their passion is their art and their art is too cool for the mainstream I’ll give
is too cool for the mainstream I’ll give
is too cool for the mainstream I’ll give you a key magic in a magic you just
you a key magic in a magic you just
you a key magic in a magic you just pissed on a gypsy in the middle of
pissed on a gypsy in the middle of
pissed on a gypsy in the middle of fucking nowhere it’s hardly the hottest
fucking nowhere it’s hardly the hottest
fucking nowhere it’s hardly the hottest ticket in town darling
ticket in town darling
ticket in town darling welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten
counting down our picks for the top ten
counting down our picks for the top ten independent filmmakers for this list
independent filmmakers for this list
independent filmmakers for this list we’re looking at those filmmakers that
we’re looking at those filmmakers that
we’re looking at those filmmakers that have dominated the indie scene with
have dominated the indie scene with
have dominated the indie scene with their creative films and captivating
their creative films and captivating
their creative films and captivating style even if they went on to become
style even if they went on to become
style even if they went on to become mainstream Hollywood successes later in
mainstream Hollywood successes later in
mainstream Hollywood successes later in their careers theatricality and
their careers theatricality and
their careers theatricality and deception of powerful agents must become
deception of powerful agents must become
deception of powerful agents must become more than just a man and remind of your
more than just a man and remind of your
more than just a man and remind of your opponent number 10 David Lynch renowned
opponent number 10 David Lynch renowned
opponent number 10 David Lynch renowned for his surrealist approach to
for his surrealist approach to
for his surrealist approach to filmmaking Lynch’s movies have always
filmmaking Lynch’s movies have always
filmmaking Lynch’s movies have always been indie delights the likes of which
been indie delights the likes of which
been indie delights the likes of which even God is never seen while he’s been
even God is never seen while he’s been
even God is never seen while he’s been nominated for four Academy Awards the
nominated for four Academy Awards the
nominated for four Academy Awards the bulk of his films have existed on the
bulk of his films have existed on the
bulk of his films have existed on the fringe of the mainstream he may have
fringe of the mainstream he may have
fringe of the mainstream he may have slowed down with filmmaking in recent
slowed down with filmmaking in recent
slowed down with filmmaking in recent years but his classics such as mahal and
years but his classics such as mahal and
years but his classics such as mahal and drive and Elephant Man will go down in
drive and Elephant Man will go down in
drive and Elephant Man will go down in movie history like
is full of surprise number 9 Michel
is full of surprise number 9 Michel Gondry Yahoo this French transplant got
Gondry Yahoo this French transplant got
Gondry Yahoo this French transplant got his start making music videos before he
his start making music videos before he
his start making music videos before he broke on the scene with his second film
broke on the scene with his second film
broke on the scene with his second film Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind
Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind
Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind the film earned him an Academy Award and
the film earned him an Academy Award and
the film earned him an Academy Award and he followed it with the science of sleep
he followed it with the science of sleep
he followed it with the science of sleep a film that continued his playful and
a film that continued his playful and
a film that continued his playful and moody style as introduced in eternal
moody style as introduced in eternal
moody style as introduced in eternal sunshine consorting with a slew of short
sunshine consorting with a slew of short
sunshine consorting with a slew of short films and documentaries under his belt
films and documentaries under his belt
films and documentaries under his belt gondry is a true indie darling terrific
gondry is a true indie darling terrific
gondry is a true indie darling terrific we’re all going to be rich in pin number
we’re all going to be rich in pin number
we’re all going to be rich in pin number 8
8
8 Nicolas Winding Ruffin Dora James star
Nicolas Winding Ruffin Dora James star
Nicolas Winding Ruffin Dora James star he’s probably best known for his indie
he’s probably best known for his indie
he’s probably best known for his indie hit drive but the Danish expat director
hit drive but the Danish expat director
hit drive but the Danish expat director has been making films for decades here
has been making films for decades here
has been making films for decades here in that Medus his gritty and dark movies
in that Medus his gritty and dark movies
in that Medus his gritty and dark movies are underscored by themes of violence
