Peter Sellers captures Stanley Kubrick and George C. Scott mid-chess game behind the scenes of Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, 1964.
(Source: bellecs)
A script-writer starts with the most provocative question on his mind that needs an answer he can’t find for the time being,and on his quest to find the answer (the writing process),he uses everything he knows and every experience he went through.
Robert Rodriguez is a loyal fan to Steven Seagal,and thats why he tried as much as possible to keep his image as an unbreakable hero even when dying as one of the antagonists in his latest work “machete”
Barbara Stanwyck’s anklet from “Double Indemnity”
Walter Neff : “Thats a honey of an anklet you’re wearing Mrs. Dietrichson”
………she unfolds her legs.
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
Mihaly Vig - Valuska’s theme (Werckmeister Harmonies Soundtrack)
Solid Directing
What makes a film’s impact strong,and what weakens it? Of course,a shitload of answers will pop out in your brain.The plot,the director’s style,acting,editing,rhythm,and much more.Since this question got stuck in my brain with no possibly clear answer for ages,(especially since i started to watch movies with a critical eye),i made it a bold target of mine to find an answer that at least suits me.I have always felt that “cutting” is what makes me feel the film’s impact.But thats not cutting as in the editor’s job manner,its the cutting from a shot to another.Why did the director choose to cut from this to that? And exactly when did he choose to end that shot and begin another?
I think its something like a Q and A model.Every shot carries something to show,an effect to diffuse into the viewer’s perception,and just when a shot finishes what it wants to “say”,another shot must replace it.What makes a solid director in my opinion,is the meaning,or the effect that every one of his shots carries.A casual viewer won’t understand the cut between two shots,but he will feel it.He will feel subconsciously that he now is watching the scene from another point of view for a reason.
A solid director will always be sure that every shot he makes and every shot he cuts to is by itself a perfect unit.Prior to the answer i found to that big question,i used to watch movies where there are many purposeless cuts,and i used to think “what the fuck?why is this film so disturbing?”…..it was because the director in turn was confused,primarily in the location,and finally in the editing phase.He didn’t give the phase of the breaking-down of shots its time and he definitely wasn’t really “ready” or prepared in the location.Solid or Firm directing takes a well prepared director.One who has sit on his ass for a respectful amount of time before the principal shooting,trying to figure out how he will shoot this script,how he will turn this plain text to 35mm.And when a director does so,whatever his style or his origins,his “solid” directing will be obvious.When i watch his movie,i’ll say that this guy wasn’t joking,this guy has his way,and when any type of audience watch his movie,they will definitely be hooked.
Above is one of the greatest scenes in the history of cinema,from Sergio Leone’s masterpiece “One Upon a Time in the West”.Sergio Leone has one of the most “Solid” directing styles in my opinion.His cuts are precise to the extent that i sometimes “hear” them.
