LONDON – Once upon a time in the mystical land of cinema, a comic book creator decided that moving pictures were the next big thing. Enter Adam Hamdy, a man who traded in his cape for a director’s chair, and voilà—his low-budget British comedy, *Pulp*, is ready to make its grand entrance on Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Live platform. Who knew the next box office sensation would debut alongside the latest video game update?
The plot, as riveting as a tax return, follows a beleaguered comic book publisher who finds himself enlisted by the police (because, you know, who else to trust?) to take down a nefarious crime syndicate. Classic tale. One can almost picture the dramatic chase scene involving a stack of unpaid bills and a tattered comic book.
Now, before you roll your eyes at yet another indie film bypassing the conventional routes of theatrical release or DVD sales—think again! This digital marvel will soon be available for purchase (starting from a princely $15) or rental (the low, low price of $5). Truly, nothing says “cinematic art” quite like a movie available alongside your favorite video game.
Hamdy, in a moment of candid honesty, expressed to the BBC, “I decided to also target our audience who may not be getting in line at the local cineplex.” This move, he adds, reflects the harsh reality of independent filmmakers: the traditional paths are shrinking faster than the chances of finding a good parking spot at the mall during the holidays.
Microsoft, not one to be left out of the indie film revolution, plans on distributing more films through this platform. Because if there’s one thing every gamer needs while fragging their friends online, it’s a good laugh—preferably from a comedy with no “bankable stars.” After all, who needs star power when you have digital streaming convenience?
Despite its lack of A-list celebrities, *Pulp* has raked in over a million views on YouTube for its trailer. Just imagine the excitement of watching an indie film given all the fanfare of a YouTube cat video—now that’s star quality! It has even graced the screens of film festivals like the Las Vegas Film Festival, where serious contenders go to vie for the oh-so-coveted “Best Film Nobody Has Heard Of” award.
Hamdy continues with his whirl of philosophical musings, stating, “In the high-end indie scene, the U.K. is thriving, but for those of us in the middle and lower budgets—oh, we’re practically begging for crumbs.” Much like that last slice of pizza at a party, the opportunities for traditional releases grow scarce. If we’re not careful, soon we’ll all need to start distributing films via carrier pigeon to get the word out.
