Indie TV: Industry, Aesthetics and Medium Specificity

This edited collection is the first book to offer a wide-ranging examination of the interface between American independent film and a converged television landscape that consists of terrestrial broadcasters, cable networks and streaming providers, in which independent film and television intersect in complex, multifaceted and creative ways.

The book covers the long history of continuities and connections between the two sectors, as seen in the activities of PBS, HBO or Sundance. It considers the movement of filmmakers between indie film and TV such as Steven Soderbergh, Rian Johnson, the Duplass brothers, Joe Swanberg, Lynn Shelton and Gregg Araki; details the confluence of aesthetic and thematic elements seen in shows such as Girls, Breaking Bad, Master of None, or Glow; points to a shared interest in regional sensibilities evident in shows like One Mississippi or Fargo; and makes the case for documentaries and web series as significant entities in this domain. Collectively, the book builds a compelling picture of indie TV as a significant feature of US screen entertainment in the 21st Century.

This interdisciplinary landmark volume will be a go-to reference for students and scholars of Television Studies, Film Studies and Media Studies.

James Lyons is Associate Professor in Screen Studies at the University of Exeter. He is the author or co-editor of six books, including Documentary, Performance and Risk (2020), Miami Vice (2010), and Quality Popular Television (2008).

Yannis Tzioumakis is Reader in Film and Media Industries at the University of Liverpool. He is the author and editor of eleven books, most recently United Artists (2020). He also co-edits the Hollywood Centenary and the Cinema and Youth Cultures book series (both for Routledge).