I heard someone say tonight that they were working towards making real movies. This statement was said in comparison to films made here locally. So according to this person there are real movies and then there are the ones that people like I make. That annoyed me. Especially since the apparent determining value for this person of what makes a movie a "real movie" is the amount of money that goes into making it.
I argue that any story put to film is a real movie. It doesn't matter if the thing cost you a few bucks or no bucks... it's a real movie. Don't let anyone tell you any different. Don't let someone downgrade the hard work you and others put into telling your story.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
Competition
In the world of film making there is competition. There really isn't a way to get away from it. Some competition is good for you. It causes you to want to do better each time you get behind the camera. You can't rest on your "good enough" as there is always going to be someone out there who is pushing to make a better film than the last one he made and you don't want to get left behind.
What we don't need is the kind of competition that results in back stabbing, name calling, manipulation, and flat out lying. This does nothing but breed a culture of weakness. We should not tear down others to make us feel stronger. We should challenge ourselves to actually BE stronger.
The best way is to focus on your own work. Don't bother yourself with what everyone else is doing. If you are then your attention is leaving your own work and causing it to suffer. Do your best and learn from any mistakes that may arise.
In a small film making community that I am in the best thing for it is for there to be as many good film makers as possible. One person can't support the community. The more great films coming out the area the more people of the community will take notice of what we're doing and treat us like a viable source of entertainment apart from the films Hollywood is pumping out.
It's not a life or death battle for king of the mountain. It's telling stories that might connect with others. Let's focus on that.
What we don't need is the kind of competition that results in back stabbing, name calling, manipulation, and flat out lying. This does nothing but breed a culture of weakness. We should not tear down others to make us feel stronger. We should challenge ourselves to actually BE stronger.
The best way is to focus on your own work. Don't bother yourself with what everyone else is doing. If you are then your attention is leaving your own work and causing it to suffer. Do your best and learn from any mistakes that may arise.
In a small film making community that I am in the best thing for it is for there to be as many good film makers as possible. One person can't support the community. The more great films coming out the area the more people of the community will take notice of what we're doing and treat us like a viable source of entertainment apart from the films Hollywood is pumping out.
It's not a life or death battle for king of the mountain. It's telling stories that might connect with others. Let's focus on that.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Lack of Support
Most folks don't understand when I tell them that I am a filmmaker. I get quizzical looks and then the usual question.
"What does that mean?"
It means that I make films. While a lot of my work consists of weddings, commercials, promo videos, and web vids I also spend my time making narrative films. When I'm not shooting them I'm thinking about them, writing them, planning to shoot them, and talking about them. I have stories that I'm trying to tell and the medium I'm using is film.
People don't understand that I can do this without being in Hollywood. That I am able to do this in my town with very little money is really hard for them to understand. I think this is why people don't take the time to help support the local filmmaker. It's because they don't understand.
Indie and local film making is very different from big budget films. A studio will make a flick for millions of dollars and then spend nearly as much as the film cost to make putting it out in front of the public eye in the form of commercials and posters. We don't have that kind of money. We rely on word of mouth for the most part. Friends telling friends. When our own friends won't spread the word it kills a lot of momentum for our films to get out there. I don't think they do it on purpose it's just that they aren't used to having to spread the word about movies. They are used to letting the studio do all the work and for us poor local filmmakers that just isn't gonna work.
It takes everyone telling everyone to get these films out to the people. If a local filmmaker asks you to help out then I beg you to do your part. Even if the film isn't your cup of tea let it be known that this form of film making is out there and let people decide if it's for them or not. I also encourage discussion about the films. If there is something that doesn't work for you speak up and lets discuss it. Don't bash the film but come at it with a reasonable argument and lets chat. That's part of the fun about making the films. I want to hear what you honestly think. Who knows... you may change my mind on things and the next film will be that much better.
In the end it comes down to keeping the film out there. If it's sent to you then share it. Don't let the film stop on your doorstep and think that you don't need to help because someone else will probably do it. Support the local artists. Tell people.
"What does that mean?"
It means that I make films. While a lot of my work consists of weddings, commercials, promo videos, and web vids I also spend my time making narrative films. When I'm not shooting them I'm thinking about them, writing them, planning to shoot them, and talking about them. I have stories that I'm trying to tell and the medium I'm using is film.
People don't understand that I can do this without being in Hollywood. That I am able to do this in my town with very little money is really hard for them to understand. I think this is why people don't take the time to help support the local filmmaker. It's because they don't understand.
Indie and local film making is very different from big budget films. A studio will make a flick for millions of dollars and then spend nearly as much as the film cost to make putting it out in front of the public eye in the form of commercials and posters. We don't have that kind of money. We rely on word of mouth for the most part. Friends telling friends. When our own friends won't spread the word it kills a lot of momentum for our films to get out there. I don't think they do it on purpose it's just that they aren't used to having to spread the word about movies. They are used to letting the studio do all the work and for us poor local filmmakers that just isn't gonna work.
It takes everyone telling everyone to get these films out to the people. If a local filmmaker asks you to help out then I beg you to do your part. Even if the film isn't your cup of tea let it be known that this form of film making is out there and let people decide if it's for them or not. I also encourage discussion about the films. If there is something that doesn't work for you speak up and lets discuss it. Don't bash the film but come at it with a reasonable argument and lets chat. That's part of the fun about making the films. I want to hear what you honestly think. Who knows... you may change my mind on things and the next film will be that much better.
In the end it comes down to keeping the film out there. If it's sent to you then share it. Don't let the film stop on your doorstep and think that you don't need to help because someone else will probably do it. Support the local artists. Tell people.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)