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Freshman
Posted
i have an idea for a short and wanted to know how people think and would react..

how do you feel about making a piece about terrorism ?
i thought about the idea of
a man arrives at the train station..(poughkeepsie new york)
he is sitting there among others, he looks at a picture of his family..then he stands up and walks down to the train..(long one shot)..as he tries to back out and get out of the station..we see 2 men standing there looking at him which make the audience know they are behind this too.
and then we see thet rain arriving..tilt up..see the mid hudson bridge..then hear an explosion..sirens,..screams..


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Posts: 153 | Location: NEWW YOOOOOOOOOOOOOORK | Registered: August 08, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Alumnus
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callign it controversial isn't your job. moment you think of it that way you've failed. Let the individual audience members decide for themselves what they think of it.

but this doesnt seem like anything that hasnt been shown on a TV drama already. There's no story goign on its desperately trying to make us "feel" something that just isn't there.

write about what you know or have experienced. keep it down to earth. dont dwelve into the world of hollywood make beleive sappy bs. film CAN be an expression of yourself, a work of art. Art has no restrictions....do you?
 
Posts: 3950 | Location: Sacramento, CA | Registered: July 21, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Freshman
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its not a freakin hollywood cloud
dont over analyze when u dont know the person you are talking to
i wanted to show that the person who will commit the crime doesnt entirly want to do it..i wont show any big explosions..
just comment on the concept of the film and dont leave that out to criticze everything else that is NOT RELEVANT


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first short film: http://www.studentfilms.com/film/get.do?id=926
 
Posts: 153 | Location: NEWW YOOOOOOOOOOOOOORK | Registered: August 08, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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like I said, stuff like this has been done on episodes of CSI or law and order. Where's the originality of your subject matter?
 
Posts: 3950 | Location: Sacramento, CA | Registered: July 21, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Freshman
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quote:
Originally posted by Kyle Johnson:
like I said, stuff like this has been done on episodes of CSI or law and order. Where's the originality of your subject matter?

the originality is the way it will be presented
the concept of a man being pushed to do something he doesnt want to
not everyone watches shows like CSI and law and orde ru know


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Posts: 153 | Location: NEWW YOOOOOOOOOOOOOORK | Registered: August 08, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Alumnus
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I dont even know why I mentioned those shows, I havent seen either in years. Point is your story sounds like something off a tv drama. You may present it in a outstandingly visual way but what does that mean? so you can put together pretty pictures in a stylized dramatic way in hopes to get a feel from someone? People have seen this kind of stuff all the time, characters in films have been 'pushed to something unwanted' all through cinema history. I imagine we all have had interesting/inspiring experiences in our lives....why not weave those into a story somehow? Why limit your charcter to jus being forced to do something he doesnt wanna do? Bring your charcters to life and have them be human with many problems and not just one straight forward goal in the film. Its been done and its tired and film is in desperate need of new things. Originality is not dead.
 
Posts: 3950 | Location: Sacramento, CA | Registered: July 21, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Alumnus
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quote:
the concept of a man being pushed to do something he doesnt want to


If you knew anything about Islamic suicide bombers you'd know they want to blow themselves up with all their heart for the betterment of their "faith" and to show their commitment to Allah. I'm not, in any way, saying this is OK, I'm simply explaining their point of view.

This isn't original. It's purely incorrect. Your idea may seem original to you, but you asked for opinions and that's what you're getting. What you describe sounds like nothing more than an opening to a full-length feature or a TV spot. It may be "controversial" and a bit "serious" to you, but in the big world, it's peanuts.
 
