So WB is getting into the specialty film game again. The new label is called Clockwork (cool name), and the first movie they picked up is Sean Baker's Ti Amo! — the follow-up to Anora.
The label is supposed to be a home for "singular filmmakers" with movies that actually need to be seen in theaters. Christian Parkes is running it, and apparently, his boss loves that Baker's "poster game is on point." Moreover, this does seem to be a reference to Kubrick as the label's Twitter account's first post is a photo by Matthew Modine of Kubrick's director's chair (presumably from Full Metal Jacket), along with a quote from the man himself.
Honestly, this feels like a smart move. Studios keep saying they care about indie film, but then they bury those movies. Clockwork sounds like it's actually built for theatrical releases.
Baker is the perfect first director for this — the guy makes movies people actually get excited about. Curious to see who else they sign up. Does anyone have predictions?
hello, I just wanna introduce myself, and I am open to connect with different filmmakers and directors, I am a professional animator and a storyboard artist, and I wish to work with different people
Sam, this is a great insight and definitely an exciting move for indie filmmakers, having a label focused on theatrical releases could open meaningful doors for distinct voices. For creatives here, this is a strong reminder to keep developing bold, original work and leveraging Stage 32 pitch sessions to get in front of the right eyes, and we’re always here to support and guide that journey!
"Warner Brothers just launched a new indie label..." Har de har de har har har. Shades of the early 1980s and early 2000s, when the MPA studios did virtually the same thing, to ensure that no film could compete unless they approved it and controlled the revenues. Does no one recall the studio strategies at Berlindale recently, and now at Cannes? The studios do this every 15-20 years. Why would anyone think that a central member of the MPA, who have effectively wrangled themselves legal permission to act as a cartel and become a monopoly if possible, and who have been working to do exactly that for longer than most senior people in the industry have been alive, actually intend to do something to "help" what is in fact a primary competitor.... ? After all, the studios are already helping indie films by structuring distribution to extract every penny before an indie producer can receive it.... Once again, for those in doubt, I link to the 30 year study the IPG did on that here: https://independentproducersguild.org/paper-cartel-or-collapse