Rebel of the Week: The Producers and Fans of “Iron Sky”

Iron Sky, the “historical,” sci-fi, comedy about Nazis hiding out on the Moon since 1945 and invading the Earth in the near future, has scored a major victory for independent film audiences in the UK where their distributor has bended to popular demand and agreed to extend Iron Sky’s run in the cinemas. In an email to supporters, the Finnish indy film wrote:

“You’ve made your voices heard, and your demands have been met. It’s great news for us, for Iron Sky, and especially for everyone who has been out there waiting for years for this film to reach the big screens.

More than that, this is a wonderful show of force of the people, and a great proof that having a big community backing you up makes you stronger when somebody is trying to walk over you.”

Here at The Silver Underground, the official blog of Silver Circle, which debuts in August of this year, we’ve been watching and rooting for Iron Sky’s success because of the similarities between our projects. Iron Sky is a quirky, off-beat, very nerdy (those are all compliments) independent film that owes its success to a strong fan base and social media presence, much like Silver Circle. Their UK distributor tried to limit their rollout in that country, but its fiercely committed fan base turned that situation around! It’s never been a better time for independent films to shine because the Internet has empowered the fans to make truly worthwhile films a success even in the face of obstacles that the entertainment establishment sets in their way.

Though the film is mostly just fun, there’s no mistaking its rebel political message about war and fascism. In Iron Sky, the President of the United States is most definitely a parody of Sarah Palin, and she is eager to fight a war to ensure her reelection to a second term. Director Timo Vuorensola recently told the BBC: “It’s a tremendously politically incorrect film. I wanted to make something fun. We’re not aiming to preach here, and we’re not being offensive, but we do have a message.” He adds: “Obviously, it’s got something to say about war-mongering… From my point of view, I am frightened by the rhetoric of international politics right now. It has echoes of the 1930s and the rise of fascism. However, it’s up to audiences if they want to grab that message.”

A thriller set in a dystopian future, with a pro-peace and freedom political message, a healthy dose of nerdiness (steampunk fans will be delighted by the look of the Nazi’s Moon base and space technology), and a plot predicated on a conspiracy theory (that the Nazis have been hiding on the moon since the 40s)– all made possible as an independent film with the support of a strong online fan base– how could we at Silver Circle not take notice? Last week, I wrote:

“[Hollywood's] publicly-traded corporation model of business leads to product models based on marketing models aimed at mass consumption so studios can get that big pay day and make the bosses (owners) happy. What you see at the theater is often the end result of statistical composites, not necessarily the inspired vision of an artist who sees something the rest of us don’t and is willing to risk bringing a new vision to a public that might not be ready for it.”

Iron Sky is a perfect example of the inspired vision of an artist who sees something the rest of us don’t and is willing to risk bringing a new vision to a public that might not be ready for it. The film’s producers took a risk by doing something different, a risk that was obviously a little too risky for its UK film distributor, but not for audiences. The fan-driven turn around in Iron Sky’s fortunes is an example of the marketplace responding to something fans like and want to see more of. For going against the grain, taking a risk, and producing independent art and entertainment, we award the producers and definitely the fans of Iron Sky this week’s Rebel of  the Week and our warmest congratulations for their success!

And don’t forget to visit our official website to learn more about the Silver Circle Movie:http://SilverCircleMovie.com