Seriously... the next fest?
- Thread starter TheatreGuy
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GenJerDan said:
The online Community for Filmmaking - Writing is part of that process.
From what I saw last fest, everyone is constantly excelling in the technical aspects of filmmaking. Sound is improving to a tolerable level, visuals are looking a lot more cinematic, on and on.
What lacked heavily was an engaging six minute tale... so that's what next fest is aimed at.
Nobody's telling anyone not to do Action/Drama, or not to include special effects. The point is: have them serve the story.
mjmcneese
Veteran
Kholi said:
Agreed. And I'm not saying to do a story-driven piece just to make it easier on the viewers, but because a story-driven piece will have a more universal like-ability by people outside of our DVXUser.com circles...i.e., you'll end up with a movie that you can take from this forum and spread it around to other fests and stuff to share the talent and art with a bigger crowd.
Matt Sconce
Veteran
I recommend these two books:
http://www.amazon.com/Screenwriting-Dummies-Laura-Schellhardt/dp/0764554867/sr=8-1/qid=1161289523/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-1533979-1560850?ie=UTF8
and
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Idiots-Guide-Screenwriting/dp/0028639448/sr=8-2/qid=1161289559/ref=pd_bbs_2/002-1533979-1560850?ie=UTF8&s=books
But back to the topic....I think Drama would be the best, because it puts the focus on the story. I think we will see some amazing movies when that much attention is paid to the storyline.
http://www.amazon.com/Screenwriting-Dummies-Laura-Schellhardt/dp/0764554867/sr=8-1/qid=1161289523/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-1533979-1560850?ie=UTF8
and
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Idiots-Guide-Screenwriting/dp/0028639448/sr=8-2/qid=1161289559/ref=pd_bbs_2/002-1533979-1560850?ie=UTF8&s=books
But back to the topic....I think Drama would be the best, because it puts the focus on the story. I think we will see some amazing movies when that much attention is paid to the storyline.
Geoff_R
Veteran
I don't think having the next fest focusing on drama is going to result in better movies/stories. I don't think anyone entered horrorfest without first thinking of 'story'. There are plenty of films in horrorfest that have great story intentions and a few that followed through with execution; those that didn't more so lacked in areas of structure & logic.
I don't think it matters whether or not you set out to create a character based movie or 'you're going to focus completely on story' this time around. In the end, some people will be able to craft together a cohesive story that flows beautifully and others won't. I'm thinking back to Similo which is still by far the best work I've seen coming out of these fests. I've shown that film to lots of people, both involved in film and those who aren't. For me, that story, (it's structure, concept and execution) are aspects of filmmaking that cannot be absorbed like cinematography, sound or editing. You can learn the technical stuff by reading books, working on sets, working with gear, but creating great stories is an entirely different art. I think you can teach yourself structure, you can learn screenwriting software and read a hundred books on how to write scripts and characters but in the end it boils down to pure creativity. Just as some people are naturally more intelligent than others, some are naturally more creative than others and know how to apply that creativity with the precision of a neurosurgeon. We're all putting the focus on story; sometimes we're experimental, other times we're linearly narrative. No matter what kind of visual effects or high concept ideas are floating through our head, it's all grounded in story to begin with.
Conceptually, I feel a lot of films delivered. There were plenty of interesting, fresh ideas, but the dialogue and structure was dragging many of the entries down to mediocre levels. I think one thing that would truly help is minimizing some of the heavy vertical integration many of us filmmakers have. Not only are we directing, shooting, producing and editing, but we're writing as well. That is very rare in the real world. I personally don't think I'm a good writer. I think I'm decent, decent meaning average. That's not good enough. To make great films, you need a great writer to start with. I think many of us are average skilled writers, some are a little better, and some are worse. I think a big step is recognizing where you fall and where you're most talented.
I'm saying all this because I personally don't think a drama competition is going to be engaging or as fest-changing as some here might think. I see very few drama films because most of them fail to excite or grab me emotionally. On the other hand, most of the best films I've ever seen are drama-based. The key is to graft emotional strong stories into conceptually strong ideas.
All of the previous fests have allowed that opportunity. The opportunity existed for everyone to create something incredible but only a few films will really stand out over time. This can be applied to Hollywood as well, though a hundred films will launch on the big screen this year, only a few will find there way onto your DVD shelf and be watched 5, 10 years down the road. I don't think having a drama fest is going to revolutionize this festival and result in a bunch of great films (stories). I'm not saying I'm completely against a drama fest but I am against having it for the belief that it will generate better films that will allow us to connect more with the characters. Think of films like 'Heat', 'Last of the Mohicans' and even Terminator 2, they are grounded in story, grounded in 'drama' but executed with so much more. Those are the kinds of films/stories we need to set out to make. Concepts like ScifiFest & Herofest (my favorites) open the door to that possibility, we only need to take it.
