STORYTELLER MOTIVES

**GREATwarEAGLE** · January 6th, 2004, 02:24 AM

I guess its safe to say we're all interested in filmmaking to tell stories. But that's obvious and vague.

I've been creative my entire life - pencil drawings (semi-photorealist), short stories that I began in grade school, took an interest in acting in my teens, then began writing scripts because the auditions I was going on were of horrible material. Except a small few (I actually turned down the lead in a indie film, EDGE OF SEVENTEEN, that went on to win awards and then, went on an open call for an unconventional comedy RUSHMORE and was interviewed by a somewhat unknown director (who knew?)
Never got called back

Anyway...all of that, combined with my low tolerance for oppressive authority has shaped me into something of an anti-establishment storyteller. Also due to my father being a wounded Vietnam vet. As I've written before - Im not into fame, celebrity, stardom, money (actors and some filmmakers are grossly overpaid -they've got the studios by the balls) I dont ever expect to become rich as I dont write anything even resembling summer blockbusters.

I just wanna speak my mind. I find myself interested in topics that stir up a shitstorm, but with reason. Censorship is the topic right now in my current script.

This is the most I've ever exposed of mself on this board, Im usually more private
But I think it's healthy.

Anyone else............

**Nigel** · January 6th, 2004, 05:30 AM

Well, As another thread exposed my views on finding inspriation and the way I work as a DP/DoP....I will go into some personal history.

I also started writing in grade school. Then I explored the wilds with a Super8 camera. I had an obsession with filming birds of prey. Most of the time they were nothing more than specks somewhere on a very grainy screen. Later on it turned into some very cool Macro shots of flowers and insects on them. The Flower series is still something I will burn about 400' of film on a year. It is more of an exploration in trying to create a moving painting than anything marketable.

Like GWE--I am also an Anti-Establishment guy--It even led to a small foray into politics as a Libertarian--there is my plug for the "party".

Right now, I am trying to pound the street for projects. If all goes as planned I will have two (low-budget but decent) features back to back this Summer and hopefully a few shorts mixed in there too. Making some money along the way is a priority. I don't expect to get rich but it would be nice to be able to go the 2-3 months between projects without having to get a temp job or working for friends. A professor I had at the East-Coast film school would always say "Even the clown in the circus scooping up elephant shit still says he is in show business." Ahhhhhhh......The nature of our industry.

So that is a bit more about me.......

Good Luck

**thelaughingduck2001** · January 6th, 2004, 06:10 PM

I've always liked telling stories. When I was about 9 I wrote and illustrated (pretty damn well if I might add LOL) Space Wars: Rebel Alliance, which was a fusion of the characters from Red Dwarf and Star Wars, and Spiderman Vs. Freddy Krueger (the front cover was Spiderman in Freddy's outfit)

Since I was younger I've wanted to be a comic book artist, but these past few years I've really got into films. This year, I wanted to write a screenplay (after several stupid teenage attempts at novel writing) and wrote a short and sweet (83 pages) character-driven screenplay called SOS (initials I am not going to reveal-it's a damn good title IMO)

So, yes-I am in this to tell stories. even if I cannot direct, I would hope that at least someone gets to hear my tale (of course except from friends and family-but that's obvious LOL)

**andyblaa** · January 6th, 2004, 09:45 PM

Any chance of putting up the screenplay somewhere? I'd be interested to read it.

**belovedmonster** · January 7th, 2004, 12:28 AM

i came into film making backwards... i made a film and had loads of fun doing it and then decided to watch some lol

i mean ive always watched movies, but its only since i made a movie that i really got into them. I guess ive always been a creative person tho.

Personaly im after as much fame and money as i can get!

**miker** · January 7th, 2004, 07:11 AM

I sometimes wonder why I maintain my interest. I mean, I had my shot in the 90s and blew it (kinda). But that just made me realise how pathetic large parts of the industry are anyway and that I could still get there. It's just going to take time. But I am now happily equipped with a thick skin and real experience. I do know how a film gets made. That's when I realised that I know a bit about everything, that I generally know what is possible, and that I know where to find answers. All I don't have is shedloads of money or any investors. So I'm biding my time, getting my script as 'right' as possible then - blam. A final shot. Depending on the mark of that final shot will probably determine whether or not I call it a day. Frankly, I'm old, tired, and more than a little jaded. Something tells me I'll never quite be able to put it down though ...

**eidde** · January 7th, 2004, 09:12 AM

Stories, yeah for sure.

Personally this is more of a matter of wish fullfilment, and getting on with it rather than talking about it.

Film making is something I always wanted to do, and just talked about it. I had and have no particular talent for it, I just knew it would be a fun thing to do, and I thought I could create something with meaning, create a shitstorm like you say.

After finally getting on with it, turning the vague ambition into a reality, a few years into the project, I think the experience has been much more illuminating than I thought it would be.

Im not as naive as I was. I havent created a shitstorm ( a shit film maybe -ha ha). The actual process of dealing with people, the organisation was far more difficult than I imagined it would be. I dont know if I was unlucky (or lucky), or just bad at it, but Ive had some great experiences and some great people have helped out, and Ive learned alot about creative motivation and loyalty.

The actual bare bones process is pretty straight forward. The hard bit it getting the motivation together to get on with it.

Story telling is the bottom line I know, but I dont know how convinced I am that its all that important. Certainly the stories I have to tell.

Oh yes, and in the meantime other people seem so much BETTER at it than myself ;-) And there are so many people out there doing it :-)

Still its something to do inbetween going to work, doing up the house and having babys.

You guys sound like you have the right motives. I dont want to be too noble, but I think creating something should mean something. I mean take a look at Cathy Come Home, the only film I can think of that had a direct influence on a political agenda. That meant something.
Surely thats the reason to do anything. I know thats not true for everyone on this forum, but that was my original idealistic motivation for film-making.

Although having said that, I read once that if you want to change the world, dont become a writer, become a politican.

Take a look around you. Films rarely change anything for very long, people go to the cinema for many reasons, escapism, self satisfaction, wish fullfilment, entertainment, education, but I think its a rare moment that it changes anyones life.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ January 07, 2004 05:27 AM: Message edited by: eidde ]</font>

**emjen** · January 7th, 2004, 09:49 AM

Since I was a little kid I was always making up movies for me to star in. After that I figured why not make movies without me to star in?

I don't know. I like good stories. I guess everyone does. But some people just have the need to make them up and tell them to the rest.

I've done a lot of shorts which didn't make any sense and made lots of people laugh. They were all good excercises and all, but now I'm going to make some good shorts and film them. I've finally started a good production group with a lot of motivated people - and a shitload of viewers.

It's really when you get (great) responses from the audience which makes you get motivated for further and better projects. For me anyways.

(I thought American Beauty made people think about life another way...)

**GREATwarEAGLE** · January 7th, 2004, 12:37 PM

Although having said that, I read once that if you want to change the world, dont become a writer, become a politican.

Take a look around you. Films rarely change anything for very long, people go to the cinema for many reasons, escapism, self satisfaction, wish fullfilment, entertainment, education, but I think its a rare moment that it changes anyones life.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yeah. I dont expect to change the world. Only to offer thought-provoking material, with humor. Provide questions, not answers.

However I do believe films can and do put a sigicficant dent in people's lives. Its just not always direct and obvious.

Then there are some films that can inspire career choices.
I know some people wanted to become police officers (or better police officers) after having seen SERPICO.