eddievalient wrote:I've heard of neither the film nor its struggles. Could someone please enlighten me?
From the onset the film was built around the songs of 1920's jazz vocalist Annette Hanshaw. In some ways it's a tribute to the somewhat forgotten singer, but the Hanshaw estate stuck fast to the still maintained copyright and lawfully demanded the proper licensing/royalties/etc. associated with the music's use in a commercial work. Paley wasn't operating at even a fraction of the budget of a studio release and only barely assembled donor funds to purchase 35mm stock. Ultimately, she had to abandon any kind of commercial/theatrical release, taking the creative commons bypass and distributing the film directly and freely, running purely on donations and any profit from merchandise surrounding her designs (which according to Paley is working quite well for her now).
The film would've made a much bigger splash if the original plan had worked out, but as it stands now it is perhaps involved in a much more interesting experiment in free public distribution as a viable economic model (you know, a Nine Inch Nails/Radiohead kind of thing, only without the previous marketability and stature those two parties hold).
EDIT: Pardon me, correction -> the song compositions are not owned by the Hanshaw estate but are rather corporately controlled. Well, you read the FAQ, but hey~