Wednesday, June 02, 2010

Pulp Filmmaking: Tech is no Excuse. The Answer Lies in Perspective

The only thing separating a bad production from a good production is the level of commitment from the filmmaker. It is not dependent on the budget. The availability of the technology and the knowledge is equal.

Example below: 





So when someone sends me a link, or a screener and says, "Well, we didn't have access to this or that," or "We couldn't fit it into our budget," I have to be a bit skeptical, especially since they are so many really skilled people across the world sharing their experience.

So, since the tech and knowledge base is equal -  the difference has to be with the story you're telling, and the POV you're using to tell it. Work on those aspects. Hone it down to the bone so you've crafted something that's both immediately familiar, yet unique.  A good example would be Dr. Horrible - a melodramatic superhero story told from the perspective of the supervillain.

From the feature film side - I would say the upcoming Splice is a good example of a movie that takes a familiar, accessible premise and gives it a new perspective.  Frankenstein by any other name...

But that POV has to also extend to how you distribute the film. It has to be unique as well, so it has the best chance to reach its intended audience.  With more and more people purchasing Ipads, Iphones, PSPs, PS3s and so on, the opportunities to get your film directly to your audience has never been greater.

So if you want people to respond to your work, step back and give it a new perspective. Then go out and research all of the FREE tools you can use to realize it. 

They're out there.

(video found via Pleasure for the Empire)

2 comments:

Emily Blake said...

Went to a short film festival a couple of years ago and I still remember this one short that had terrible lighting and not very good production value, but the story was so beautiful it was one of the best shorts we saw all day. Way better than some of those million dollar monstrocities.

Cunningham said...

Exactly.

Now that the tech part is so easy (or at the very least "accessible"), it's time to concentrate on the story and the delivery.

The right story for the right audience = the win.