I don't think it matters whether or not you set out to create a character based movie or 'you're going to focus completely on story' this time around. In the end, some people will be able to craft together a cohesive story that flows beautifully and others won't. I'm thinking back to Similo which is still by far the best work I've seen coming out of these fests. I've shown that film to lots of people, both involved in film and those who aren't. For me, that story, (it's structure, concept and execution) are aspects of filmmaking that cannot be absorbed like cinematography, sound or editing. You can learn the technical stuff by reading books, working on sets, working with gear, but creating great stories is an entirely different art. I think you can teach yourself structure, you can learn screenwriting software and read a hundred books on how to write scripts and characters but in the end it boils down to pure creativity. Just as some people are naturally more intelligent than others, some are naturally more creative than others and know how to apply that creativity with the precision of a neurosurgeon. We're all putting the focus on story; sometimes we're experimental, other times we're linearly narrative. No matter what kind of visual effects or high concept ideas are floating through our head, it's all grounded in story to begin with.
Conceptually, I feel a lot of films delivered. There were plenty of interesting, fresh ideas, but the dialogue and structure was dragging many of the entries down to mediocre levels. I think one thing that would truly help is minimizing some of the heavy vertical integration many of us filmmakers have. Not only are we directing, shooting, producing and editing, but we're writing as well. That is very rare in the real world. I personally don't think I'm a good writer. I think I'm decent, decent meaning average. That's not good enough. To make great films, you need a great writer to start with. I think many of us are average skilled writers, some are a little better, and some are worse. I think a big step is recognizing where you fall and where you're most talented.
I'm saying all this because I personally don't think a drama competition is going to be engaging or as fest-changing as some here might think. I see very few drama films because most of them fail to excite or grab me emotionally. On the other hand, most of the best films I've ever seen are drama-based. The key is to graft emotional strong stories into conceptually strong ideas.
All of the previous fests have allowed that opportunity. The opportunity existed for everyone to create something incredible but only a few films will really stand out over time. This can be applied to Hollywood as well, though a hundred films will launch on the big screen this year, only a few will find there way onto your DVD shelf and be watched 5, 10 years down the road. I don't think having a drama fest is going to revolutionize this festival and result in a bunch of great films (stories). I'm not saying I'm completely against a drama fest but I am against having it for the belief that it will generate better films that will allow us to connect more with the characters. Think of films like 'Heat', 'Last of the Mohicans' and even Terminator 2, they are grounded in story, grounded in 'drama' but executed with so much more. Those are the kinds of films/stories we need to set out to make. Concepts like ScifiFest & Herofest (my favorites) open the door to that possibility, we only need to take it.
...those are some really good thoughts Geoff. Your right that just making it drama will not necessarily mean better films. I think the only reason people are pushing for that is to narrow the playing field to where more people will have a chance to exceed. People who aren't great at effects, which are almost a requirement for fests like we've had the previous 4 go arounds.
How about a fest where everyone can make anything they want? The only guideline is the six minute time limit.
How about a fest where everyone can make anything they want? The only guideline is the six minute time limit.
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TheatreGuy
Veteran
Well, damn boy! That's the best idea I've heard on this thread!!! Good job, Weston.Weston said:
Just about everyone would be happy!
..i agree that simply making the subject as broad as being a "dramatic narrative" isnt going to suddenly make people better filmmakers, but what it does do, is allow the filmmakers to choose the genre/sub-genre of thier choice, and from there, they can make the type of story that they are truley interested in. they could make a comedic drama about love, or a down in the streets and gritty crime drama, or an epic drama about a mystical land, or a space adventure , ect. a "drama" does not necissarily have to be overdramatic, or drastic in its sense of the narrative. personally, i would view a "drama" as simply having a manifested element of conflict within the storyline. and when they are in thier own realm, hopefully we will see even more compelling stories and charachters and even more thought and time going into the work and really bringing out the best of what each respective person has to offer at this time in thier filmmaking career. so while i do agree to some extent, i have to say that people generally do thier best when you give them the freedom to truely love and embrace the work they are doing.
235 Studios
Veteran
I like Weston's idea. Although I think that Drama covers a wide range as well.
Blaine said:
Dude. You have no idea. Every time it comes around, something comes up.
Herofest - Dropouts the last day (Which is what I get for not paying much/at all)
Horrorfest - Better day job stuff. Sudden projects to develop products.
Nextfest - ? Let's hope a bigger project that I'm writing for gets in the way. =DDD
No seriously... I've always wanted to do a fest entry, I just get side-swiped. =\
Ralph Oshiro
Veteran
Plenty of D-R-A-M-A-T-I-C opportunities with . . .
ACTION/THRILLER/CRIME DRAMA
Woo hoo! I'm already starting anyway!
ACTION/THRILLER/CRIME DRAMA
Woo hoo! I'm already starting anyway!
Andrew Brinkhaus
Veteran
DramaFest...Its what we need, just accept it!
nuthin' official
all speculation at this point
all speculation at this point
MOVIE MASTER
Veteran
comedy would be great
yeah I heard a funny story recently ...