Tarkovski's message to us

No reaction? People really need to listen to this guy a little more. Your work will improve dramatically.
 
any filmmaker unafraid of acknowledging cinema's potential as an artform should read Sculpting in Time. And if you do, you'll learn why my production company is called Sabi Pictures. :)
 
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I'll have to check out Sculpting in Time. I don't know that book.

But I thought Tarkovsky was right on. Problem is only the artists are going to get what he's saying. So it's sort of wasted advice. The artists are going to do this whether they hear this advice or not. And the non-artists are going to ignore it whether they hear this advice or not.

Funny though, I felt like Tarkovsky was gonna start disco dancing.
 
wow never really thought about it like that. I hate it when youtube changes my whole perspective on something in a matter of 2:57. That'll definitely be churning in my head for a while. Thanks for the book rec too Zak, picking it up on Amazon now.
 
It's hard to take his advice seriously when I don't like his films. And although in some ways I feel like I have lived by his advice it is probably in a different manner than what he meant.
 
ThereIsNoLimit,
What exactly don't you like about Tarkovski to the point where you can't "take him seriously". Never heard a filmmaker say this. I cant imagine, and would love to know your opinion in depth.

sean90291,
Good points about artists and non-artists. Yet i feel it's essential, even as an artist, to remember and reflect about what it is we are trying to do. It's easy to get side tracked in this topsy turvy technological world. So for the artist, hearing tarkovski's advice may revitalize and re-energize ideas that, although you may already practice, may have slipped by the wayside a bit due to a hectic lifestyle. For me at least this is true

It's good to reflect.
 
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Interesting comment about that Chris. I constantly am finding myself way too worried about megapixels or light loss or something that in the end just doesnt really matter. Am working hard to bring myself back into my work and not let my tools define me or my work. Definitely a refreshing feeling...
 
When I watched Nostalghia, I :crybaby: His composition is very powerful, stunning and it can 'speak' to you. Can't really explain it well cause I'm Chinese and I don't speak or write much english. Apologies!

You have to 'feel' his film and try not to interpret it too intellectually.

Anyway, I see him as an artist more than just a film director. Some of his shots are like painting!
Sadly, he passed on a bit too early.

Oh yes, Sculpting in Time is definitely a great read.
 
Jeff Anderson said:
Interesting comment about that Chris. I constantly am finding myself way too worried about megapixels or light loss or something that in the end just doesnt really matter. Am working hard to bring myself back into my work and not let my tools define me or my work. Definitely a refreshing feeling...
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I find myself doing the same thing all the time. I am slowly putting an end to that. i sold some of my extra stuff that was collecting dust and im not focusing on new products. I am hopefully making a move out west soon and going to take some time to write some good stories. All to often people forget about why films even exist. I also think that more and more films are just becoming stage plays, what ever happened to Cinema? It still happens, but its rare.

Which is why I like There will be blood. I really enjoy that lack of words for the first 20 minutes or so. I love Kevin Smith but I doubt his ability to do something like that.

Well were on the topic of Cinema. For those who havn't seen it, watch Swept Away, the original, not the Guy Ritchie piece of Crap. The original was directed by Lina Wurtmueller and in my opinion one of the greatest directors ever.
 
Zak- thanks for suggesting that book- I've never heard of it. I'll definitely check it out.

What Tarkovsky was saying in his clip reminded me of what I had read in "The Artist's Way"- which was required reading when I was an Illustration major year ago in college.
 
Tarkovsky *paints* with the camera.

That is a great advice... so youtube is useful... sometimes...

I hadn't watched interviews with T. before...

Life reflects art reflects life reflects art...

...Sincerity is key...
 
zergtherobot said:
All to often people forget about why films even exist. I also think that more and more films are just becoming stage plays, what ever happened to Cinema? It still happens, but its rare.

Which is why I like There will be blood. I really enjoy that lack of words for the first 20 minutes or so. I love Kevin Smith but I doubt his ability to do something like that.
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Amen. Too many so-called modern films are all talk and ADD-preventative hand-held whip-pan extravaganzas.

Thanks for the book recommendation Zak. I hate to admit that I've not seen much of Tarkovsky's work in full. I've seen Solaris and some clips of various films on Youtube. The pieces I've seen are mesmerizing though. From what I've seen of Tarkovsky's work, he is not afraid to use silence and smooth movement or static shots to invoke a hypnotic dream-like quality. Great stuff.

I just recently ordered "Stalker" and "Solaris" on DVD. I wish they had his films on Blu-ray. After that which would be a good one to see. They all sound interesting, but feel free to give me a recommendation.

Also, if you haven't already, check out the book "Hitchcock" by Francis Truffaut.

http://www.amazon.com/Hitchcock-Rev...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227950449&sr=1-1
 
Soviet government worked real hard to f*** him.

Maybe that's the reason for his disease and early death.

For example, the version of Stalker that we have now is actually the second, re-shot version.

The first one was shot and completed, but somehow the lab managed to ruin all of his negatives... 100 %.

Unhappy accident?...

...

Then he somehow recuperated and managed to re-shoot the film on a much smaller budget...

It's dangerous to be a free-minded person in this world. Especially under a totalitarian government.
 
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