Filmmaking ignorance

Jon Starr

Jon Starr

Veteran
Have you ever dealt with someone so ignorant about how films are made that you just want to punch them? I mean yes lots of people don't really know how films get made, but some are just so ignorant...

I mean there are people that think you just go through a scene, film the whole thing in one, maybe two takes, and voila, it's done.

I had a friend that when I was making a film and had to go in to edit, I said it would be a few hours and he looked at me dumbfounded and said "why? You just put it together." I think he was implying that just you slap two or three shots together and that's it. I tried to explain, and he didn't understand. He thought I was just overly complicating things.

For this same friend I was talking about how I wanted to make it rain and I was trying to figure out how to do it low budget. He looked at me dumbfounded again and said "why don't you just film when it rains?" Then I try to explain it to him and he just looks at me all confused...

Needless to say we're not friends anymore. Not because of this though...
 
I'm a patient guy, so it only upsets me when the person in question is either hired more often then myself or my superior. Then it's just a cosmic injustice.

I know way too many people in the business who are where they are, not by the merit of their talent or skills... well not filmmaking skills anyhow. :)
 
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You get a lot of Hollywood films that are just crap....Mostly story though......And I try not to hate on the film, cause I do no the hard work they went into making that film....So the critics and viewers and what not just chirp the movie, not knowing HALF of what they did to get the film complete, and are just pure ignorant.

So yea- I know what you're saying. When I see a really stupid movie, (mostly the story cause the technical stuff is good) I try NOT to say, "This sucks," cause I literally feel bad..They go through all this hard work to get it done, and for what? A stupid cliche story that they KNOW will be silly, but I guess they just do it for the money?

Maybe that's why..

Robbie
 
Jon Starr said:
Have you ever dealt with someone so ignorant about how films are made that you just want to punch them? I mean yes lots of people don't really know how films get made, but some are just so ignorant...

I mean there are people that think you just go through a scene, film the whole thing in one, maybe two takes, and voila, it's done.
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Most "filmmakers" who make movies and put them on YouTube are like this.

I get 1-2 phone calls a week where someone will ask me to help them make their movie. I'll ask "in what capacity?" and they will restate their request that I help them make their movie, and I'll ask "What specific job do you want me to do on set?" and they get frustrated and repeat their request that I help them make a movie, and that they have the most amazing idea for a movie. Until they are at a point where they can articulate precisely what they want, I just keep on asking questions in the hopes that there is an idiot savant somewhere inside this hollow, pointless conversation.
 
sonnyboo said:
Most "filmmakers" who make movies and put them on YouTube are like this.

I get 1-2 phone calls a week where someone will ask me to help them make their movie. I'll ask "in what capacity?" and they will restate their request that I help them make their movie, and I'll ask "What specific job do you want me to do on set?" and they get frustrated and repeat their request that I help them make a movie, and that they have the most amazing idea for a movie. Until they are at a point where they can articulate precisely what they want, I just keep on asking questions in the hopes that there is an idiot savant somewhere inside this hollow, pointless conversation.
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DUde, you weren't supposed to tell people I've been calling you.:embarasse
 
Everyday people...I never get upset. Most of my friends are working Joe's with no clue this way or that how to express themselves through Art.

Within my art though....this annoys me to no end. More often then I would like I run into people that just want to ignore the realities, push ahead, and are upset by the results.

I try to let people know in every breath, sentence, statement, and exclamation that Film is the combination of ALL THE ARTS. This isn't always easy, and planning is the biggest part of the pie...without a plan, things fall apart. Without understanding of such, a project is doomed to fail, or to be a pile of doo-doo. I can try my best to light, frame, film, and advise on how to make something cool, but at the end of the day without some substance it's gonna fail...without good actors, it will fail...without good makeup, it will fail...without statues, or paintings, or art pieces, it will fail...without a good editor it will fail...without good sound, you'll listen to the wind.....so many factors, and so little typing ability from me.

I'm not trying to say that a film must be perfect, or that you need $100,000 worth of sound equipment, or the mona lisa in the background, or constant hints at other art, or anything pretentious like this.....but it is Art, and must be treated with care, planning, forethought, and patience.

But as for your friends, let them slide....your co-workers? Unless they are cutting checks, or above you, find yoursel;f new people, perhaps not on THAT project, but maybe the next...maybe not even then....but fall into a click, find your crew....discover your artists, and you can never fail.
 
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Jim Brennan said:
DUde, you weren't supposed to tell people I've been calling you.:embarasse
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Heh..... heh.


No, I get this at monthly filmmaker meetings, emails, and phone calls. It's BEYOND annoying because it's like asking "I need a car." What kind of car? "I don't know. I just need a car." Okay, how much do you have to spend? "I wanted you to get me the money for my car." Ah, okay. Kiss my assets.
 
For me it is working with people and wanting to do certain shots, maybe for coverage or visual storytelling and getting friction because they don't want to do another set up and think what they have is good enough.

ie. The classic master, reverse, reverse ... done.
 
J.R. Hudson said:
For me it is working with people and wanting to do certain shots, maybe for coverage or visual storytelling and getting friction because they don't want to do another set up and think what they have is good enough.

ie. The classic master, reverse, reverse ... done.
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What I get more often is someone trying to do this, but with the same setup from the master. Sometimes it's possible, but often it just looks crappy from the new angle.
 
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