Digital is a relatively young medium, but so is film. To be honest I believe it’s usually content over format, but for the sake of debate film will look better for the time being. Digital technology is evolving and will continue to evolve and eventually replace. In many respects it already has, theaters are integrating digital projection and many comedies are shot digitally. SUPERBAD is one film that comes to mind, I think they used the genesis, it seems to be a dollar and cents thing because comedy is a genre that tends to favour content over visuals.
The wonderful thing about digital technologies is that they level the playing field allowing more people to become filmmakers and tell the stories they may never were able to before. This technology allows for coverage, that is the biggest advantage it offers, film is very expensive with all of the processing and transfers regardless of finishing.
Having a chance to shoot some test footage for the red I have to say it’s the next step, not quite there, but almost there.
Mann is prone to constantly re-cutting versions of his film, apparently many of the DVD releases for his films are not the theatrical cuts. This would be cool for a criterion release because it can include all of the different versions of any of his films. A criterion of the Insider would be cool in addition to Thief, there were no features on either of those dvds, but I could do with another edition of Heat.
For me Miami Vice suffered from being to large in scope, I thought the story Mann wanted to tell was too large spanning from the florida keys to cuba. I think it would have benefitted from just being set in one location, like Heat. Add to that, the fact that Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx had no chemistry together, I didn’t really buy them as partners and the fact that the production was marred with so many technical difficulties like a hurricane which sent them over budget. However, the digital look for the movie was great, the viper camera was utilized well it had an interesting look.
I’m wondering what peoples feelings are about collateral? I’m a big fan myself.
You should check out this documentary called F&$K!!! It goes into the history of the word and actually talks to one of the producers of Deadwood and he says the use of profanity is done as a means of lawlessness within the context of the wild west. I think it was some arty excuse, because it’s not TV it’s HBO and on regular TV you can’t say… You know.
Excessive swearing in films can be a sign of actors trying to ad-lib and failing miserably, a great example of this for me is a shoot that I was on where the lead actor, when given the chance to improvise, consistently relied on the word. This was funny because he was playing an intellectual philosopher making it seem inappropriate.
Even in films where the word would be acceptable like the terrible crime film Running Scared, ever second word was Fuck this or Fuck that or Fuck you, and caused word to lose it’s impact and all meaning. But then again it can be uses excessively and work for some reason, I really think it depends on the context and the calibre of the actor who is using the word.
In addition to the amount of exposure he’s gotten its the bank that the majority of his movies attain that casts this public persona around him. The business side of the industry enjoys him because of the mass appeal factor of his movies, and add to that the multiple number of genres that his work spans which leaves something for everyone’s film tastes. While he is not my favourite filmmaker I do have respect for him, in that he is able to entertain on such a large scale.
When I saw John Woo’s The Killer, I had never seen an action movie that had such a compelling story, being a child of the 80’s I was surrounded by Arnold, Jean-Claude, Sly, and Dolph. Also the level of choreography was something I had never seen before. This movie opened me up to Hong Kong cinema which then opened the door to more international films.
David, couldn’t have said it better myself, film is such a subjective medium. I’ve seen the movie, it treads waters that are not unfamiliar but I think its popularity speaks to the film being given a wider release (here in Toronto anyway) after such a small limited run. I wonder would it have been such an “overrated” film had it not been given this chance to expand the its audience, would we then be thinking about it differently?
Toronto, I’m a big fan of C.R.A.Z.Y. by Jean-Marc Vallée, its a must for me and Michael Dowse’s It’s all gone Pete Tong, Shortbus might work or even Young People Fucking, Cube would be another classic and while we’re at it maybe some Foolproof or bon cop bad cop (just kidding on the last two).
My advice is if your work is the best you have done so far but would be something that would benefit from money then hold on to the idea until you either have enough money to make it into a short (assuming its a feature) and shop it around to get funding for the feature.
Also, if your area or closest major city has a film co-operative or gear houses I would recommend getting a membership and putting in some volunteer time there or try to get a part time job. This will benefit you by being able to get gear cheaply and allow you meet other filmmakers, DOP’s, Sound Designers, etc who may have their own gear but are in need of a project.
Since you are focused on making dramatic pieces I would say your major concern should be casting, finding the right actors for your roles is the most important job a director has because the wrong person will kill your vision. This is just my two cents I’m still working at it myself but this is what has helped me over the years.
The only thing I would be cautious about is the transfer with the video heads, I used an old sony PD-150 and a Z1U, and when I captured the footage there was a lot of noise. Also if you are shooting video you know that red bleed on an SD television, but with the worn Z1U despite being HDV there was some degrading in the colours, even though the camera worked fine. I would just be cautious and ask if they can do some colour chart tests for you.
