"Michael Slowe" <
michael.slowe@btinternet.com> wrote:
Oh dear, once again I have to disagree with good friends! Having made some
successful films over the last 30 years I have to say that I have never
written
a script! I am primarily an editor anyway and all my films are really made
at that stage. It is true that I bear in mind cutting possibilities whilst
I shoot but with documentaries one can never be sure what can be obtained
until it is shot. I may make some notes before a shoot to try and remember
what basically I need to capture but that is the sum of it. I only form
my structure whilst I am digitising my footage and carefully labelling and
commenting on the many hundreds of clips.
Yes, you've made wonderful films over the last 30 years. I agree, Michael.
As you know I've shown some of your films in my clubhouse : "Melissa", "Glass
Art", "Still Life", etc... Excellent films. You're a master improvisator
! Congratulations ! But there is a difference between preparing feature
(or do you call them 'fiction') films and documentaries. In some way you
agree with me and I agree with you. I told you : there are sometimes unforeseen
circumstances when making a documentary or a travelogue. The weather circumstances
for instance. Imagine that I had to film "La fête cornouialle" (in my film
"Breizh") when it was raining cats and dogs ! I agree : while taking shots
you sometimes see things that you did not expect. So why not filming these
unexpected things even if they are not in your script ? A question : I remember
your film "Melissa" very well. Before filming : didn't you prepare that film
by writing a rough script ? You said : "I remember what basically I need
to capture ..." You could have written down the things that you had to remember.
For instance the questions that you were going to ask Melissa's teacher and
her friend etc ... ? So in fact you've "written down" these things in your
memory.
Making a feature film is quite different. In my opinion then it is really
necessary to write a script or screenplay. By the way : is there any difference
between a script and a screenplay ? My English-Dutch dictionary says : screenplay
= draaiboek/script = draaiboek. Are they synonyms ? For my film "Together
with Yoda" I prepared everything at home. I didn't want to take any risks
because I hired a vintage car for only one day. Imagine that I had not written
a script with the dialogues for my actors Colin Howett, for the Morris Man,
the Lady of the luxury B & B, etc... ? I sent the script with the dialogues
to the Morris Man a few weeks before going to England. So he knew what he
had to say. Having written a script does not mean that you're not allowed
to improvise anymore, but in my opinion the script helps to make a solid
foundation of a well-structured film. I always try to avoid the following
thing while editing my film : "Saying "Oh, Jesus, I should have taken such
a shot as well !". I asked Colin Howett, the Morris man and other actors
to use their own words, but thanks to my script I saved time and I avoided
any disappointments while editing. Michael, we are good friends, but "Ieder
vogeltje zingt zoals hij gebekt is". It's a Dutch expression and I think
it means something like "If better were within, better would come out." or
"Everyone talks after his own fashion".