liberality of American society in the 1960s and 1970s. American independent film is usually described as raw and unconventional in its presentation due to the “increased visibility and activism of social groups previously marginalized in terms of race, sexuality or age… all of these factors have contributed to a notable change in attitudes and in customs in American Culture… the most liberal films (Tzioumakis 2006, p. 169). Thus, the origin of American independent film explains this phenomenon: the unorthodox subculture of the 1960s and the trend towards midnight movies of the 1970s. As a result of these factors, the American independent film was born. The American independent film was also aimed at a specific target group: young university students, recent graduates and young singles. The appeal of the American independent film lay in its non-adherence to the status quo. The social and political views would be less conservative and the material would pioneer moves advanced in its boldness. In the movie Clerks (1994), there was explicit, vulgar language and some vulgar scenes. Many scenes feature sex-related conversations and some pornographic content. In American independent films, drug use, alcohol intake, and smoking are almost mainstream practices. Trying to portray the carefree world of American youth, one observes the unlimited indulgence in sex and drugs, all considered counterculture. This is no surprise since while making Clerks (1994), Kevin Smith is a 23 year old college student, novice director with big ambitions. Another rebellious director, Robert Rodriguez, claims that, as a rule, he goes against the grain by advising aspiring directors to “question everything, create your own rule book, and invent your own methods” (Rodriguez 1995, p. 202). American independent cinema evidently bears witness to the absence of the major Hollywood actors. Hollywood actors would expect fortunes that are too exaggerated for an independent American director. In the film Clerks (1994), some of director Kevin Smith's family and friends participate as actors in the show. Grace Smith (Kevin Smith's mother) and Virginia Smith (Kevin Smith's older sister) appear in Clerks (1994). His closest friends from college, Jason Mewes and Scott Mosier, also play various parts in the film. The key players in this film are little-known characters whose careers exploded after the release of Clerks. Brian O'Happelloran, Jeff Anderson and Marilyn Ghiglotti have no previous professional acting experience, however, they made this film a success and ironically soared to a measure of Hollywood stardom. Hollywood's high-concept hegemony promotes glamour, finesse and opulence usually with a happy ending. Idealized characters who lead enviable lives are at the heart of Hollywood film. Hollywoodit typically features “genre blockbusters with high-concept visuals and conventionally attractive heroic protagonists played by bankable stars” (Newman 2011, p. 89). The star-studded cast and crew would absorb the majority of the Hollywood film's production costs. Acclaimed national and international stars have the potential to attract more viewers and magnetize greater interest in the film. Titanic (1997) is a film in which star actors such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Frances Fisher, Gloria Stuart, Kathy Bates, Danny Nucci and Victor Garber bring the film to wide acclaim. Director James Cameron at the time of Titanic is an experienced director, experienced in producing high caliber films. “Miramax and, to a lesser extent, Sundance (film festival) dominate…the independent world” with compelling influence (Biskind 2004, p. 2 ). Another characteristic of American independent films is the lack of official distributors for films. To fill the vacancy of film distributor, Miramax steps in, helping hundreds of American independent films launch, distributing independent films to television and VHS audiences. Miramax's initiative proved profitable as several independent films achieved favorable results. Miramax would facilitate Kevin Smith in his Clerks (1994) venture. Under the Walt Disney Company since 1993, Miramax has contributed to the development of the American independent film industry. Led by Bob Weinstein and Harvey Weinstein, two directors who champion independent filmmaking and maintain financial independence. Miramax led the American independent film boom in the 1990s, distributing top independent films such as Chicago and Clerks. The Sundance Film Festival is another entity that fuels America's independent film culture. Held in Utah, this special occasion honored American and foreign independent filmmakers. Judged by certain criteria, independent filmmakers would gain fame and recognition for their contributions to American independent culture. Kevin Smith gets wide exposure through the Sundance film festival in addition to Robert Rodriguez. The Sundance Film Festival offers many career opportunities for American independent filmmakers looking to make their debut in Hollywood cinema. “The