|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“YEAH” …
but I want to
Direct!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By Damian K. Lahey
I recently had lunch with a friend who works professionally in the business as a gaffer and an electric. I’ve worked with him on some of my shows and vice versa. He’s also a DP, though the trades mentioned above are what pay his bills. And
he, like most in the business, ultimately wants to be a director. I have never been afflicted
with this curse and find it interesting. He pointed
out to me that on most indie sets, the person with the least experience is the director. And this lack of experience is often times frustrating and counterproductive, almost insuring a lackluster end result from the get-go.
I had to agree with him. Believe it or not, this insistence to direct above all things, no matter what, is a common scenario found in the independent arena. I’ve set out to identify the worst traits of the three most prevalent groups of first time directors. Then, I will give what I believe is some simple and solid advice as to what one should do before they decide to direct that first independent feature.
The Daddy Warbucks: This is usually someone with no film experience, no film school experience, and someone who usually doesn’t watch very many films or read about them. He or she has either made their fortune in insurance, real estate, or having a private law practice. This has given them the false confidence that they can succeed at anything, regardless of what field it may be in. They believe adding “film director”
to their resume is very
prestigious and will elevate their position in the community. Normally,
they are in their early 40s to early 50s. A life event has recently happened, may it be divorce, selling their business, seeing a child off to college, or dating someone twenty years younger than they are that revives these long dormant dreams. These first time directors anger a crew because they’re simply unprepared for the task at hand, and often have little to no concept as to how films are shot or scheduled. And no matter how likeable they may be, working under these conditions runs thin real quick. Also,
most of their films have a tendency to be highly autobiographical.
The Spoiled Film School Grad: This type is often supported financially by a family member. Not needing to find a job in any other position in the business (because every position is menial compared to the Holy Grail that is directing), this first time director has plenty of time on his/her hands to scour the streets of New York and L.A. They drop in on every party that will admit them, hoping to run into that special
someone that will give
them two million dollars to make a movie. This type will either be humble
and delusional, or arrogant and delusional. Either way, they feel they deserve it more than anybody else. They are gleefully naïve to most things in life besides directing a movie. On the plus side, this person will usually know movies inside and out. Unfortunately, they don’t want anything to do with a film set unless they’re directing a feature. They believe their thesis project is all they need to enter the big leagues. They believe they are imbued with an artistic genius and unique a vision shared by no other.
The Embittered Crew Member: Years gripping, location scouting, or working in the art dept. have made them believe they can direct with the best of them. And nowhere is this more evident than the cinematographer. Even if they’ve never technically directed a film, many D.P.s consider themselves the real director of their projects and don’t see it any other way. The good thing about crew members is that they know how
a set runs and how one is
scheduled. Things can get sticky though, when they realize there’s a difference
between the mechanics of an indie set and whatever union show they were just working on. Another bonus to the crew member turned 1st time director is that at least he’ll be able to populate the crew with experienced hands and people that will trust him. But beware! They believe their years of hard won set experience will eclipse any shortcomings they may have. Their self-entitlement may cloud their judgment and they may gripe constantly about money if self-financing the project.
The bottom line is that very few people even have the ingenuity or creativity to make an entertaining five minute short film, let alone a feature length one. You need to do what most people do to become successful in any industry – PRACTICE. With the technology available today, there’s no reason for people to not take their handy cam, go out, shoot a movie with some local actors, buy them a twelve pack and make a day of it.
Then, go back home to your
desktop, or lap top and cut it together. You can cut a 1080p
HD short film on either a Mac or a PC with whatever editing software it comes pre-installed with. Try your hand at visual story telling by doing a couple of these before diving into that feature.
You want set experience and you want filmmaking experience. You want to know how to get adequate coverage, work with actors and work within a disciplined schedule. It is essential at the very least to PA on some commercials, studio pictures, indies, anything…so when you show up on set that first day or go to that first meeting, you have a clear understanding of the process. There are many books one can read and classes one
can take to learn the fundamentals
as well. There are also magazine publications dedicated
to this very thing, like IndieSlate for example!
As with all the pieces I write, I hope you found this insightful as well as entertaining. My official blog with the magazine, One Man VS. The Gods will be the place to read future pieces I write and past articles as well. It will also provide a blow by blow of projects I’m working on and projects past. All with the same goal: to provide in depth examination of the indie filmmaking process, while providing solid entertainment
at the same time! I hope
you enjoy it and encourage your feedback
Correspond with Damian at damian@indieslate.com.
And watch for his blog, coming soon to indieslate.com
Copyright 2008 by Indie Slate Magazine, www.indieslate.com
|
