French Connection

"Don't hate the player hate the game" :thumbsup:

Grate stories :) and wbfish grate film, home grown as i like it, this is only the beginning of what is going to be a revolution. Keep it up.

best

Jon
 
Jon Oskar said:
"The prostitutes in my boulevard are gone, dam, this whole EU thing is really kicking in, hopefully they wont turn the whole continent in to a clean social conscious state like Switzerland"
Click to expand...

Jon, in fact, this is a french government member named sarkozy who decided to
move away prostitutes from towns. That was a ****ing bad idea but french parlement voted it.

European Community is not concerned by these facts.

These last years, France is became less tolerant, that's the sad truth.

Jon Oskar said:
Being a video/film maker in Europe, particularly in France is very different than being one in the States
Click to expand...

Honestly, I don't think so... Why do you think this is different ? France is certainly one of the last market where local industry still exists... The french market is :
49 % American Films
49 % French Films
2% Rest of the World.

This is an average.

So we have an Film Industry. Of course, it's not comparable to Hollywood.

We have Films Schools too. These schools can help you to become
a filmmaker but like in USA, how many guys become Director after ?
1 for 1000 ?

But, for an indie, I think there are not so much differences.
In fact, for an indie this is the same situation everywhere.
I'm thinking especially to Carlos Reygadas.
A Mexican guy who made "Japon". Interesting Film.
His next film "Batalla en el cielo" will be in French Theaters in 2 weeks.

Well, I think it's much much harder when you're Mexican to make a
Film but he did it.

Here, you can get money from the government if
your film project interest them. There are dedicated people to
study film projects and take decisions.


Here this is just one of the so many short film produced this year :
http://www.judas-lefilm.com/main.html
Look the teaser. Awesome.

The best director and best film awarded this year at the french awards was a film shot in DV. The guy has been hired just after by one of the most powerful french producer.

So, if you're gifted and having the obsession to make a Film, you can do it, whatever the country you're living.

What is different between our countries is that we're a small country.
French Culture is not a dominant culture.
Culture here is important, we have even an Minister dedicated to culture !
But, in the facts, this is just masturbation because people are the same
everywhere. They just are Consumers before to be Citizens or worst : Human Being.

But, if you come here, you will be surprised to see all the cultural tv "show" we have and see Culture is everywhere. We're a living paradox !

Jon Oskar said:
and although the solutions and answers offered on this forum are grate, i sometimes feel that they don't quite apply to European situations.
Click to expand...

Can you be more precise ?
 
Woooooow! I said different not more difficult.
And my metaphor stands, someone like Sarkozy is a sign of his time, and will only be elected in a pro capitalist environment as the EU. Besides that i couldn't care less about the politics' nor the reason's, its a metaphor about Europe and how its changing. If you don't agree, than thats fine with me too.

As to a difference between being a videographer in France VS. USA. Well lets start with the basics.

-i have to order all my gear from the US?
-Have you ever tried building any kind of DIY rig from scratch?
(Not impossible, but different than for a US based person, just finding stuff can be hard)
-How about selling your old Follow focus unit for a reasonable price, French ebay virtually doesn't exist.
-i am wondering how I'm gona fit my crane in to a two door Renault, vs. my Ford pickup?
-modifying my camera (Realstream) hmmmm, we gona have to wait another hundred years for that to happen here.
-Americans are real "go getters" the French love to talk, Americans are flexible, French are stubborn.

Thats just a few things of the top of my head. This being said, it is probably easier to make a successful indy in Europe. And there are defiantly real benefits to shooting in Europe VS. the States. As I said its DIFFERENT.

As to the short you referred to, well im not very impressed and i am not one of those that think Amelie Poulin represents the greatness of French cinema, in fact to me it represent the decline of what once used to be a true leader in the medium, the french New wave.
French cinema as such is dead.

As to US solutions VS. a European?

Well the very definition of "indy film" means two different things to to each continent. I could elaborate but if you think about it im sure you get my drift.

In my opinion the DVX represents a revolution, but one that is completely unconnected to Hollywood and mainstream entertainment. (What's expensive about a Hollywood film, is not the camera)
To me the DVX is a tool that empowers regular Joe to express him self, in what i consider the most exiting medium. To me the future looks bright, and i cant wait to see all the amazing films to come from these people. Homegrown and personal.

