(October 4, 2004) — Spider Man 2 was the movie of the summer. Almost everyone saw it, almost everyone liked it, and everyone who saw it knew that it took almost $200 million to make it. What many of those people didn’t know is that making a good movie doesn’t necessarily require so many zeros in the budget. Welcome to the world of low-budget and independent films: a world where movies are respected more for substance rather than for flashy special effects. Such films are often shown in small, privately owned theaters, where they receive a chance to make enough money in order to possibly graduate to mainstream. Mainstream refers to bigger theaters, which tend to attract most of the general public. However, there is a difference between the low-budget and independent movies. Low-budget films are movies made with little money, but sometimes have well-known actors in them. Independent films are intended to be totally detached from the mainstream. This is done by having unknown, sometimes amateur actors, filming on location or on small, modest sets, and spending a very small amount of money to do it all. The cast and crew of the film choose to work this way, because they don’t make the movies simply for the money, but in order to make statements, present ideas and concepts, and possibly inspire people to stand up and make a difference. One movie that went from being a small, low-budget film to a movie that almost everyone knows is My Big Fat Greek Wedding . Believe it or not, that movie only cost $5 million to make. Surprisingly, however, it went on to gross more than $100 million over the course of several months. The hype was so intense that a television show was later made as a sort of spin-off. Igby Goes Down is a low-budget film, but it has an all-star cast. Kieran Culkin plays the title role, with Susan Sarandon, Claire Danes, Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman in supporting roles. It tells the story of Igby, a seventeen year old on the verge of insanity thanks to his prudish mother, schizophrenic father and lifeless Republican brother. Igby Goes Down was one of the first low-budget films sophomore Yelena Akopyan ever saw. “It had very dark humor, and the characters were not necessarily likeable or appealing to the average person. It was totally new for me, because I was just not used to seeing films that don’t dwell on people’s triumphs and happiness,” said Akopyan. Written and directed by Burr Steers, the film received a Golden Globe nomination for best actor (Kieran Culkin). Welcome to the Dollhouse is an example of a very independent film. Released in 1996, it tells the story of Dawn, played by Heather Matarazzo, an unattractive seventh grader who has to deal with taunts, name-calling, threats and disrespect from everyone around her on a daily basis. Written and directed by Todd Solondz, Welcome to the Dollhouse received the Grand Jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival. Speaking of film festivals, many independent and low-budget films receive exposure from participation in film festivals. Two of the most well known festivals are Cannes and Sundance. Cannes is held in France, while Sundance is held in Park City, Utah. Although it is a lot easier to just stick to the mainstream and go to the local gigantic movie theater, the alternative film world is something worth looking into. You never know, you just might get sucked in!