dogme

Looking at that stupid post that has got out of hand I thought this subject deserved a thread of its own.
Ive only seen Breaking the Waves myself, but I understand that one of the philosophies behind dogme is to destroy the Cultification of the Director. I think this is a really interesting idea. Since every film Ive been involved in (as a director) the images obsess the director. However the final film is never exactly what he/she intended since the project combines the ideas and talents of so many people. Why should the director get *all* the credit for everyones work ?(which he or she invariably does)
And like everyone here says, the story is important. Dogme films seem to emphasise the story over everything else, and besides the dogme 'rules' are perfect low budget guidelines. They allow for improvisation of camera, actors, props and locations. All the 'personalities' that make a film. And I think improvising is the key to low/no budget filmmaking. If you have no equipment or money then you need a good story and some enthusiasm to see it through and make it watchable.
Anyway, Id be interested in anyones comments.

I sometimes wish the cult of the director were more prevalent: it only applies to arthouse/indie movies, mainstream cinema seems much more dominated by the cult of the star. Hence Limbo is "the new John Sayles film" but (ugh) Bicentenial Man is "the new Robin Williams film".

However, on the subject of dogme... It seems to me that it fails in some of its objectives, if they intended that by removing artifice (location lighting, for example) they'd remove some of the distance between the audience and the story - that they'd make the film-making more transparent. They can't get around using a camera, though (now that would be impressive...) and of course a camera is much less efficient than an eye, which causes plenty of non-transparencies. For example, when they change angle, the natural lighting changes. Our eyes would compensate for this but the camera finds it harder, and they end up with an image with more or less graininess, contrast etc. This lack of uniformity actually distracted me from the events portrayed, which is surely not the intended effect. Good, subtle lighting can serve to compensate for the inadequacies of the camera, and give an image that is really more like what we'd see if we were there. Perhaps lighting is less honest, but the whole idea of capturing the light onto film/video is distorting, and sensitive lighting is certainly more transparent.

Of course, we shouldn't take this too seriously (looking at my previous tract I may be damning myself) because dogme was never intended to be a manifesto and none of the founders claimed that all films should be made like this. It was only ever an experiment, to be opted in and out of at will.

dogme is a new filmmaking method created by Lars Von Trier and Tom Vinterburg. It has been used films like Julien and Idioterne among others.

Here are the rules:
1 No props, shoot on location
2 No post sound sync
3 Handheld camera
4 Color only
5 No opticals
6 No Violence
7 Must be in present
8 No genre films
9 Must be academy 35mm
10 No directors credit (why?)

It probably does make directing a lot easier, but why would we wanna make directing easier?
Not a lot of emotional as well as technical effort takes the fun out of it. (at least in my opinion)

As much as dogma has got going for it (especially the chance to get ultra no budget stuff shown and appreciated as ART(!).

Can someone answer me this question;

If directors are not to be accredited then why is The Idiots always followed by A Lars Van Trier movie?

And why did the get stroppy when Harmonie Korrine made Julien Donkeyboy following their rules EXACTLY?

mmm.. what s happened with this former dogme thread. Last time I replied to it, it didn t sound that stupid? Beside I can t find it anymore..deleted? Just wanna know if you don t mind..

Dal:

When you make a Dogme movie you sign a "vow of chasity" or something. You can break the rules, but you must confess to them after you have completed the movie. Which is why the beginning of 'Julien: Donkey Boy' had the words "Harmony Korine" at the beginning.

Sounds very catholic...

And as for "The Idiots" - don't you think it's a metaphor for the whole dogma thang? ie a bunch of posh people playing stupid to try and get to their "true selves" and failing miserably because of their status in society? Think about it...

Would anyone on this site ever make a Dogme movie? When I'm older I'd like to make at least one dogme movie, but only one, as the rules are too limiting to make a diverse career.

Would anyone on this site ever make a Dogme movie? When I'm older I'd like to make at least one dogme movie, but only one, as the rules are too limiting to make a diverse career.

A most exact breakdown of dogme:


This is to certify that the following motion picture "________________" has been produced in compliance with all the rules and intentions set forth in the DOGME 95 manifesto.

I swear to submit to the following set of rules drawn up and confirmed by DOGME 95:

1. Shooting must be done on location. Props must not be brought in. If a particular prop is neccesary for the story, a location must be chosen where this prop is to be found.

2. The sound must never be produced apart from the images or vice versa. Music must not be used unless it occurs where the action is taking place.

3. The camera must be hand-held. Any movement or immobility attainable with the hand is permitted. The film must not take place where the camera is standing; shooting must take place where the film takes place.

4. The film must be in color. Special lighting is not acceptable. If there is too little light for exposure, the scene must either be cut out or a single lamp must be attached to the top of the camera.

5. Optical work and filters are forbidden.

6. The film must not contain superficial action. Murders, weapons, etc. must not occur.

7. Temporal and geographical alienation are forbidden. That is to say that the film takes place in the here and now.

8. Genre movies are not acceptable.

9. The film format must be Academy 35mm.

10. The director must not be credited.

Furthermore, I swear as a director to refrain from personal taste. I am no longer an artist, as I swear to refrain from creating a "work" as I regard the instant to be more important than the whole. My supreme goal is to force the truth out of my characters and settings. I swear to do so by all means neccesary and at the cost of good taste, moral value, and aesthetic considerations. Thus I make my Vow Of Chasity.

______________________(The location and date here)

On behalf of DOGME 95
______________________(Your name(s) here)


And that is dogme.