Releasing unedited film - The Trent Reznor case study

Imaginate

Imaginate

Well-known member
When controversy cannot be had, often gimmicks are sought after. I see any "unedited" film as a gimmick. Originality can only happen once. After that, it's just a riding of coat tails.
Part of what makes your project impactful IS the editing. I think if viewers wanted to see raw footage of such a thing, they'd tote their camcorder to the attic.
 
grinner said:
Originality can only happen once. After that, it's just a riding of coat tails.
Click to expand...

There is this little known phenomenon known as "sampling"

>taken from the article CAN HIP HOP LIVE WITHOUT SAMPLING?

"Sampling is so important. It's the foundation of rap and hip-hop," The Roots' co-manager Shawn Gee says. Early rappers like Grandmaster Flash and Sugarhill Gang rapped their rhymes over existing music; that was the art form. As hip-hop evolved, "samples became an instrument" to create new sounds, he says.

Hi-Tek explains, "To be a hot producer, you have to have an ear for a different vibe."

Samples inspire producers to create a new piece of music. Sometimes they use a sound like a snare or a kick drum that no one else may even notice in a recording. Part of their talent is the ability to find different sounds to sample. Restricting the use of samples, Hi-Tek says, is also "taking away the fun."

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To go further... lets look at a new artist on the block Kutiman who samples YouTube itself.

http://thru-you.com/#/videos/

Come on!!! Originality happens only once?????
 
Imaginate said:
Samples inspire producers to create a new piece of music. Sometimes they use a sound like a snare or a kick drum that no one else may even notice in a recording. Part of their talent is the ability to find different sounds to sample. Restricting the use of samples, Hi-Tek says, is also "taking away the fun."
Click to expand...

How much money does Timbaland owe for using the Nightrider music. LOL. Not to mention 50 Cent using Milk Dee's beat on that cheezy "I Get Money" track.

-Nate
 
To sample is to pirate. To copy is to lack originality. To lack originality is a simple inability to create. There will never be a demand for human Xerox machines in a creative industry.
 
There would be no demand for his modern day flicks without his name attached. Genuises can do whatever they want. Until that stature is achieved, fine original work must be created.
All companies steal ideas. It's what they do while pretending to lead the way... wacth who is ahead of them. You'll see this in every aspect of business. The key to being an artist is to ignore those templates.
 
That's the funny thing with the craft vs the general public's perception of editing. For 20 years, my dad thought I beeped cuss words and blurred boobies as cussing and boobs meant unedited to him. It wasn't until he sat in a session at CMT with me that he realized I created stuff for a living.
Same thing with the buzzword of reality television. To many, it means unscripted or even real. To those of us who create it, it's simply a style that became the norm when writers decided to become unemployed.
 
The question is.. if you had a fanbase of 10,000 to 100,000 people... how many of those would want to re-edit your film into something new or unique? Or is it not really fans but just a sub culture of editors or film school students that would want to take on the challenge of re-editing a film just for the hell of it... or fame of it... like Mike J Nichols and THE PHANTOM EDIT.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_J._Nichols
 
grinner, I honestly have no idea what you're talking about most of the time.

This is a case where Reznor is pulling all the strings. He's really got new media figured out in a way that few people do. He already has devoted fans; this is a tool for deepening that connection with his fans. People like to feel like they are part of the experience. Look also at a lot of the stuff Stephen Colbert does.

The problem with this, for most indies, is that you have to have the fans already for it to be meaningful. Sure, you could release your footage, but unless you have people who are listening or can be enticed to listen, it's going to fall pretty flat. Which isn't the end of the world, but the worst case here is that you get distracted from what might be more effective marketing efforts.
 
Thanks for posting Zak! Very interesting! My partner is in the exact same position. He produces house music, which obviously relies on samples. Without a sample it's no house. Most of the time you can't even tell where it's coming from. But the problem with this is, he can't sell any of his stuff without risking a lawsuit.

Back on topic:
To make this really work, you have to build a fan base. cwf + rtb = $$$
Sadly enough, it is really hard to do that. And it takes a long time (unless you drop a really outstanding product/performance).

Zak is a very very good example. He is doing great with building a fan base. He gives something to the community. He tries to involve other people, he helps them AND he produces great stuff. And I think that's the way of the future. The old system is dying.
 
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