Posts: 1150 | Location: Marienbad | Registered: June 24, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Freshman
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wow..you are a negative person ha.
no they havent, i myself, who is a movie addict, have not seen a film recently that shows a terrorist having to commit a crime he doesnt want. so no you are GENERALIZING.
Yes characters in cinema doin what they dont want is in all film, so since its in all films, we should stop watching or making films? NO, b.c the conflicts arent always the same.
the point of the film is what i said, i dont want to add more UNECSSARY stuff that wont benefit the story like u suggested, whats the point of his problems and goal, its a short film not a feature.
so having a terrorist have problems is original? ALL TERRORIST have some kind of problem thats why they become terrorist, what u said is not original
thanks for NO HELP


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first short film: http://www.studentfilms.com/film/get.do?id=926
 
Posts: 153 | Location: NEWW YOOOOOOOOOOOOOORK | Registered: August 08, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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quote:
Originally posted by funkbomb:
quote:
the concept of a man being pushed to do something he doesnt want to


If you knew anything about Islamic suicide bombers you'd know they want to blow themselves up with all their heart for the betterment of their "faith" and to show their commitment to Allah. I'm not, in any way, saying this is OK, I'm simply explaining their point of view.

This isn't original. It's purely incorrect. Your idea may seem original to you, but you asked for opinions and that's what you're getting. What you describe sounds like nothing more than an opening to a full-length feature or a TV spot. It may be "controversial" and a bit "serious" to you, but in the big world, it's peanuts.


not all terrorist want to do what they do..some people are brainwashed to become what they are..i know alot of these stories because i am a muslim myself, so i am familiar with it.
this is a seroius issue that is lead and is leading to killing innocent people for the sake of making more money or power by other rich people.
then how is it peanuts?


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first short film: http://www.studentfilms.com/film/get.do?id=926
 
Posts: 153 | Location: NEWW YOOOOOOOOOOOOOORK | Registered: August 08, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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but do you see the ignorance you're creating here, godfather? At first I thought you may elaborate your story more for the film, but thats it? just what you described? How is your film supposed to impact anyone? Make anyone think? Make anyone more concious of their world? Its a guy looking at his family photo and then blowing up. Sure, its short...and could be a short film...but it has no substance whatsoever. Its nothing. We dont even know whats goign on. You're random in all the wrong ways!
 
Posts: 3950 | Location: Sacramento, CA | Registered: July 21, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Freshman
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quote:
Originally posted by Kyle Johnson:
but do you see the insanity you're creating here, godfather? At first I thought you may elaborate your story more for the film, but thats it? just what you described? How is your film supposed to impact anyone? Make anyone think? Make anyone more concious of their world? Its a guy looking at his family photo and then blowing up. Sure, its short...and could be a short film...but it has no substance whatsoever. Its nothing. We dont even know whats goign on. You're random in all the wrong ways!

do you really have to provide a back story to every freakin character to make a film? wat about shorts that do get to the point and become succesfful and dont have character background.
what insanity am i creating? im trying to show that these action are led b.c of wrong reasons, ppl pay price for something that they are not responsible of.
its impacting b.c it shows how a suicide bomber thinks, it shows how difficult it is to do such a thing..not all terrorists have the heart to do what they want, there are sum who are brainwashed to do things they are forced to do, thats the point, A BIG POINT.


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first short film: http://www.studentfilms.com/film/get.do?id=926
 
Posts: 153 | Location: NEWW YOOOOOOOOOOOOOORK | Registered: August 08, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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i mentioned insanity (later changed to 'ignorance') because your film idea is nothing. You're giving made up feelings to a character that deos nothing but look at a picture of his family. ITs absolute pretentious drama. I dont feel like I can relate to this person, all I see him do is a few actions and then the movie explodes...whats teh difficulty? Your expecting too much. You show so little that we can't decide anything. Its all simple minded! NO SUBSTANCE. This is no different than the ending to Armagheddon.


this is not a subject you should be handeling because you don't understand it! (THUS LACK OF SUBSTANCE/STORY/CHARACTER/ MEANING you have things way too black and white.
 
Posts: 3950 | Location: Sacramento, CA | Registered: July 21, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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quote:
do you really have to provide a back story to every freakin character to make a film? wat about shorts that do get to the point and become succesfful and dont have character background.
what insanity am i creating? im trying to show that these action are led b.c of wrong reasons, ppl pay price for something that they are not responsible of.
its impacting b.c it shows how a suicide bomber thinks, it shows how difficult it is to do such a thing..not all terrorists have the heart to do what they want, there are sum who are brainwashed to do things they are forced to do, thats the point, A BIG POINT.


