Lesson Number 2

Tip No. 2 .. aspiring filmmaker.

watch LOTS of movies.

you want to talk to any professional about your film or someone else's film? You need a lexicon of influences.. models, to draw from. The bigger the better.

You need to watch everything. Nothing is worthless.. EVERYTHING comments on what is achievable or what you should avoid. Not only should you watch the "good" and artsy films but you need to especially pay attention to films that make MONEY or films that art marketable.

The films that are considered great, show the subtleties of film.. the ultimate potential artistry that is possible. The make you think and they challenge you. They show you how a film can be compelling. Be it unpredictable characters, distinct visuals, or articulate and deeper plot structure. They they have an innate and intuitive profoundness that you should pay attention to. I haven't been able to figure out exactly what it is.. but it holds you hostage.. compels you beyond your control.

MAJOR MOTION films show what is desirable. What people are looking for what people want.

You are not always going to be able to shoot or produce the next "Citizen Kane". You HAVE to have content for genre. You have to know what the acceptable boxes are before you can hit or intentionally miss them. You have to know what is out there, you have to be aware of the working professionals, screenwriters and production companies that are able to make work and stay in business because IT SELLS.

Working at a production company, I have found that I have seen nowhere near enough films to a have an adequate database to converse with legitimate professionals. If I watched 2 movies a night for a year I still wouldn't be caught up. There are so many films that I have FINALLY been exposed to that have taught me the equivalent or more than one of my film classes at Southern. They have challenged my way of looking at films.. they have shown me how production lives and breathes. To be relevant you MUST educate yourself. You must watch and watch and study and study your craft. And that means watch as many movies as you can.

Because, I have found, if you are watching a movie and can say to yourself "that's interesting!" ..you should have, in that moment, learned something new about filmmaking.. and if you are paying attention to that moment, if you are being critical about it, you will be able to identify what that new thing is. The more movies you watch.. the broader your scope is, the bigger and bigger you database and lexicon .. the more content you have! the more your opinions, insight, and critique on scripts, films, other working professionals.. (even your own stuff) is relevant!! Be extremely relevant people! make your words and your opinions matter. Make them matter by knowing what you are talking about. In other words, watch tons of movies!!