From this early stage, the term ‘independent’ gained romantic connotation, signifying the brave efforts of rebels fighting against a powerful trust. Independent production in this era is often given the credit for a number of landmark developments, including the shift of the centre of gravity of the film business to California and the initiation of the star system, although both claims owe more to myth than reality. 1 The independents formed their own alliance in opposition to the patents company and, Janet Staiger suggests, used a number of similar strategies; the result was the division of the industry into two rival.
