THE LIMITATIONS ARE LIMITLESS

[Generic Skinhead]

Someone asked for a proper debate so lets have one!

A lot of ye seem to aim to one day be in a position to make "big" movies. I put forward the idea that often a directors best work comes out of adversity, financial or otherwise. To put it more broadily, too much freedom ruins an artist.

The example I will use is that of Frank "One man, one film" Capra. He felt that working for Columbia held him back artistically, despite notching up some very successful films there. He did not see film as a collabrative media and could only see his crew as a limitation he must endure. When he eventually left Columbia, he never again captured the magic of his earlier work, despite having total stylistic and genre control.

In our case working low-budget encourages us to be more creative. Restrictions may even become a blessing from an educational point of view.

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I can't believe I sold my image rights for a pint of Guinness!

[steven_craig]

i kinda agree - but the financial limitations are always a pain in the butt for me and usually stifle my creativity.. forever am i saying "bollocks, wish i had a crane for that shot" or "damn that brand new PC could render my stuff a lot quicker that this one" - some of the most creative pieces of cinema have come from big budgets but to counter that some have come from low budgets too - i love to improvise - and i feel that sometimes not having that ?2 million budget is not a hinderance but an insentive to push you that bit further to get that video just how you want it (with the resources avalible), in the hope it might get recognised...

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a carefull man tries to dodge the bullets, while a happy man takes a walk!

[twister!]

That can be very true, Mr Skinhead, and there are many examples which demonstrate it. It's true of all the arts not just film too and is a strange phenomena (just look at people from successful bands that have decided to go solo - most fail to deliver and disappear into obscurity). Total freedom often results in self indulgence.

Total budgetry freedom can also mean a tendancy to be over-concerned with technicalities and effects over what is really important - the story.

[This message has been edited by twister! (edited February 13, 2002).]

[deanl]

Hey there.

If you have the movie in your head as a completed vision and you have a completed script with everything worked out. Having more money can only bring you closer to getting your exact vision up on screen. Not having the cash only makes you change your vision to what you can afford.

Now if your vision for the movie is bad. Its gonna be bad if you have a 100 million or not.

That could be the problem with Lucas. He is now in a position to get his exact vision up on screen. Just becuase hes vision may be bad doesnt mean its bad he had the cash to try.
If hes vision for his movie was faultless and he made that exact movie it would be a faultless movie. It would be great. I for one cant wait to be in that position asa filmmaker.

Despin out.

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"Ive got bad feeling about this."

[ac_01]

wow, it took just three posts to turn into another lucas debate...

I agree that cash may not necessarily be a bad thing. It is only when the finance and technology clouds your vision and none of that cash goes into the story. Take a look at pearl harboUr... all the effects and hollywood polish. Strip that away and you are left with next to nothing. Having said this limitations allow you to break away from formula and try something new... or as they say "think outside the box".

However to think outside the box you must first be in it...

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There can be only one.

[twister!]

I agree that to people with no money like us - having at least SOME money would be a great help in achieving 'the vision'. Most people here struggle to get a camera, let alone anything else - meaning that 'the vision' must be compromised - a definite hinderance!

[This message has been edited by twister! (edited February 13, 2002).]

[redlum]

I have the budget and resources for a film in my head from step 1 - when I'm writing. I have lots of good ideas that I haven't written because they are impossible to acieve in my present situation. Not because special effects (well most of the time) but because of things like the ability of actors and locations. I try to make it possible so that the vision of the film I have in my head, will be the same as the on screen version. That way I dont get disapointed or lose enthusiasm for it. I think this forces me to be more creative on a basic level and instead of learning mistakes from other people (e.g using 200X zoom - not that I do!), I learn from my own experinces from the beginning.

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[untamed_aggression]

Although it would undoubtedly kick ass, I'm not that fussed about working in Hollywood.

As long as I make films, big budget or not, I'm happy.

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"The problem is, I lost creative control of the project...And I forgot to ask for any money."

http://www.untamedaggression.iofm.net

[Yammeryammeryammer]

I agree to some degree Mr. Head.
Some of the best films have been made for the price of a few used cars. Like El Mariachi. Or Clerks. Financed largely from a stay in a hospital and credit cards respectively. And how about ingenuitive things like Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert for the Evil Dead? They went out and got investors to make their idea happen the way they wanted it. With no money, comes no pressure, and that means no limits.

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"Before you criticize a man, walk a mile in his shoes. Then, when you do start to criticize him, you're already a mile away, and you have his shoes." -CEO of Stebner Getting Hit By a Car Productions Ltd.

[Yammeryammeryammer]

Hey Mr. Head.
I think that some of the best films have been made for the price of a few old cars. Like El Mariachi and Clerks. And the Evil Dead with Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert seeking funding from doctors and lawyers and such. Ingenuity. You have more incentive to be creative with no budget. But the freedom comes with money. Weird. In my opinion. No money, means no pressure, gives you no limitations.


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"Before you criticize a man, walk a mile in his shoes. Then, when you do start to criticize him, you're already a mile away, and you have his shoes." -CEO of Stebner Getting Hit By a Car Productions Ltd.