And as a footnote:

France is a grate place, and i like the French, and im not complaining even in the very smallest of ways. All I was thinking it might be nice to hook up, and help each other in the spirit of this grate forum. One filmmaker to another.

My starting sentence was just thought of as a filter ore on the other hand an open invitation for the like minded people.

best

Jon
 
Jon, It's a little bit late here now to anwser to you. (3:07 am) but I'll try to do something for you tomorrow.

I was surprised by your arguments ! I'm not sure that the way you argue (US vs France) is the good way to try to demonstrate differences for a filmmaker especially...

I'll try tomorrow to make you a more detailled answer but I'm not sure it's a good idea.
I like very much this forum and most of people here are adults and responsibles.
And you don't seem to know very well how Europe is.

But, i'm ok to play your game...

So just some answers before to go to bed :

DIY :
If I need a DIY stuff like steadycam , I ask to my friends at Bignoz :

http://www.bignoz.com/steadycam et ... bricoleurs/bricolagesteadycambricoleurs.html

They make the best DIY steadicam, imo.

And if I want to buy one, I've just to cross Paris and buy one from L'aigle (Very good Steadycams) http://www.laigleparis.fr/

Cars :
Very funny, your sentence about Renault. Last week they were suspected to buy GM !
To be honest, i found your argument stupid.
I'm not a car specialist (i don't have my driving license) and, i don't care about cars.
But I can just say if I need to fit my crane in a french car, it will be not a problem. I'm sure to find the good car. I see at least 10 differents french cars (Renault/Citroen/Peugeot) for "the crane case argument".
So, if your ford is out of order, ask me. And your neighbors will be jealous !! :)
And stop to use your twingo's wife for your crane.

...

I think and i try to be objective about my country. And you're right on some point about French Cinema but very good films have been shot after the nouvelle vague.
Believe me.
To be continued...
 
Jon Oskar said:
Woooooow! I said different not more difficult.
And my metaphor stands, someone like Sarkozy is a sign of his time, and will only be elected in a pro capitalist environment as the EU. Besides that i couldn't care less about the politics' nor the reason's, its a metaphor about Europe and how its changing. If you don't agree, than thats fine with me too.
Click to expand...

Europe is changing of course. But i think you're mixing everything. Sarkozy is not a sign of his time and not really representative of the pro capitalist environment. He has the same speech as Chirac did 30 years ago. To win the next election, he has only one road : "incarnate the change".

And trying to use the fact that prostitutes have to move away is not the way to show things are changing. But it just my opinion.

Jon Oskar said:
As to a difference between being a videographer in France VS. USA. Well lets start with the basics.

-i have to order all my gear from the US?
-Have you ever tried building any kind of DIY rig from scratch?
(Not impossible, but different than for a US based person, just finding stuff can be hard)
-How about selling your old Follow focus unit for a reasonable price, French ebay virtually doesn't exist.
-i am wondering how I'm gona fit my crane in to a two door Renault, vs. my Ford pickup?
Click to expand...

I already partly answered to you in my previous post.
What do you believe ? Middle age is over. Your arguments are pointless.

When Ron Howard comes in france to shoot "Da Vinci Code". Do you think, he comes with the cameras and all the gear. Of course, not.
He rent all the gear and hire technicians.

USA : 60 hz - 110 volts (i'm not sure about the figures. Correct me, if I'm wrong)
Europe : 50 hz - 220 volts.
Only this technical point makes the fact to buy in USA difficult.

The only interest we could have to buy in USA is because Euro is stronger but it's easier to buy in the shops around here. Don't forget the warranty is important.

For DIY, finding stuff ? Are you kidding ?
Look this link, please look (again) :
http://www.bignoz.com/steadycam et ... bricoleurs/bricolagesteadycambricoleurs.html

Leonard, just bought the stuff in a shop close to his house.

Jon Oskar said:
-modifying my camera (Realstream) hmmmm, we gona have to wait another hundred years for that to happen here.
Click to expand...

Juan did a great thing. But how it is representative of Americans ?
Are you really convinced that only an American can do it before the forthcoming hundred years ?


Jon Oskar said:
-Americans are real "go getters" the French love to talk, Americans are flexible, French are stubborn.
Click to expand...

