Journeys in Movie-Making
Reflections from the A-List Digital Arts Academy
Characters
It may be possible to tell an interesting story without actors. However, I don’t see a way to tell an interesting story without characters. Sure, you can put together a montage with beautiful shots of exotic locations. The result may fun to watch, but unless something is happening in these locations, it’s not a story.
Instead, you can show the changes of the seasons in one or more locations, and suddenly what was an abstract montage acquires more meaning. The locations can become “characters” that change over time. The possibility of change can hold the attention of an audience. We want to know what happens next. It may be that the “character” of a location depends on the weather. If your location has plants and animals, then they can become characters that change over time.
Not all characters are going to change in every story, but the potential for change must exist. If something surprising can happen that we care about, then we may have discovered the heart of a good story.
When an actor plays a character, the potential for conflict arises from the wants and needs of that character. Imagine a husband who wants to adopt a baby and his wife who doesn’t want a child that “belongs” to someone else. The potential for change is obvious, and if this story can unfold in an authentic manner, then there is a good chance we’re going to care about what happens to these characters.
If a story is not working, we can look to the characters for inspiration.
The day to day
Do you know that Stephen King admits to writing only 4 hours per day. Hmmm….Does he have a GHOST writer? (pun intended) Some days, with life coming at you at the speed of sound, you can only get in a few hours her and there. After all, life seems to always get in the way of writers. The trick. According to King “Just show up.” Some days it will fee like you are pulling teeth. You can’t think of a thing to say and looking at an orange across the room seems far more exciting. Just showing up means just that–go to your writing place at your specified time and sit. If you can’t think of anything, doodle, or free associate. Tell the kids not to interrupt you unless someone is bleeding, or they shoved a watermelon up their nose. Then show up the next day and the next, and hey, before you know i, the words, your old friends have shown up and they love you. Write on!
What Matters to the Director
When we watch a full-length movie, we have certain expectations. Is this movie going to capture my attention? Do I care about the characters? Is it worth spending my time watching? Should I see it in a movie theater, or can I wait for it to come out on DVD? Most of what matters for a full-length movie also matters when we want to make a short movie.
For me, story is what matters most. If you have a meaningful story to tell, people are going to want to watch your movie. You can have a great story, and the finished product can still be a mess; however, without a great story, you have no solid foundation upon which to build the rest. Acting comes next, because it is the actors who must tell your story. If you have a story worth telling and actors who can make it come alive, you’re doing better than many Hollywood directors.
Strong production values are also important. Without good sound on set, you cannot fully capture your actors’ performances. Without good lighting, your story may not be visually interesting. Good lighting is so much more important than how expensive your camera is. Props, costumes, and sets provide the details that go into a good production design.
The key to completing your movie is editing. How your story unfolds depends on the picture edit. The sound edit is the polish that can make a good movie great. Once your movie is completed, you are going to want it to be seen. Marketing and distribution are needed if you want to build an audience for your movie.
And that’s what really matters: creating an experience that can impact people’s lives.
The Story
Stories define us. It’s our ability to tell stories, our experiences as we interpret them that make us uniquely human. A story needs a beginning, middle and an end. Many film makers choose to ignore the ending, making the whole piece brittle, abstract or unsatisfying. Don’t fall into this trap. An ending can be mysterious, but it’s your job as a story teller to finish the story you are telling. Otherwise the audience will feel cheated. It puts the film maker in the position of feeling superior to their audience, which is one of the biggest mistakes a film maker can make. Never be superior to your audience. They are paying for tickets, and ultimately funding your ability to do your next project. It is on the audience’s wings that your story is meant to fly.
Your story is unique. It is important. They will one day be a part of what your mark on the world was meant to be. This is the masterpiece of your life, take it seriously. I don’t mean that it can’t be a comedy, some of the most wonderful masterpieces are comedies. I mean, try to make it the best it can be. Not perfect. Just the best to your abilty.
Welcome!
For many years now, Michael and Karilyn Starks have been creating movies in Colorado. From Dramas to Comedies and even some Shakespeare, it’s been a tremendous learning experience. This director-writer, husband-wife team have experienced the triumphs, the tragedies, the fun and the craziness, and ultimately the great satisfaction in owning their own film company.
With these experiences in mind, Michael and Karilyn have put together a resource of experiences to share with others who want to take on the fun, challenging, sometimes crazy lives of being film makers
Now more than at any other time in history, there are resources available that an help anyone from any walk of life create and produce their own films. You no longer have to be in the inner circle of Hollywood to find everything you need to enjoy this satisfying career.
Join us here, on twitter and on our other resources to find out how you can learn the skills to start your own film company. From scripts to hiring actors to directing to producing and editing, this is a journey for anyone who wants to chase this dream.
And remember, we’re always here to help. Just contact us with your questions, sign up for our newsletter, and consider joining us for classes. We look forward to hearing from you.
Journeys in Movie Making
The Blog for A-List Digital Arts Aademy
Welcome to our Blog!
Welcome to Journeys in Movie-Making! We love to make movies, and we enjoy helping other people make movies. Our plan is to share a few of our experiences with readers who may be interested. We hope to include best practices, lessons learned, and information on projects that we find exciting. If you find our posts useful and/or entertaining, let your friends know. If you have any questions or comments, let us know.