"Celluloid Mavericks: A History of American Independent Film explores that rich American art - the non-studio film, from the first silent film to today's success stories, mainstream movies to avant-garde, exploitation to documentaries, film festivals to drive-ins.

Author Greg Merritt examines both the movies - from The Last Moment to Deep Throat to Sling Blade - and the movie industry players - from Sam Arkoff and Roger Corman to Francis Ford Coppola and John Cassavettes to Quentin Tarantino and pre-Disney MIRIMAX."--BOOK JACKET.

"Merritt shows what it meant to be "independent" in the 1930s versus what it means in the 1990s, distinguishes between indie and semi-indie productions, explores the genres represented under the independent umbrella, and argues what makes a movie independent - its "spirit" or the budget backing the production?"--BOOK JACKET.