One of the more interesting entertainment-related stories I came across this past week is a Salon "Beyond the Multiplex" column [1] about a subject near and dear to my heart: independent film. In the story, writer Andrew O'Hehir looks at the signs that indie films — so hot just a few years ago — are undergoing a pretty serious slide at the box office. Among the evidence:

• Several "independent" divisions of major studios are slashing their workforce or shutting their doors.
• Though Juno [2] was a success last year, none of this year's indie films have broken through in a big way at the box office.
• The "digital revolution" has led to more films being produced than the market can hold, and many of them aren't great quality.
• Despite all that, more people than ever are saying they'd rather see independent films than studio fare.

It's an interesting look at a possibly outdated model for distributing smaller, quirkier films. So, go give it a read [3], and then come back here and tell me what you think about the state of independent film today.

Source [4]