D.I.Y. or Die: How to Survive as an Independent Artist

D.I.Y. or Die: How to Survive as an Independent Artist is a low-budget documentary film released by Music Video Distributors in 2002. The film is a "celebration of the underdog" and deals with why artists do what they do, regardless of a continuous paycheck.

The film features some artists that define the DIY ethic and speaks to the overall DIY culture.

The DVD was released with no region restrictions or copy protection. Director Michael W. Dean allowed and even encouraged people to make copies for non-commercial use.

It features interviews with Lydia Lunch, Ian MacKaye, J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr, Jim Rose, J. G. Thirlwell of Foetus, Mike Watt, Richard Kern (filmmaker), Ron Asheton of The Stooges, Madigan Shive of Bonfire Madigan, Dave Brockie of Gwar and more.

Trivia

• Director Michael W. Dean also wrote "$30 Film School", "$30 Music School", and "$30 Writing School".
• The DVD is the first low-budget indie production in the world with subtitles in English, French, German, Spanish and Italian.
• The director took the film on a self-booked tour of the US and Europe.
• In October 2007, the director put the entire film up on YouTube
• The director has announced on his blog plans to give away high-quality downloads of the film on Zune Marketplace and Zune.net in November 2007. This is the first-ever instance of a copyright holder giving away a film in its entirety while it is still actively selling DVDs.

References

External links

• D.I.Y. or Die: How to Survive as an Independent Artist official site
• "Digital Music – DIY Now!" related eBook by the director, released free under Creative Commons
• Chapter one of the film on YouTube
• Chapter two of the film on YouTube
• Chapter three of the film on YouTube
• Chapter four of the film on YouTube
• Chapter five of the film on YouTube
• Chapter six of the film on YouTube
• Chapter seven of the film on YouTube
• Chapter eight of the film on YouTube