I’m inclined to agree with you, this inability to suspend belief has been pretty rampant since the mainstream acceptance of paparazzi and gossip shows that take in the vein of entertainment tonight, there seems to be a billion of them now. We are bombarded with celebrity scandals/news on a daily basis, it’s become a form of publicity for some, which just furthers this notion of the celebrity persona. I guess then the only blowback is if such an actor does an “oscar- worthy” film.
I went to see Revolutionary Road yesterday and found myself being taken out of the film by incessant talking. This has been something that has been on my mind as of late how people can pay $12 plus and talk loudly through an entire film. It has never been this bad, I go to the mainstream theaters two to three times a week and have had people talk consistently in every movie I’ve seen over the last few weeks. I think with the popularity home theaters people are just used to chatting to their friends loudly during a movie. I’m wondering if anyone has been noticing this increase in lack of etiquette?
It’s funny because I head that they are basing the screenplay off of the comics not the Korean movie. The film adaptation of this comic is much better than the source material, I have to say. Having read the comic, it would be in the realm of the pg-13 Will Smith 50 million dollar opening weekend range because all of the stuff that made Chan Wook Parks Oldboy so good is not in the comics. Plus I don’t think Big Willy would be up for cutting his tongue out.
Bullet in the Head (John Woo)
Old Boy (Chan Wook Park)
A Bittersweet Life (Kim Ji Woon)
Brick (Rian Johnson)
City of God (Fernando Meirelles)
Thief (Michael Mann)
The Limey (Steven Soderbergh)
Kontroll (Nimród Antal)
Paradise Now (Hany Abu-Assad)
Sexy Beast (Jonathan Glazer)
I thought art houses were a safe place myself, but while I was getting my undergrad I went to a screening of 2046. Now usually a the films I’d seen there up until that point were quiet, no one talked, but during this movie there were two young women behind me talking as loudly. Some of it was funny, when one girl uttered,in reference to Tony Leung’s character, “oh my god that guy is a total man-whore?” but then her and her friend continues on and on about how the movie “sucked balls”, I finally told them to leave if they thought it sucked or shut their mouths, then they laughed and continued talking. After that it has been more of the same, I think I’m cursed, there is always someone talking at every movie I have seen in the theatre since.
Kino gets some good stuff, I just wish they had some better prints. Also, Alliance Atlantis in Canada which I think gets distribution for Focus, Rogue, Miramax, the Weinsteins they’re not too bad.
Kino gets some good stuff, I just wish they had some better prints. Also, Alliance Atlantis in Canada which I think gets distribution for Focus, Rogue, Miramax, the Weinsteins they’re not too bad.
In addition to straight to video markets the internet also provides a forum for independent filmmakers by using viral marketing as a tool for promotion or even possibly screening like the model used for the chappelle show. In Canada the movie network is required to have Canadian content (can-con) which includes independent film, so specialty channels will also serve as a market.
In the mood for Love ( Christopher Doyle)
SE7EN (Darius Khondji)
The Prestige (Wally Pfister)
NARC (Alex Nepomniaschy)
The Royal Tenenbaums (Robert Yeoman)
La Dolce Vita (Otello Martelli)
Le Samourai (Henri Decae)
The New World (Emmanuel Lubezki, move was shot with only available light, fuckin’ amazing cinematography)
What was the first Criterion movie you watched? over 3 years ago
Hard Boiled on laser disc, remember that?
Go to Comment
WHAT IS YOUR PICK FOR THE WORSE MOVIE EVER MADE? over 3 years ago
Mortal Kombat 2: Annihilation. Yeah, I saw it. Don’t judge me.
Go to Comment
for cinematographers or lovers of images over 3 years ago
Digital is a relatively young medium, but so is film. To be honest I believe it’s usually content over format, but for the sake of debate film will look better for the time being. Digital technology is evolving and will continue to evolve and eventually replace. In many respects it already has, theaters are integrating digital projection and many comedies are shot digitally. SUPERBAD is one film that comes to mind, I think they used the genesis, it seems to be a dollar and cents thing because comedy is a genre that tends to favour content over visuals.
The wonderful thing about digital technologies is that they level the playing field allowing more people to become filmmakers and tell the stories they may never were able to before. This technology allows for coverage, that is the biggest advantage it offers, film is very expensive with all of the processing and transfers regardless of finishing.
Having a chance to shoot some test footage for the red I have to say it’s the next step, not quite there, but almost there.
Go to Comment
Michael Mann-style over 3 years ago
Mann is prone to constantly re-cutting versions of his film, apparently many of the DVD releases for his films are not the theatrical cuts. This would be cool for a criterion release because it can include all of the different versions of any of his films. A criterion of the Insider would be cool in addition to Thief, there were no features on either of those dvds, but I could do with another edition of Heat.
Go to Comment
How Big Is Your DVD Collection? over 3 years ago
Up to 860 with about 50 of them being Criterions.