What a ****ing cliché, Jon. This is DvxUser.com not Foxnews...
Flexible for what ?
Stubborn for what ?
You can't say that without giving some arguments.

And we can be flexible too, and I prove it :
flexible.jpg


To the moderator: She's not naked. :) She has a string !!


What makes the world interesting, Jon, is that people are different.


Jon Oskar said:
As to the short you referred to, well im not very impressed and i am not one of those that think Amelie Poulin represents the greatness of French cinema, in fact to me it represent the decline of what once used to be a true leader in the medium, the french New wave.
French cinema as such is dead.
Click to expand...

The short I mentioned is closer to the Carrot & Jeunet universe, imo.

I don't believe that today the medium could be the a "factor" of revolution.
Things evolve, Jon.

French cinema is mainly piece of **** nowadays, but we still have good surprises.

We have to live in the present.
We were a "true leader" : OK. This period is over : OK. So what ? I'm not sad.


Jon Oskar said:
Well the very definition of "indy film" means two different things to to each continent. I could elaborate but if you think about it im sure you get my drift.
Click to expand...

Elaborate, Jon.

Jon Oskar said:
In my opinion the DVX represents a revolution, but one that is completely unconnected to Hollywood and mainstream entertainment. (What's expensive about a Hollywood film, is not the camera)
To me the DVX is a tool that empowers regular Joe to express him self, in what i consider the most exiting medium. To me the future looks bright, and i cant wait to see all the amazing films to come from these people. Homegrown and personal.
Click to expand...

I totally agree with you, Jon.
But, I bet that the revolution will come from the storytelling not necessary the medium.

Best,
 
First Post. Welcome me. Dangerous area.

ahaha §§ :beer: :beer: :beer:

@PK : We are a little bit tired about french bashing...
never i'll say in thailand no good cars, no good stuff, blahblahblah.

My english don't allow me to understand what do u mean by : he thinks he's people :shocked: ?


Oskar say things not true so the frog tell its wrong. Is it bad ? No.

:beer:
 
mangeur - Not sure why your message was at me. I was NOT French bashing. I tried to change the subject because everyone was VERY angry. I don't like French bashing (Amelie is my favorite film - viva la france!) or any bashing. But I do like to show funny photos when other people are bashing and being mean. To help stop the fighting. If you are here for a long time maybe you will understand me more.

"He thinks he's people" is because the monkey is wearing glasses. He thinks he's a person. It was also a TV quote from the cartoon, The Simpsons.

Monkeys make people smile. :)
 
Merci (Thanks) PK. :) I appreciate. You are nice guy. Monkeys can be funny but the monkey glasses afraid me. He looks ill. That is sad. I prefer the monkey camera operator !
 
PK Gillock said:
mangeur - Not sure why your message was at me. I was NOT French bashing. I tried to change the subject because everyone was VERY angry. I don't like French bashing (Amelie is my favorite film - viva la france!) or any bashing. But I do like to show funny photos when other people are bashing and being mean. To help stop the fighting. If you are here for a long time maybe you will understand me more.

"He thinks he's people" is because the monkey is wearing glasses. He thinks he's a person. It was also a TV quote from the cartoon, The Simpsons.

Monkeys make people smile. :)
Click to expand...

I've been here a long time PK, and I still don't understand you.

I mean, that little red frock you're wearing, with your complection???

Maybe a nice blue?
 
???, well i guess not. wbfish thats a pretty sad way to treat this thread, if you don't want to come out and play, don't. No one is forcing you. It is you who wants to treat this thread as a us v.s them in a negative way. I said there are differences, and i think difference is grate. At the end of the day, all i was after is a friendly conversation about being a filmmaker in france. As in-

"Where do you buy your dv tapes? Oh really, thats so cool! Iwe bin getting mine there but they are so expensive. So thanks.
Really this film just came out, no i dint see it, but since you mentioned that it's grate, i might"

I don't know where this bashing paranoia comes from, if i thought the French sucked, would i be living there???


Anyways as i sent you in a PM, i have no interest in winning an argument as i didn't put one forth, i just got suckered in to answering your post, probably to many hours in front of the computer.

Sorry to the rest of you for having have to witness a rather depressing moment in foreign relations.

best

Jon
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top