are underscored by themes of violence
are underscored by themes of violence and transformation your time has passed
– come his work including Valhalla
– come his work including Valhalla rising and Bronson has garnered him a
rising and Bronson has garnered him a
rising and Bronson has garnered him a cult following worthy of the most
cult following worthy of the most
cult following worthy of the most seasoned indie filmmaker the awesome
seasoned indie filmmaker the awesome
seasoned indie filmmaker the awesome soundtracks for his films don’t hurt
soundtracks for his films don’t hurt
soundtracks for his films don’t hurt either
number seven Gus Van Zandt I’m extremely
number seven Gus Van Zandt I’m extremely excited with films such as Drugstore
excited with films such as Drugstore
excited with films such as Drugstore Cowboy and Good Will Hunting under its
Cowboy and Good Will Hunting under its
Cowboy and Good Will Hunting under its belt Van Zant’s position as an indie
belt Van Zant’s position as an indie
belt Van Zant’s position as an indie figurehead is secured Halen while
figurehead is secured Halen while
figurehead is secured Halen while they’re vulnerable
they’re vulnerable
they’re vulnerable that’s my model his poetic portrayals of
that’s my model his poetic portrayals of
that’s my model his poetic portrayals of the downtrodden and marginalized often
the downtrodden and marginalized often
the downtrodden and marginalized often give voice to those most overlooked you
give voice to those most overlooked you
give voice to those most overlooked you gotta give him hope you’ve got to give
gotta give him hope you’ve got to give
gotta give him hope you’ve got to give him hope his slew of awards and
him hope his slew of awards and
him hope his slew of awards and nominations including two Oscar nods for
nominations including two Oscar nods for
nominations including two Oscar nods for Best Director pretty much speak for
Best Director pretty much speak for
Best Director pretty much speak for themselves I didn’t like their Mac
themselves I didn’t like their Mac
themselves I didn’t like their Mac number six Jim Jarmusch this guy is a
number six Jim Jarmusch this guy is a
number six Jim Jarmusch this guy is a professional
professional
professional quoted as saying that he’d rather make a
quoted as saying that he’d rather make a
quoted as saying that he’d rather make a movie about a guy walking his dog than
movie about a guy walking his dog than
movie about a guy walking his dog than about the Emperor of China Jarmusch is
about the Emperor of China Jarmusch is
about the Emperor of China Jarmusch is all about his characters I don’t give a
all about his characters I don’t give a
all about his characters I don’t give a shit who saw what who did what or who
shit who saw what who did what or who
shit who saw what who did what or who did who his 1980s film stranger than
did who his 1980s film stranger than
did who his 1980s film stranger than paradise was widely regarded as a
paradise was widely regarded as a
paradise was widely regarded as a game-changer in independent filmmaking
game-changer in independent filmmaking
game-changer in independent filmmaking she don’t want to do yes why is it
she don’t want to do yes why is it
she don’t want to do yes why is it called timid owner his focus on mood and
called timid owner his focus on mood and
called timid owner his focus on mood and character development helped shape the
character development helped shape the
character development helped shape the narrative voice of independent films and
narrative voice of independent films and
narrative voice of independent films and usher in a new generation of minimalist
usher in a new generation of minimalist
usher in a new generation of minimalist urban cool filmmaking sounds pretty good
think so number five Kevin Smith you
think so number five Kevin Smith you know there’s a million fine-looking
know there’s a million fine-looking
know there’s a million fine-looking women in the world dude they don’t all
women in the world dude they don’t all
women in the world dude they don’t all bringing lasagna at work most I’m just
bringing lasagna at work most I’m just
bringing lasagna at work most I’m just cheat on you he’s the geek who gave us
cheat on you he’s the geek who gave us
cheat on you he’s the geek who gave us Jay and Silent Bob
he also gave us some really good
he also gave us some really good independent films that help define the
independent films that help define the
independent films that help define the 90s generation Smith’s clerks and
90s generation Smith’s clerks and
90s generation Smith’s clerks and chasing amy were critical successes on
chasing amy were critical successes on
chasing amy were critical successes on the indie circuit and quickly entered
the indie circuit and quickly entered
the indie circuit and quickly entered the lexicon of indie classics Jason and
the lexicon of indie classics Jason and
the lexicon of indie classics Jason and me what you’re chasing Amy what do you
me what you’re chasing Amy what do you
