A Little of This and a Little of That – The Filmmaker Recipe

A Little of This and a Little of That – The Filmmaker Recipe

EVERY CREATIVE HAS A DIFFERENT RECIPE FOR HOW THEY DO WHAT THEY DO. THE PROCESS OF CREATING HAS INFINITE ITERATIONS, WHICH MAKES IT SUCH AN ENCHANTING SUBJECT. WE’VE READ ABOUT NOVELISTS WHO ISOLATE IN THE WOODS AND MAINTAIN A STRICT, DAILY SCHEDULE, PAINTERS WHO SAY THEY TRANSFER THEIR FEELINGS ONTO THE CANVAS, AND MUSICIANS WHO CHANNEL MELODIES FROM THE ETHERS.

When it comes to production, every shoot is different. Crews, storylines, locations…each job is a new experience. Sometimes when we explain this to people, they think it sounds like a dizzying headache and they often ask, how does a filmmaker do it? Well, after contemplating and reflecting on our own processes we’ve concocted a recipe that reflects our approach and can act as a guideline when jumping into new projects. Here’s the formula:

To be a filmmaker you need to be equal parts Buddhist, psychologist, and daredevil. With so much going on at any given moment, a filmmaker needs the patience of a Buddhist; the self-control that allows one to concentrate and focus on the present. A filmmaker needs the listening skills of a psychologist, and the neutrality and ability to compartmentalize various perspectives and present them in a cohesive and revelatory manner. And simultaneously, with all of this measure and decisiveness, a filmmaker needs to be a daredevil. Someone who is unafraid to take risks and venture beyond a comfort zone in order to make the calls that lead to breakthroughs. With controlled recklessness, a filmmaker must conduct a team of creatives to produce a visual story that will engage an audience, provoking connections and a transformative feeling.

It’s not an easy thing to do, nor does our recipe come with clear directions. But it’s fun as hell.

 

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