what did evryone get for christmas (another topic from windowslaws!)

[belovedmonster]

I will answer by asking....Does a writer need to read other peoples books/poems??

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Thats not a similar situation, in so much as a writer works alone and does what they like. What use is a DP if i say i want my film to be lit like X movie and you havent seen it? Or i say i want it to be a homage to X movies style, and you havent seen it?

[Nigel]

I have delt with that before--It really isn't that big of a deal. I will do two things....

1) Force the director to say more than "I am going for a look like XXXXXX." I will make him or her use a lot of adjectives and describe the mood and feel they want. This will also help them to really solidify imagery and start the communication off on the right foot between us.

2) If it is a direct homage and a things need to be replicated then I will rent it.

It really isn't a problem. The director hired me because he/she likes what I brought to other movies. They hired my vision and style. If they want to have complete control over the image and turn me into a Camera Operator then I will need to evaluate the relationship and the job.

I worked for one director like that she would tell me "Make it look good" or "Make it look sexy." What the fuck does that mean?? I would ask her "What do you find Sexy?? What do you find to look good??" I hated that director I am glad I will never work for her again since she didn't have anyway of communicating outside of simple sentences.

The Director and the DP need to really understand each other what each other want out of the picture. This come from more than "I want it to look like movie XXXXX." Because, if that is all the director can come up with--Perhaps he/she shouldn't be directing.

Good Luck

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ December 27, 2003 10:06 PM: Message edited by: Nigel ]</font>

[MatJimMood]

I would of thought a vast knowledge of cinema history would come in useful rather than provide a hindrance. Most other artists study past masters in their field to get a clearer understanding of what has been before and where they are going.

You say that you'd rather walk through a museum, look at paintings and photographs. That seems as though you are dismissing the very artform that you are skilled in, in favour of other, 'high culture' artforms.
Why don't you paint or become a professional photographer rather than make films?

It seems really strange to me that you don't have a passion for watching films but you do have a passion for making them.

[Nigel]

I would like to say that my ability to paint is horrid.

The reason I look at these "High Arts" is because of the way that these "Masters" are able to capture light and mood. As a Cinematographer(One who writes with light) it is my job to look at how I personally can use light and change it.

Art is a personal form of expression and communication. At times people need others to help them bring their art to life--Be it a film or Michaelangelo have teams of people painting the Sistine Chapel. At others no one is needed to help with the birth of expression.

For me--I find it better to be free of knowing how others did something and allow it to be borne out of my own mind than feeling as though I am simply copying someone's style.

No matter what I made it--The expression is mine and there is nothing worse than making something only to have a viewer say--"Oh it's like XXXX." No. It is not. It is its own object unlike anything that has come before or that will come after. I am not saying it is always good either.

Thus in that my feeling is that all people are Unique. All expressions therefore are Unique to the expressor.

On with the debate--Oh and Thanks GWE.

Good Luck

[MatJimMood]

Originally posted by GREATwarEAGLE:
[QB]Give the guy a break. He does it his way.

(Not that he needs me to defend him)

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"> He doesn't even need to defend himself, it wasn't an attack. I am just curious as to why Nigel has chosen to express himself using an artform that he doesn't have a strong interest in consuming.
The majority of the people on this board will have gotten an interest in filmmaking through their love for films. It's interesting to hear a completely different approach.

However, using the argument that you don't want to copy another filmmaker or DoP's style doesn't really hold weight when you say that you look at paintings for inspiration. Presumably you would be just as pissed off if a viewer was to compare your work to a classical artist. Therefore, why neglect the work of other filmmakers for inspiration. It would also make you aware of when you are producing something that has previoulsy been done and force you to push your creativity. This is why artists study the history of their artform.

[GREATwarEAGLE]

Give the guy a break. He does it his way.

(Not that he needs me to defend him)

And I agree - one doesnt need to know the past "masters" to understand ones own approach. Sometimes that may be too distracting, among other reasons.

So, that being said, Nigel, you think you could be the DP on my next project? I'm lookin for a good sexy look.

[Littlerich]

Originally posted by cash:
got a canon XL1s!

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Lucky Bastard!

Hehehe!
I got a JVC Mini DV camcorder, and Pinnacle Studio DV Clip Editing gear...

Oh, and some DV Tapes.

And some other stuff... SOCKS... yes that was it...

[emjen]

I got absolutely nothing. But I saw a new camera standing next to the Canon-XL1s, but I forgot which one it was. Looked very cool though, and it was pretty expensive as well.

And Orgazmo rules.

[twister!]

Originally posted by Untamed Aggression
...plus I got a fog machine, halogen lamps and a strobe light.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Cool - will you be filming a rave?

PS I got no filmmaking stuff for Christmas - closest thing was a Mag-lite torch, which I did actually use with a reflector today for a bit of fill.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ December 30, 2003 06:16 PM: Message edited by: Justin M. ]</font>