I think the biggest problem is that it skips everything that the suicide bomber is. It simply shows a picture of a family and as an audience, you basically geta counterfeit emotion, and can only assume you understand what goes through a terrorists head, which is why we don't understand terrorists. how can we be expected to understand why someone else hates us, or comprehend that they could have a legitimate reason for it, but it is entirely possible. rather than make a film, or short, or whatever, about a terrorist looking simply at a picture of his family, I would rather actually see a film about this guy with his family, in whatever way to him is the equivalent to us westerners getting together for thanksgiving dinner, and family reunions etc... and everyday life. Maybe if I knew what a terrorist's life is like, what his family is like, I could get something from simply showing him looking at a picture of his family, but I can't cause I think you've skipped the mst important part which is whats led up to him doing a certain act, being and feeling a certain way. I feel like this goes along with every other cliche and misunderstanding about terrorists and basically anyone who isn't western. I don't pretend to know much of anything bout this subject, what a terrorist is like, or feels, cause I don't. I just feel that for a subject that I don't understand, there hasn't been anything done to bring that understanding to me. Not by holding my hand or telling me, but showing me somethign I can draw from.

My advice for you is to attempt what i sometimes do when I create a story and characters. I come up with a beginning, middle, and end for all the characters and their lives, think about events in their lives and what theyve done etc... and then i make the middle part of that a film. Try thinking about this terrorists life to yourself, so that he doesn't simply stumble into a train staion one day with a bomb, but that he is a person, and he has a path that has led him to do something. Whether it's blowing himself up witha bomb, or ordering a taco. Don't be discouraged, just think about what makes this person important, is it what he's doing, or why he's doing it?
 
Posts: 2173 | Location: n/a | Registered: May 06, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Freshman
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quote:
Originally posted by Kyle Johnson:
i mentioned insanity (later changed to 'ignorance') because your film idea is nothing. You're giving made up feelings to a character that deos nothing but look at a picture of his family. ITs absolute pretentious drama. I dont feel like I can relate to this person, all I see him do is a few actions and then the movie explodes...whats teh difficulty? Your expecting too much. You show so little that we can't decide anything. Its all simple minded! NO SUBSTANCE. This is no different than the ending to Armagheddon.


this is not a subject you should be handeling because you don't understand it! (THUS LACK OF SUBSTANCE/STORY/CHARACTER/ MEANING you have things way too black and white.

i am not ignorant and u need to watch ur language when u talk to me.
again ur saying NOTHING..wow..i guess since for e.g david lynch has movies that dont make sense, he is not a good filmmaker ha? or ya ur the type of person who just wants to c a detailed formality..thats sad.
its not made up feelings, its a terrorist, like a first gunman who is not feeling right about killing people..a very known feeling.
SCREW THE PICTURE dont get too hung up on that, i just gave a brief descrioption , this will eventually change a bit, god.
what u learn is that people commit these crimes b.c of wrong reasons, i will ofcourse show more but this is just a brief description of an idea.


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first short film: http://www.studentfilms.com/film/get.do?id=926
 
Posts: 153 | Location: NEWW YOOOOOOOOOOOOOORK | Registered: August 08, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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I ment the idea was stupid, Godfather, not you. And I'm glad Kane could touch on this, he has a way with his words.
 
Posts: 3950 | Location: Sacramento, CA | Registered: July 21, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Freshman
Posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by Hill Dawson Kane:
quote:
do you really have to provide a back story to every freakin character to make a film? wat about shorts that do get to the point and become succesfful and dont have character background.
what insanity am i creating? im trying to show that these action are led b.c of wrong reasons, ppl pay price for something that they are not responsible of.
its impacting b.c it shows how a suicide bomber thinks, it shows how difficult it is to do such a thing..not all terrorists have the heart to do what they want, there are sum who are brainwashed to do things they are forced to do, thats the point, A BIG POINT.


