Much like the independent film movements of the late ‘60s and ‘70s and the Miramax-led independent rebirth of the ‘90s rocked the status quo of the tried and true Hollywood system, the seeds of what could be the a new information revolution are beginning to take root. The Ebert and Roepers, the Gene Shalits, and the Michael Medveds of the world could soon be facing a challenge to their thrones. The podcast has arrived, and what was once thought of as a niche medium belonging only to the techno savvy is beginning to prove itself as legitimate a form as the Friday paper movie review.

Still in its infancy, podcasting began to emerge on a grand scale in early 2005. It takes many forms, from condensed radio shows to home recordings. Podcasting is a medium in which anyone, so long as they possess a computer, an internet connection, and the free time, can participate. With this accessibility comes a variety of new alternatives to the limited options that have previously been available. As Itunes has grown, so has the popularity of podcasting. Many have taken advantage of this.

In the summer of 2005, Andy Siems and John Jansen stumbled upon the form as they were looking for a way to revive Siems’ movie blog. Feeling they weren’t reaching their goals after their first two show attempts, they abandoned the traditional movie review formula for something they felt was fresh and unexplored. Friends since film school, the two realized the conversations they had been having for years would be a good basis for a show.

“I was trying to think what could we do that is natural to us and the conversations we were already having,” says Jansen. “It just seemed natural to convert that into a show about a single topic.”

With this idea, The Hollywood Saloon was born. Using editing techniques learned in film school, the two record each side of a phone conversation separately, Siems in Houston, Jansen in San Francisco. Then Siems merges both sides into one recording and edits it. After the addition of movie quotes and music, the episode goes onto the Itunes feed and onto their website (www.hollywoodsaloon.com).

The Hollywood Saloon has found its own niche, with shows ranging from guilty film pleasures to the homogenization of Hollywood films, and from an in-depth look at the history of home video formats to a series on how Hollywood can save itself. The two have found that podcasting gives them freedom to explore any topic they feel needs attention or would be fun.

The one thing they didn’t expect was the popularity that it would garner. Listeners found the show by the thousands.

“We’d said that if we get two hundred people to listen to the show, we’d call it a success,” says Jansen. By that definition, they have been successful beyond their imaginings. The podcast now receives 6,000 to 8,000 downloads per episode. This volume has allowed them to explore extensions of the Hollywood Saloon brand. They have since started Rough Cuts (shorter, more topical shows), the Special Editions (movie reviews, year-end wrap ups, outtakes, and the like), and the soon to be launched live show.

With the growth of the show, the duo hopes the podcast will reach one of its loftiest goals: profitability. With the volume of downloads and the popularity of the website, there is a chance that mainstream advertisers will begin gravitating toward the show. The two are working closely with a marketing firm in Houston.

“We’ve been doing this for two years and we haven’t made a lot of money. We’ve had some very generous donations and they’ve helped a lot,” says Siems. “We were afraid that the listeners would think we’re sellouts, but they know we’ve worked hard on this. We will never let it affect our content.”

One podcast that has embraced the traditional movie review format is Filmspotting. Adam Kempenaar, with his former podcasting partner Sam Van Hallgren, was also looking for an alternative to his movie blog. After reading an article on podcasting, he began listening to what was available. He felt that there was something lacking in the choices of the time.

“I thought…if I could actually pull off a decent show, we could maybe find an audience.” Started in early 2005 as Cinecast, the first episode of the podcast was downloaded by 30 people. When they were picked by Apple to be a featured show on the Itunes version 4.9 launch, the first to include podcasting, their audience skyrocketed. They currently reach over 15,000 listeners per week.

As the listeners found the show, so did an unlikely partner -- mainstream media.

“Chicago Public Radio came to us and said they had an opening in their schedule. They were looking for some new, exciting content like our show and wanted to put us on,” says Kempenaar.

This merging of media has had a positive impact on the show and its hosts. Kempenaar is now a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association, which allows him much greater access to studio screenings, interview opportunities, and film festivals. This is something he feels wouldn’t have happened without the radio opportunity.

“Film festivals and studios are always hesitant about web-based critics and new media they haven’t heard of before.”

The show has survived a co-host change, with Matty Robinson replacing Van Hallgren, and the name change -- the result of a conflict over ownership rights of Cinecast -- and seems only to be growing stronger.

Ultimately, the goal of podcasts such as The Hollywood Saloon and Fimspotting is the same: To entertain and enlighten. As Jansen says, “If a show inspires one person to go out and make a film, that is reason enough for Rough Cuts to exist.”