Lloyd Kaufman (The Toxic Avenger, Poultrygeist, Tromeo and Juliet – to name just a few films from his prolific output) came to DCTV last night for a Shooting People/DCTV event to talk about his career, and his latest book Direct Your Own Damn Movie!. He talked about his experience working outside the system for many decades. Troma Entertainment is one of the longest running truly independent studios (founded in 1974), an incredible achievement. I wish I had written down some of the things Kaufman said because that man has a way with words, especially words like “assholes” and “devil-worshipping corporate assholes”! But behind the satire and the humor is a very clever man with a very clever strategy for survival. You see, Kaufman said again and again how Troma has survived because of a faithful audience. This audience has supported Troma from film to film and has also prompted innovations for the company. Troma had one of the first websites in the early 90s because their fans demanded it. Filmmakers are starting to think more strategically about their audience as technology and distribution changes (see Scott Kirsner’s latest book Fans, Friends and Followers: Building an Audience and a Creative Career in the Digital Age) – but this is something that Kaufman has always known is important.
It was a great event, Kaufman is a funny and generous man, and I am now the proud owner of an Official Troma Diploma for supporting truly independent art. Best diploma I have ever received (and probably more useful than my Critical Theory Masters!).
Dara Messinger (DCTV), me and the man himself, Lloyd Kaufman