me what you’re chasing Amy what do you look so shocked for man fat bastard does
look so shocked for man fat bastard does
look so shocked for man fat bastard does this all-time he thinks just cuz you
this all-time he thinks just cuz you
this all-time he thinks just cuz you don’t say anything it’ll have some huge
don’t say anything it’ll have some huge
don’t say anything it’ll have some huge impact and he does open this guy’s once
impact and he does open this guy’s once
impact and he does open this guy’s once you shut up
you shut up
you shut up plus being buddies with Ben Affleck
plus being buddies with Ben Affleck
plus being buddies with Ben Affleck means you can put him in 80% of your
means you can put him in 80% of your
means you can put him in 80% of your films I assure you you will all pay for
films I assure you you will all pay for
films I assure you you will all pay for your trespass in blood
your trespass in blood
your trespass in blood number 4 Sofia Coppola who’s your father
number 4 Sofia Coppola who’s your father
number 4 Sofia Coppola who’s your father I’ll give you a hint
I’ll give you a hint
I’ll give you a hint he’s a town being the daughter of an
he’s a town being the daughter of an
he’s a town being the daughter of an oscar-winning director probably didn’t
oscar-winning director probably didn’t
oscar-winning director probably didn’t hurt Coppola ‘he’s directing aspirations
hurt Coppola ‘he’s directing aspirations
hurt Coppola ‘he’s directing aspirations it gets a whole lot more complicated
it gets a whole lot more complicated
it gets a whole lot more complicated when you have kids but it was her first
when you have kids but it was her first
when you have kids but it was her first feature film The Virgin Suicides
feature film The Virgin Suicides
feature film The Virgin Suicides followed by lost in translation but set
followed by lost in translation but set
followed by lost in translation but set her apart as an indie film standout
her apart as an indie film standout
her apart as an indie film standout basically what we have here is a dreamer
basically what we have here is a dreamer
basically what we have here is a dreamer someone completely out of touch with
someone completely out of touch with
someone completely out of touch with reality
reality
reality her muted and introspective style make
her muted and introspective style make
her muted and introspective style make her an arthouse audience favorite is a
her an arthouse audience favorite is a
her an arthouse audience favorite is a good fuck in that record number 3
good fuck in that record number 3
good fuck in that record number 3 Quentin Tarantino was I talking about
Quentin Tarantino was I talking about
Quentin Tarantino was I talking about before experiencing massive mainstream
before experiencing massive mainstream
before experiencing massive mainstream success with movies like Kill Bill and
success with movies like Kill Bill and
success with movies like Kill Bill and inglorious basterds Tarantino earned his
inglorious basterds Tarantino earned his
inglorious basterds Tarantino earned his indie filmmaker bona fides with classics
indie filmmaker bona fides with classics
indie filmmaker bona fides with classics like Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction but
like Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction but
like Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction but you know what’s on my mind right now it
you know what’s on my mind right now it
you know what’s on my mind right now it ain’t the coffee in my kitchen
ain’t the coffee in my kitchen
ain’t the coffee in my kitchen it’s the dead in my garage that films
it’s the dead in my garage that films
it’s the dead in my garage that films critical and commercial success
critical and commercial success
critical and commercial success propelled Tarantino into mainstream view
propelled Tarantino into mainstream view
propelled Tarantino into mainstream view and the dialogue violence and heavy
and the dialogue violence and heavy
and the dialogue violence and heavy themes he used there translated into his
themes he used there translated into his
themes he used there translated into his later projects we’re gonna be doing one
later projects we’re gonna be doing one
later projects we’re gonna be doing one thing and one thing only killing Nazis
thing and one thing only killing Nazis
thing and one thing only killing Nazis number two the Coen brothers
number two the Coen brothers
number two the Coen brothers and charges dover de bag of hammers the
and charges dover de bag of hammers the
and charges dover de bag of hammers the tag-team directing duo of Joel and Ethan
tag-team directing duo of Joel and Ethan
tag-team directing duo of Joel and Ethan Coen is widely recognized for their
Coen is widely recognized for their
Coen is widely recognized for their films distinct style and subtle nuanced
films distinct style and subtle nuanced
films distinct style and subtle nuanced humor we’re only interested in one thing
humor we’re only interested in one thing
humor we’re only interested in one thing can you tell a story part can you make
