indies
Outside the mainstream
Indies is the plural of indie, referring to independent entities in entertainment or business.
Independent record labels, film studios, game developers, and their products are collectively called indies: The indies dominated the festival this year.
The term often carries connotations of artistic authenticity or creative freedom from corporate control: She prefers shopping at indies over chain stores. (Capitalized Indies refers to island regions.)
Venue for noncommercial films
- film festivalMulti-day movie exhibition
- low-budgetCosting relatively little
- cult classicObscure work with devoted fans
- auteurDirector with total control
documentary · short film · cinematography · screenplay · premiere · screening · filmmaker · director
Imperfect audio quality, informally
- undergroundBelow ground or countercultural
- alt-rockNon-mainstream guitar-based genre
- garageEnclosed vehicle storage structure
- singer-songwriterSelf-composing musical performer
Small specialized retail shop
- family-ownedOperated by relatives
- artisanalMade by skilled craftspeople
- localOf this area
- mom-and-popSmall owner-operated enterprise
brick-and-mortar · entrepreneurial · start-up · handcrafted · shopkeeper · small-batch · niche · merchants
Released by the creator
- small pressIndependent book publisher
- zineSelf-published small periodical
- chapbookSmall booklet of verse
- literary magazinePeriodical featuring creative writing
pamphlet · imprint · POD · serialized · anthology
One who builds things
- studioCreative professional's workspace
- pixel artImages built from visible squares
- roguelikePermadeath procedural game genre
- steamHeated water's gaseous form
early access · crowdfunded · game jam · retro · sandbox · platformer · narrative-driven · procedural
arthouse
Venue for noncommercial films
- film festivalMulti-day movie exhibition
- low-budgetCosting relatively little
- cult classicObscure work with devoted fans
auteur · documentary · short film · cinematography · screenplay · premiere · screening · filmmaker · director · producer
lo-fi
Imperfect audio quality, informally
- undergroundBelow ground or countercultural
- alt-rockNon-mainstream guitar-based genre
- garageEnclosed vehicle storage structure
singer-songwriter · unsigned · mixtape · demo · EP · vinyl · folk · punk · emo · grunge
boutique
Small specialized retail shop
- family-ownedOperated by relatives
- artisanalMade by skilled craftspeople
- localOf this area
mom-and-pop · brick-and-mortar · entrepreneurial · start-up · handcrafted · shopkeeper · small-batch · niche · merchants · vendors
self-published
Released by the creator
- small pressIndependent book publisher
- zineSelf-published small periodical
- chapbookSmall booklet of verse
literary magazine · pamphlet · imprint · POD · serialized · anthology
developer
One who builds things
- studioCreative professional's workspace
- pixel artImages built from visible squares
- roguelikePermadeath procedural game genre
steam · early access · crowdfunded · game jam · retro · sandbox · platformer · narrative-driven · procedural · modding
- explorationexploration, explore, expedition, expeditions, voyage
- publishingpublishers, editors, editor, publishing house, books
indiesmajors
Chosen academic disciplines
major labels · conglomerates · studio system · establishment · legacy media
indiesblockbusters
Hugely successful entertainment products
mainstream · tentpoles · AAA games · chart-toppers · mass-market
- indie artistsSelf-managed creative performers
- East IndiesSoutheast Asian archipelago
- indie filmsNon-mainstream cinema productions
- indie movieNon-studio film production
- indie bandsSelf-released musical groups
- indie rockSelf-released alternative music genre