Can anyone relate to this?

J

jkc123

Well-known member
Hi, Guys
Does anyone know the genius "Director/Screenwriter" guy who has a ton of great ideas; but absolutly hasn't the slightest clue of how to get it off the page.  I'm sure you are familiar w/the type who watches a few action movies, reads entertainment weekly, has a couple of ideas (which are actually couple of scenes) for a "great movie" and calls himself a director.

I swear.... I'm working w/this guy now & he wants to shoot a scene in his apartment. He lives next to a train yard & trains are moving in/out constantly, whistles blowing, you get the picture.  So when I bring this up to him he says (as if I didn't know what the hell I was talking about) that we can take the whistles out in "editing".

I tell him that it would be pretty difficult to do since the scene is heavy w/dialog.  He goes on to say "Well M. Night did the same thing in the Village when he had to take the sounds of the planes flying overhead out of the film."
I asked him where did he hear this & he said "He talked about it all of the time.  What's the problem? You can't do it?"     ::)

Sorry about the long rant; but I was wondering if any of you had a similiar exp. with the guy "genius" who thinks he knows it all?
Please share
 
Re: Can anyone relate to this?

Let him do the ADR session. Then he'll only pick quite locations from then on. ;D

Sorry for your delima.

Chris
 
Re: Can anyone relate to this?

Unless you are masochistic, or you think you can learn something really unique and useful from this guy (which seems doubtful), or you enjoy watching people make a mess of things....Bail Out.

Now
 
Re: Can anyone relate to this?

I'm sure there's more to it, and the guy really is a doofus, but that one example doesn't seem all that bad. If his apartment really is a perfect location, it could be worth ADR for a scene.
 
Re: Can anyone relate to this?

Yea, I understand that, and maybe the guy justs wants to vent.  But I've worked with people like that before and it's always been a waste of time.  I have nothing against ignorance (being quite so myself), I just prefer the "I wanna learn how to do this well" ignorance over the "hey, I know what the hell I'm doin, what the hell are you talkin about?" Ignorance.

Unless I need someone to mock.  But there are rarely a shortage of worthy applicants for that.

Edit:  I enjoyed his example of M. Night.  Even if it is true, I'm sure he would have avoided the planes if possible.  And somehow I doubt your buddy has either the skills or the resources to pull something like that off.

I have nothing against guys who just say "Screw it, let's just shoot"  You can learn alot that way, and doing is often better than not doing. (learning first can help though) But I don't take kindly to people (I could stop right there, but I won't) who won't accept a constructive suggestion.
 
Re: Can anyone relate to this?

This type of problem is one of my favourite's.

There seems to be some idea that this is a problem limited to the prima-donna, I think, therefore I am types.


I'm not referring to the "Director/Screenwriter" guy jkc123 refers to, I'm referring to jkc123, and those like him.

You are there because:

1: you're being hired to shoot for this "guy", in which case you do a professional job to the best of your ability

2: you agreed to help for free, in which case you do a professional job to the best of your ability

3: you're unable to develope your own ideas (more common that you think)


If you consider this "guy" to be wasting your time, what do you have lined up instead, to occupy your valuable time?


I've worked many films where I considered the director or DP to be basically clueless as to the how's or why's, but then, they were the director or DP, not me.

If you can do better.....do it.....then you won't have to "tolerate" those of lesser skill than yourself, but.........


I fly Steadicam, I don't direct, I'll criticize another Steadicam OP, I won't criticize the director, I won't criticize the DP.


Unless you can do better, button it.

If you can do better, then do it.





Too many prima-donna's.......





btw, you can remove the train sound's etc in post, and leave the dialogue.
 
Re: Can anyone relate to this?

I can criticize other peoples work... If I am a director (which I like to tell people I am) I can slam other peoples works..

that just makes me more of an asshole ;)
 
Re: Can anyone relate to this?

I agree with Pookie. I've been in a few situations where I was asked to do camera work for a piece, only to think after I got there, "This is what you guys had in mind?" After realizing that I didn't have my own projects fleshed out yet, I decided not to complain about it and concentrate on learning as much as I could from the experience. It's amazing how much you can learn from stuff like this that you would otherwise dismiss as a total wash.

If you don't have a better gig or a better idea of your own that you're capable of starting immediately, then you bite your tongue and finish the work you were asked to do and do your best. That's what makes you a professional. That's my .02.
 
Re: Can anyone relate to this?

I appreciate the feedback guys. Pookie & ISYB gave me another way of looking at the situation.
In this instance I'm just a worker bee so I think that I will keep quiet until I can get my own project off of the ground. :-X
But, what is troubling for me is that the director doesn't seem particulary interested in feedback, suggestions, or input from cast and crew; which has led to a few bad vibes on set.
It's still an opportunity for me to learn (what not to do) so I'll take it where I can get it.
 
Re: Can anyone relate to this?

I was about to chime in - on a completely opposite stance in reference to Pookie, but if this is a paid job so to speak, then by all means, you're the directors *****.

Do what the man says
 
Re: Can anyone relate to this?

jkc123, I'm glad you follow the idea.
As far as the director not being interested in feedback, suggestions, or input from cast and crew, it is their film, and they want it to come out their way.

When you get to the point of directing your own work, I think you'll understand his reluctance to veer off his vision of what the film is about. There is the simple fact, that everyone thinks their ideas are best, and there tend to be just too many of them.

Take the opportunity to learn what to do, or not to do.


Monte, I'm curious. You seem to look at things differently if this was not a paid job.
I must admit a curiosity how things would be different on a "free" project.
 
Re: Can anyone relate to this?

This is SO not a paid gig. It's more of favor to a friend of a friend.
 
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