Want to Make a Good Movie? Beware the Bells and Whistles

When I told a wannabe filmmaker that the focus of Morehouse College's new Cinema, Television and Emerging Media Studies program (CTEMS) was to teach undergrad students the fundamental elements of storytelling through a heavy emphasis on writing, he responded, "Just give those kids some cameras and let 'em shoot.  That's how they'll learn." HE COULDN'T BE MORE WRONG!


For the past several years, much of the work produced by aspiring filmmakers has displayed a whiz-bang gee-doesn't that look cool approach but has been utterly deficient in presenting multi-dimensional characters, unique stories, solid plotting, emotional engagement and direction that doesn't purposely draw attention to the director. Most of these movies are blandly derivative or thinly veiled music videos at best.

And why is that?

Director Seith Mann

Too many film aspirants are getting sucked into the vortex of the toys--the bells and whistles and software niceties that can make your 95-year old grandma look like a filmmaker.  Don't get me wrong. I love the toys. In fact, I use them myself.  But they should never be used at the expense of presenting an engaging story.  These bells and whistles are meant to help the filmmaker to tell the story and not be a story unto themselves! Wow, look at the cool way the picture flashes from one color to the next. Help me Muse.

Allow me to illustrate my point a bit more.  The first is a short film I recently stumbled across from director Seith Mann entitled Five Deep Breaths.  I'll set out the link below. It's an excellent example of amazing storytelling where the bells and whistles serve the movie and the director is not drawing attention to himself. It's gritty, character based, the tempo is right and he takes some cinematic chances (check out the vocals on the jazz score "humm, humm...)

The second example is a short ditty I created during Atlanta's recent snow storm.  It's not a tale of great importance or weight but it's an example of how you can create a story using the simplest of tools.  Except for one panning shot that I asked a stranger to do, I shot this entirely myself  using Cisco's tiny Flip Video camera. I used existing light, in-camera sound and I only used Flip's simple software to do some minor editing.

 It was quick, easy, and told a tale without all the bells and whistles of the toys.

See "Five Deep Breaths" (Part 1)
See "Five Deep Breaths" (Part 2)