I think the biggest problem is that it skips everything that the suicide bomber is. It simply shows a picture of a family and as an audience, you basically geta counterfeit emotion, and can only assume you understand what goes through a terrorists head, which is why we don't understand terrorists. how can we be expected to understand why someone else hates us, or comprehend that they could have a legitimate reason for it, but it is entirely possible. rather than make a film, or short, or whatever, about a terrorist looking simply at a picture of his family, I would rather actually see a film about this guy with his family, in whatever way to him is the equivalent to us westerners getting together for thanksgiving dinner, and family reunions etc... and everyday life. Maybe if I knew what a terrorist's life is like, what his family is like, I could get something from simply showing him looking at a picture of his family, but I can't cause I think you've skipped the mst important part which is whats led up to him doing a certain act, being and feeling a certain way. I feel like this goes along with every other cliche and misunderstanding about terrorists and basically anyone who isn't western. I don't pretend to know much of anything bout this subject, what a terrorist is like, or feels, cause I don't. I just feel that for a subject that I don't understand, there hasn't been anything done to bring that understanding to me. Not by holding my hand or telling me, but showing me somethign I can draw from.

My advice for you is to attempt what i sometimes do when I create a story and characters. I come up with a beginning, middle, and end for all the characters and their lives, think about events in their lives and what theyve done etc... and then i make the middle part of that a film. Try thinking about this terrorists life to yourself, so that he doesn't simply stumble into a train staion one day with a bomb, but that he is a person, and he has a path that has led him to do something. Whether it's blowing himself up witha bomb, or ordering a taco. Don't be discouraged, just think about what makes this person important, is it what he's doing, or why he's doing it?


very helpful advice, thank you
i wanted to write a statment in the end of the film..its basically a really short short film for me to say a msg..and in order to SHOW that msg, NO WAY it will be a short film.i want to show how a terrorist mind think before commiting a crime..and with the statment, it will tie together explaning things..


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first short film: http://www.studentfilms.com/film/get.do?id=926
 
Posts: 153 | Location: NEWW YOOOOOOOOOOOOOORK | Registered: August 08, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Alumnus
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ur idea is actually GREAT u ned to go aolng with it and i cant WAIT until you make it,god it will be good.

a terorist bolwing up a subway is like REALLY ORIGINAL cosiderin it lik happend twice in london so ppl will DEFINATLEY want to lik see it agan and again oin film

We see enough terrorism on TV. People don't need you to recreate it for them from a different perspective.

quote:
then how is it peanuts?


I referring to in the movie world, where it's been done already. He's not shouting anything new, it's the same old attempt at drama and emotion. I'm sure what it relates to is important, but his presentation is just unneeded.
 
Posts: 1150 | Location: Marienbad | Registered: June 24, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Freshman
Posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by funkbomb:
ur idea is actually GREAT u ned to go aolng with it and i cant WAIT until you make it,god it will be good.

a terorist bolwing up a subway is like REALLY ORIGINAL cosiderin it lik happend twice in london so ppl will DEFINATLEY want to lik see it agan and again oin film

your sarcasm wasnt helpful]
peace


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Posts: 153 | Location: NEWW YOOOOOOOOOOOOOORK | Registered: August 08, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Junior
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quote:
Originally posted by funkbomb:
ur idea is actually GREAT u ned to go aolng with it and i cant WAIT until you make it,god it will be good.

a terorist bolwing up a subway is like REALLY ORIGINAL cosiderin it lik happend twice in london so ppl will DEFINATLEY want to lik see it agan and again oin film

No offense to anybody, but... AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
 
Posts: 598 | Location: Mobile, AL | Registered: May 10, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Sophomore
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actually the Peace Keeper nucked a train in the beginning.


Andy Learn
 
Posts: 220 | Location: Jacksonville, ,FL | Registered: February 09, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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