Abstract

Developments in technology have dramatically increased the ability of non-professionals to take part in the filmmaking process. This burgeoning group of creators often seek out distribution for their films via film festivals or online streaming services. While these models of distribution offer accelerated avenues for exposure and success, most films are not accepted into festivals and are ignored online. |These limitations clearly demand alternative strategies for film gathering and viewing of local creators. The resulting theoretical paradigm, conceived as the Local Film Scene, is based on the academic work surrounding Scene Studies. This thesis defines the scene as a gathering and interplay between three essential components; People, Place, and Paraphernalia. The analysis and critique of these elements compose the bulk of the following thesis and it is anticipated that the document will be a resource for organizing, planning, monitoring, and further studying the local film scene.