It's all been done!

[emjen]

there are still tons of original ideas left. You can do original stuff with zombies and guns too. I have a very original story with zombies, really. It's really neat. Honestly. I won't tell because you'll steal.

Thing is, the ones that try NOT to make claccical-structured films try too hard, and fall into their own traps of complete boredome and fancy-schmancy artyfarty shit.

It's all contradictory. I don't like david lynch, yet I moan about new experimental shit. David Lynch brings new ways of filmmaking into our world, and I think I should just accept it for what it is. I don't have to like it, but I don't have to call him a wannabe artist or anything either. Lots of you guys too moan about unoriginal crap, but anything that's original is 'too arty' or 'too experimental'. It's a question about what do you want?

I don't think its necessary to avoid cliches by just writing about your own life. You can also avoid clich?s by knowing that you're creating them and doing something about them - and you've really got to create great characters who'll eventually end up doing things you don't want them to do.

Get original ideas, mix them with some other original ideas, and create them with your vision. I don't believe in themes that much anymore. Everyone keeps saying that each film should have 'one theme'. Just have a vision, and make it clear through your movie.

[Spoon boy]

Don't you be dissin' the Rolf.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Agreed.

[windowslaws]

just forget the rule book


write something. if it makes sense and tells an interesting story you're half way there.


how do you think hasselhoff got to where he is now? with a rule book. NO. he rebelled

[Alex]

The best stories remain in day to day life experiences that exclude writers because they aren't there to witness it.

Get a job as a video deposition cameraperson. You get to study facial expressions and find out why people do what they do and you get paid for it.

Get paid to be around people who aren't ordering you around every second and you will get lots of story ideas.

[twister!]

This is something I've been thinking about recently too.

The problem is that the Hollywod studios have completely flooded the market and the result is that we are now brainwashed into thinking that this is the only way a film should work, how it should be structured, how it should look, how the characters should behave, that everything must be explained and it all should be tied up neatly with a pretty bow at the end.

Everything seems as if it has come of a production line desperately trying to appeal to the lowest common denomenator without alienating anybody. Afraid to take risks, afraid to try something new and afraid to break from the formula.

But there ARE other ways. Occasionally little gems come along. The fact that there are so few makes them even more special.

I read an excellent piece recently which was describing this situation. The writer was basically saying that to avoid clich? filmmakers MUST remain truthful to themselves - make films about what they know from their OWN lives - as soon as a writer starts making things up beyond his/her own experiences they inevitably fall into clich?.
(I'll try and dig out the piece and post it up).

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ February 13, 2004 12:43 PM: Message edited by: Justin M. ]</font>

[thelaughingduck2001]

In this World, there are rebels, and there are innovators. When I made Darkplace, I was a rebel, the show, is about a rebel Doctor who rebels against the system, I was rebelling against Tv by making something against the book. But if that doesn't make me an innovator, I don't know what does-

Garth Marenghi, 2004

[twister!]

That last quote made me think of (paraphrased):

Fuck committees ( I believe in lunatics)

It's about the struggle between individuals with passion in their work and today's faceless corporate committees, which claim to understand the needs of the mass audience, and are removing the ideosyncrasies, polishing the edges, creating a thought free, passion free, cultural mush that will not be hated nor loved by anyone. By now virtually all media has been freed from ideas, individual passion, and have been relegated to a role of corporate strategies and stock prices.

Corporations have become the sole arbiters of cultural ideas and taste. Our culture is corporate culture.

But to be fair the above is only 99 per cent true.

Find the cracks in the wall, there are a few lunatic entrepeneurs who will understand that culture and design are not about fatter wallets, but about creating a future. Under other cicumstances they may have turned out like you - creative lunatics. Believe me, they are there and when you find them, treat them well and use their money to change the world.

Tibor Kalman, New York 1998