Sundance Film Festival is the most important event on the independent calendar” (Biskind 2004, p. 2). Serving as a springboard to catapult actors and directors to further notoriety, the Sundance Festival is one of the steps to Hollywood greatness. With intense competition to enter the exclusive and coveted circles of Hollywood, independent crew and cast began to imitate Hollywood, compromising initial values ​​and producing a hybrid between American independent cinema and Hollywood: Indiewood. It has been observed that at the Sundance Film Festival “there are a lot of Hollywood types” (Lukk 1997, p. 119). The desire to imitate was mutual as Hollywood also began to sit up and pay attention to what was happening in the American indie world. In this mutuality of attraction, Miramax finds a convenient place, “offering the best of both worlds, giving films the tender loving care at which independent distributors excelled and spending big money to buy television commercials (Biskind 2004, p. 82 ). Miramax's wealth with Disney's backing helps push American independent cinema to such heights, privileging both parties in the process. However, American independent cinema still lacked major distributors or awards to stimulate its success. Major players in Hollywood film production and distribution such as MGM, Paramount Pictures, Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox“They consolidated their control over big budgets and program production contracts. workers of directors and stars collapse…dominating much of the distribution and exposure” (Holmlund 2004, p. 4). Paramount Pictures is instrumental in the domestic distribution of Titanic (1997) across America, while 20th Century Fox is responsible for releasing the film internationally. The Academy or Oscar awards are also landmarks of a high-concept Hollywood film where Hollywood directors and stars would be honored with coveted titles based on their work for a given year. When Titanic (1997) was released, it was an instant success, garnering 14 Oscar nominations, eleven Oscar wins, and four Golden Globe wins. Another denominator that distinguishes American independent cinema from Hollywood is the realist lens. American independent cinema rejects the classical hegemony of Hollywood and opts for lower-class, plain-clothes individuals whose lives are haunted by failure. American independent filmmakers advocate “independent cinema's investment in realism in line with an interest in character, and in particular certain characters and characterizations” (Newman 2011, p. 89). In contrast, the defining characteristics of American independent cinema are everyday life, failure, and disappointment. Reality is not painted with glitter, nor is it seen through the lenses of rose-colored glasses. Individual struggles and social evils emerge recurrently. The film takes as an example a routine day in the life of a common citizen who experiences the rigors of adversity. He examines and criticizes everyday life by making ideological statements throughout the film. The atmosphere of the film can be predominantly dark with characters with gloomy faces. Clerks (1994) depicts a low-income, not very intelligent convenience store clerk as he goes through a typical day at work. In microcosm, the American independent film portrays the life of an average working-class American. In the end, circumstances do not improve for the protagonist. The low or no budget factor actually promotes and accentuates realism since "obviously if you have a low budget you can't afford to wow people with the same kind of effects that Paramount can afford" (Lukk 1997, p. 115). . In contrast to high-concept Hollywood cinema, American independent films tended to be devoid of visual effects, sound enhancements, and other techniques employed to captivate audiences. Far from espousing realistic visions, achieving the image of perfection is the goal of Hollywood where “the self” – the consciousness of a high concept suggests…the configuration of perfect images, stars, music, narrative and genre” (Wyatt 1998, p. 61). Airbrushed and refined characters, elaborate music and fluid narratives match the high conceptual standards of Hollywood. The highly commercial orientation of the Hollywood film industry motivates these criteria. Hollywood's business proposition ultimately combines with American independent cinema, sparking competition and inspiring the implementation of new technologies. Technology is a distinguishing factor that separates American independent cinema from Hollywood. American independent cinema has traditionally opted for cheaper, low-budget, unsophisticated material. As a result, shooting different scenes would take longer and the quality of the projected video would be lower than desired. The growing need for a more efficient crew and the resulting pressure for greater marketability and profitability necessitated the modernization of American independent cinema. The consequence was that budgets had to be increased, introducing camera dollies, still photography,.