Tell me a story ... please!
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2003 11:09 pm
Hi Guys
Having done another stint of judging last weekend I am even more firmly of
the belief that the majority of amateur movies need a narrative. Of course
there are a few which do not, but they are rare indeed.
I have seen lots of "mood pieces" or studies of a "critical moment" in someone's
life and they simply do not satisfy. Even decent documentaries need some
sort of thread to help the audience move through them ... if there is a little
tension in the thread so much the better.
As for the "incidents" and "funny moments" - they are almost always mere
fragments from an unfinished story and tend to be unsatisfying. I don't ask
for Dickens, Dostoevsky or even William Golding ... just some progression
from A to B with someone or something trying to stop you getting there. I'll
take it in simple hints and passing references, but without it movies don't
satisfy.
Rant over.
Dave mcSunnyStories
Having done another stint of judging last weekend I am even more firmly of
the belief that the majority of amateur movies need a narrative. Of course
there are a few which do not, but they are rare indeed.
I have seen lots of "mood pieces" or studies of a "critical moment" in someone's
life and they simply do not satisfy. Even decent documentaries need some
sort of thread to help the audience move through them ... if there is a little
tension in the thread so much the better.
As for the "incidents" and "funny moments" - they are almost always mere
fragments from an unfinished story and tend to be unsatisfying. I don't ask
for Dickens, Dostoevsky or even William Golding ... just some progression
from A to B with someone or something trying to stop you getting there. I'll
take it in simple hints and passing references, but without it movies don't
satisfy.
Rant over.
Dave mcSunnyStories