Go to Comment
Michael Mann-style over 3 years ago
For me Miami Vice suffered from being to large in scope, I thought the story Mann wanted to tell was too large spanning from the florida keys to cuba. I think it would have benefitted from just being set in one location, like Heat. Add to that, the fact that Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx had no chemistry together, I didn’t really buy them as partners and the fact that the production was marred with so many technical difficulties like a hurricane which sent them over budget. However, the digital look for the movie was great, the viper camera was utilized well it had an interesting look.
I’m wondering what peoples feelings are about collateral? I’m a big fan myself.
Go to Comment
use of profanity in film over 3 years ago
You should check out this documentary called F&$K!!! It goes into the history of the word and actually talks to one of the producers of Deadwood and he says the use of profanity is done as a means of lawlessness within the context of the wild west. I think it was some arty excuse, because it’s not TV it’s HBO and on regular TV you can’t say… You know.
Excessive swearing in films can be a sign of actors trying to ad-lib and failing miserably, a great example of this for me is a shoot that I was on where the lead actor, when given the chance to improvise, consistently relied on the word. This was funny because he was playing an intellectual philosopher making it seem inappropriate.
Even in films where the word would be acceptable like the terrible crime film Running Scared, ever second word was Fuck this or Fuck that or Fuck you, and caused word to lose it’s impact and all meaning. But then again it can be uses excessively and work for some reason, I really think it depends on the context and the calibre of the actor who is using the word.
Go to Comment
Spielbergo el supremo? over 3 years ago
In addition to the amount of exposure he’s gotten its the bank that the majority of his movies attain that casts this public persona around him. The business side of the industry enjoys him because of the mass appeal factor of his movies, and add to that the multiple number of genres that his work spans which leaves something for everyone’s film tastes. While he is not my favourite filmmaker I do have respect for him, in that he is able to entertain on such a large scale.
Go to Comment
what film or films may have made you into the fan/fanatic you are over 3 years ago
When I saw John Woo’s The Killer, I had never seen an action movie that had such a compelling story, being a child of the 80’s I was surrounded by Arnold, Jean-Claude, Sly, and Dolph. Also the level of choreography was something I had never seen before. This movie opened me up to Hong Kong cinema which then opened the door to more international films.
Go to Comment
Movies That Should Be In the Criterion Collection over 3 years ago
The Conversation, Un Flic, NARC, Election 1&2,
Go to Comment
Your 5 Favourite Directors over 3 years ago
No order to this
Michael Mann
Steven Soderbergh
John Woo
Wes Anderson
Johnnie To
Go to Comment
Slumdog Millionaire Overrated Film of the Year over 3 years ago
David, couldn’t have said it better myself, film is such a subjective medium. I’ve seen the movie, it treads waters that are not unfamiliar but I think its popularity speaks to the film being given a wider release (here in Toronto anyway) after such a small limited run. I wonder would it have been such an “overrated” film had it not been given this chance to expand the its audience, would we then be thinking about it differently?
Go to Comment
Dear Criterion over 3 years ago
Are there any animated films in the criterion collection?
Go to Comment
Are you able to watch a film and ignore plot holes? over 3 years ago
Depends how big the plot hole is I guess, if its not severe then I can overlook it and still enjoy the movie.
Go to Comment
Do you consider films to be a form of entertainment? over 3 years ago
It’s a hybrid medium that is heavily subjective. So there is something for everyone just like music or literature hell even television.
Go to Comment
Films for Canadians over 3 years ago
Toronto, I’m a big fan of C.R.A.Z.Y. by Jean-Marc Vallée, its a must for me and Michael Dowse’s It’s all gone Pete Tong, Shortbus might work or even Young People Fucking, Cube would be another classic and while we’re at it maybe some Foolproof or bon cop bad cop (just kidding on the last two).
Go to Comment
Question from a student film maker. over 3 years ago
My advice is if your work is the best you have done so far but would be something that would benefit from money then hold on to the idea until you either have enough money to make it into a short (assuming its a feature) and shop it around to get funding for the feature.
Also, if your area or closest major city has a film co-operative or gear houses I would recommend getting a membership and putting in some volunteer time there or try to get a part time job. This will benefit you by being able to get gear cheaply and allow you meet other filmmakers, DOP’s, Sound Designers, etc who may have their own gear but are in need of a project.
Since you are focused on making dramatic pieces I would say your major concern should be casting, finding the right actors for your roles is the most important job a director has because the wrong person will kill your vision. This is just my two cents I’m still working at it myself but this is what has helped me over the years.
Go to Comment
Should I buy an HVR-A1U with high hours? over 3 years ago
The only thing I would be cautious about is the transfer with the video heads, I used an old sony PD-150 and a Z1U, and when I captured the footage there was a lot of noise. Also if you are shooting video you know that red bleed on an SD television, but with the worn Z1U despite being HDV there was some degrading in the colours, even though the camera worked fine. I would just be cautious and ask if they can do some colour chart tests for you.
