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Welcome to Studentfilms.com, the online film discussion forum for filmmakers and students who are applying to film school, attending film school, need advice on making films, or just want to share their films with the world.
What do you, as filmmakers, expect in other's works? What would make it stand out in an unique way, one that makes it memorable and great? Is it a good story? A good camera? Cinematography? You tell me.
I'm studying film and I'm trying to get a deeper insight of film as a whole.
You opinion counts, no matter what! Any answers will be greatly appreciated, thank you!
Posts: 1 | Location: USA | Registered: May 31, 2010
I think evrything you mentioned.A story is what you base everything on. If you have a good story, you need to find a different view of point to approach and tell your story. To find a new way to tell your story you need to have a deep understanding to the film and the audiences. Camera and pictures are important as well. So you need to be able to express the pictures in your mind and to have a great sense of editing. I just told you outlines to start with. You need to know them well really well. After that you can imagine the answer of your questions. Thank you,
Posts: 41 | Location: there | Registered: February 10, 2010
I'm afraid these questions are too general. Many books have been written about each of those subjects, and each element may weigh differently depending on what the film is trying to achieve.
The only question you have that I've heard answered definitively is that you don't need a good camera. A good camera is useless without a good operator. You should use what is readily available. As much as I hate flip cameras, you can easily make a great film with one assuming you have a unique story to tell. You just need to match the story with the medium.
Posts: 26 | Location: Vermont | Registered: November 23, 2009
I think a film can be considered great when all of the elements come together perfectly, and nothing seems out of place. Obviously, the most important aspect of the films is what it says. I mean the point of it. If a film doesn't say anything, or doesn't allow people relate to it, it's really just mental masturbation if you don't get anything out of it.
Posts: 1 | Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia | Registered: June 23, 2010
When a film makes me feel emotional (I don't mean I burst into tears) rather the emotions swirl around in my head, Gattaca's ending for example. Or if a film moves you to debate (the ending of Inception) that's when I know a movie is great.
Posts: 118 | Location: USA | Registered: July 06, 2010
For me "UP" was GREAT. It had laughter, pain, action and squirrels. The first 10 minutes or so was heartbreaking, a perfect example of love and loss. To me this was the perfect movie.
Posts: 117 | Location: USA | Registered: August 13, 2010
Have you ever watched the entire credits of a film? Well, those people -- and I mean ALL of them -- can make or ruin a movie. They make a movie great or mediocre...
Naturally, some professionals are more important than others. There is a hierarchy of salary that matches creative control and power. The director, the cinematographer, the screenwriter, the producer, the editor, and the stars are the dominant force in a movie production, and the burden of making a movie great is much heavier on them.
The elements that make a movie great are too many. Sometimes you could have exquisite camerawork ruined because of poor acting. Or vice versa. Editing can be aggravating if done wrong, as well as lighting and sound design.
A true filmmaker needs a great a crew because they -- everyone of them -- make the movie great.This message has been edited. Last edited by: GabrielM,
Gabriel _____________________ Elements of Cinema.com - A Student's Guide to the Fundamentals of Filmmaking Visit us at www.elementsofcinema.com/
Posts: 127 | Location: Los Angeles | Registered: November 07, 2010
Originally posted by GabrielM: Have you ever watched the entire credits of a film? Well, those people -- and I mean ALL of them -- can make or ruin a movie. They make a movie great or mediocre...
Naturally, some professionals are more important than others. There is a hierarchy of salary that matches creative control and power. The director, the cinematographer, the screenwriter, the producer, the editor, and the stars are the dominant force is a movie production, and the burden of making a movie great is much heavier on them.
The elements that make a movie great are too many. Sometimes you could have exquisite camerawork ruined because of poor acting. Or vice versa. Editing can be aggravating if done wrong, as well as lighting and sound design.
A true filmmaker needs a great a crew because they -- everyone of them -- make the movie great.
Agreed.
Posts: 118 | Location: USA | Registered: July 06, 2010
Yes, music too is one of the elements of a film. But there have been great movies without music, and they work fine. "No Country For Old Men" comes to mind -- I think it had barely any non-diegetic sound.
But some of my favorite movies have a fantastic score... "Rocky," "Pulp Fiction," "Amadeus," "The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly"...
Music is powerful.
Gabriel _____________________ Elements of Cinema.com - A Student's Guide to the Fundamentals of Filmmaking Visit us at www.elementsofcinema.com/
Posts: 127 | Location: Los Angeles | Registered: November 07, 2010
With Tarantino music is another cast member/ another character. He can make an old long forgotten tune so cool. I love a great movie soundtrack Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and Inception are my favorites.
Posts: 117 | Location: USA | Registered: August 13, 2010
Originally posted by GabrielM: Yes, music too is one of the elements of a film. But there have been great movies without music, and they work fine. "No Country For Old Men" comes to mind -- I think it had barely any non-diegetic sound.
But some of my favorite movies have a fantastic score... "Rocky," "Pulp Fiction," "Amadeus," "The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly"...
Music is powerful.
I've still to watch No Country For Old Men. I have the Steelbook incoming from Futureshop. I found the Chen Brothers movies hit and miss TBH. Tho I will watch this with an open mind.
Posts: 118 | Location: USA | Registered: July 06, 2010
Quite frankly, "No Coutry For Old Men" is so intense I didn't even notice the lack of music. The sound design is amazing with the wind, footsteps, gunshots...
But what I like most about this movie is the attention to detail. You really have to focus to appreciate the work the Coen brothers did.
Gabriel _____________________ Elements of Cinema.com - A Student's Guide to the Fundamentals of Filmmaking Visit us at www.elementsofcinema.com/
Posts: 127 | Location: Los Angeles | Registered: November 07, 2010
Quite frankly, "No Coutry For Old Men" is so intense I didn't even notice the lack of music. The sound design is amazing with the wind, footsteps, gunshots...
But what I like most about this movie is the attention to detail. You really have to focus to appreciate the work the Coen brothers did.
I'm looking forward to finally watching this movie. The bits I did see seemed very interesting.
Posts: 118 | Location: USA | Registered: July 06, 2010
My girlfriend's best friend went to see Skyline and she laughed right through the movie. The special effects were superb, however the film plot and acting was some of the worse she had EVER seen.
Posts: 106 | Location: USA | Registered: July 25, 2010
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