can you tell a story part can you make
can you tell a story part can you make us laugh can you make us cry can you
us laugh can you make us cry can you
us laugh can you make us cry can you make us want to break out enjoy a song
make us want to break out enjoy a song
make us want to break out enjoy a song with a penchant for film noir and dark
with a penchant for film noir and dark
with a penchant for film noir and dark comedy the Cohens got their start
comedy the Cohens got their start
comedy the Cohens got their start running with blood simple followed by
running with blood simple followed by
running with blood simple followed by critically acclaimed movies such as
critically acclaimed movies such as
critically acclaimed movies such as Barton Fink and Fargo there’s more to
Barton Fink and Fargo there’s more to
Barton Fink and Fargo there’s more to life than a little money a know their
life than a little money a know their
life than a little money a know their immense success as independent
immense success as independent
immense success as independent filmmakers eventually led to their
filmmakers eventually led to their
filmmakers eventually led to their domination of the mainstream market with
domination of the mainstream market with
domination of the mainstream market with multiple Award nominated hits
multiple Award nominated hits
multiple Award nominated hits your friend
your friend
your friend a stranger my face you me before we
a stranger my face you me before we
a stranger my face you me before we unveil our top pick here are a few
unveil our top pick here are a few
unveil our top pick here are a few honorable mentions Malkovich Malkovich
honorable mentions Malkovich Malkovich
honorable mentions Malkovich Malkovich Malkovich you must pay the rent you must
Malkovich you must pay the rent you must
Malkovich you must pay the rent you must pay the rent you must be there in today
pay the rent you must be there in today
pay the rent you must be there in today okay today let me ask you something why
okay today let me ask you something why
okay today let me ask you something why would a review make the point of saying
would a review make the point of saying
would a review make the point of saying someone’s not a genius
someone’s not a genius
someone’s not a genius you think I’m especially not a genius
you think I’m especially not a genius
you think I’m especially not a genius but when you killed him I was so
but when you killed him I was so
but when you killed him I was so convinced that you’d remember but it
convinced that you’d remember but it
convinced that you’d remember but it didn’t stick people number one Paul
didn’t stick people number one Paul
didn’t stick people number one Paul Thomas Anderson make adult films exotic
Thomas Anderson make adult films exotic
Thomas Anderson make adult films exotic although Anderson had already released
although Anderson had already released
although Anderson had already released one critically acclaimed feature film
one critically acclaimed feature film
one critically acclaimed feature film it wasn’t until 1997 s Boogie Nights
it wasn’t until 1997 s Boogie Nights
it wasn’t until 1997 s Boogie Nights that he set the indie circuit on fire
Anderson followed up the success of that
Anderson followed up the success of that smash with Magnolia but he remained in
smash with Magnolia but he remained in
smash with Magnolia but he remained in the indie limelight lot of people think
the indie limelight lot of people think
the indie limelight lot of people think this is just a job that you go to take a
this is just a job that you go to take a
this is just a job that you go to take a lunch hour jobs over something like that
but it’s a 24 hour deal his reign was
but it’s a 24 hour deal his reign was culminated by the immense indie success
culminated by the immense indie success
culminated by the immense indie success of there will be blood which is now
of there will be blood which is now
of there will be blood which is now considered one of the best movies of the
considered one of the best movies of the
considered one of the best movies of the 2000s if you have a milkshake and I have
2000s if you have a milkshake and I have
2000s if you have a milkshake and I have a milkshake and I have a straw there it
a milkshake and I have a straw there it
a milkshake and I have a straw there it is that’s a strong see watching my straw
is that’s a strong see watching my straw
is that’s a strong see watching my straw reaches across them and starts to drink
reaches across them and starts to drink
reaches across them and starts to drink your milk gee I drink your milkshake I
your milk gee I drink your milkshake I
your milk gee I drink your milkshake I drink it up do you agree with our list
drink it up do you agree with our list
drink it up do you agree with our list who’s your favorite independent
who’s your favorite independent
who’s your favorite independent filmmaker for more entertaining top 10s
filmmaker for more entertaining top 10s
filmmaker for more entertaining top 10s published every day be sure to subscribe
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