Go to Comment
Is the cult of celebrity and PR destroying our ability to suspend disbelief? over 3 years ago
I’m inclined to agree with you, this inability to suspend belief has been pretty rampant since the mainstream acceptance of paparazzi and gossip shows that take in the vein of entertainment tonight, there seems to be a billion of them now. We are bombarded with celebrity scandals/news on a daily basis, it’s become a form of publicity for some, which just furthers this notion of the celebrity persona. I guess then the only blowback is if such an actor does an “oscar- worthy” film.
Go to Comment
What Happened to Etiquette at the Movies? over 3 years ago
I went to see Revolutionary Road yesterday and found myself being taken out of the film by incessant talking. This has been something that has been on my mind as of late how people can pay $12 plus and talk loudly through an entire film. It has never been this bad, I go to the mainstream theaters two to three times a week and have had people talk consistently in every movie I’ve seen over the last few weeks. I think with the popularity home theaters people are just used to chatting to their friends loudly during a movie. I’m wondering if anyone has been noticing this increase in lack of etiquette?
Go to Comment
Oldboy remake - Good idea or sacrilege over 3 years ago
It’s funny because I head that they are basing the screenplay off of the comics not the Korean movie. The film adaptation of this comic is much better than the source material, I have to say. Having read the comic, it would be in the realm of the pg-13 Will Smith 50 million dollar opening weekend range because all of the stuff that made Chan Wook Parks Oldboy so good is not in the comics. Plus I don’t think Big Willy would be up for cutting his tongue out.
Go to Comment
WHICH MOVIES...PUT OUT IN LAST 5 YEARS...DO YOU THINK WILL ONE DAY JOIN THE CRITERION COLLECTION? over 3 years ago
Bullet in the Head (John Woo)
Old Boy (Chan Wook Park)
A Bittersweet Life (Kim Ji Woon)
Brick (Rian Johnson)
City of God (Fernando Meirelles)
Thief (Michael Mann)
The Limey (Steven Soderbergh)
Kontroll (Nimród Antal)
Paradise Now (Hany Abu-Assad)
Sexy Beast (Jonathan Glazer)
Go to Comment
What Happened to Etiquette at the Movies? over 3 years ago
I thought art houses were a safe place myself, but while I was getting my undergrad I went to a screening of 2046. Now usually a the films I’d seen there up until that point were quiet, no one talked, but during this movie there were two young women behind me talking as loudly. Some of it was funny, when one girl uttered,in reference to Tony Leung’s character, “oh my god that guy is a total man-whore?” but then her and her friend continues on and on about how the movie “sucked balls”, I finally told them to leave if they thought it sucked or shut their mouths, then they laughed and continued talking. After that it has been more of the same, I think I’m cursed, there is always someone talking at every movie I have seen in the theatre since.
Go to Comment
other kick ass film distributors over 3 years ago
Kino gets some good stuff, I just wish they had some better prints. Also, Alliance Atlantis in Canada which I think gets distribution for Focus, Rogue, Miramax, the Weinsteins they’re not too bad.
Go to Comment
other kick ass film distributors over 3 years ago
Kino gets some good stuff, I just wish they had some better prints. Also, Alliance Atlantis in Canada which I think gets distribution for Focus, Rogue, Miramax, the Weinsteins they’re not too bad.
Go to Comment
Clint Estwood Presents His Last " Dirty Harry".....Gran Torino. over 3 years ago
I just saw it this past weekend, I liked it for what it was and it worked.
Go to Comment
Most Prized Criterion in Your Collection? over 3 years ago
I’d have to go with:
Hard Boiled
The Killer
Le Samourai
Seven Samurai
Yojimbo
Brazil
Go to Comment
What Out of Print Criterions do you own? over 3 years ago
Hard Boiled
The Killer
Silence of the Lambs
Robocop
Rebecca
Straw Dogs
The Unbearable Lightness of Being
Go to Comment
INDEPENDENT MELTDOWN/reincarnation over 3 years ago
In addition to straight to video markets the internet also provides a forum for independent filmmakers by using viral marketing as a tool for promotion or even possibly screening like the model used for the chappelle show. In Canada the movie network is required to have Canadian content (can-con) which includes independent film, so specialty channels will also serve as a market.
Go to Comment
Greatest shot films over 3 years ago
In the mood for Love ( Christopher Doyle)
SE7EN (Darius Khondji)
The Prestige (Wally Pfister)
NARC (Alex Nepomniaschy)
The Royal Tenenbaums (Robert Yeoman)
La Dolce Vita (Otello Martelli)
Le Samourai (Henri Decae)
The New World (Emmanuel Lubezki, move was shot with only available light, fuckin’ amazing cinematography)
Go to Comment