Building the Perfect Beast
Picture this scenario. You are a director making your first appropriately budgeted professionally shot film which for the sake of argument is a short showcasing your storytelling skills and act as a calling card to bigger things like having your feature greenlit. It’s the last day of principal photography and it’s 5am in the morning. It’s been a gruelling all night shoot with the entire crew exhausted to the point of falling asleep on their feet. Mr Murphy and his thrice damned law has dogged you all the time on this shoot as is normally the case in all shoots.
Since you had chosen to shoot the film in sequence the to aid the performances the option of doing an axis breakdown of the shotlist in the interest of being more efficient wasn’t available. Ergo one entire scene which comprises of 10 diff setups still needs to be shot. Of course it’s supposed to be at night but you can see the tendrils of dawn tearing apart the inky blackness of night. You have to nail the entire scene in one shot coz in the time left your DP only has time to light for one shot and you will be extremely fortunate if you can get more than one take before the light becomes unusable.
So now of course after an all nighter which has played hell with your body cycle and mental faculties you have to scrap your carefully thought out coverage and make something up right on the spot which will have the required dramatic weight. The fact that the crew is pissed coz they are now in their 3rd hour of overtime isn’t helping either. But you don’t need to worry coz you can draw on your ample prior experience dealing with similar situations to bail you out of this conundrum.
Unless of course you don’t have adequate experience as you never went to film school. never worked on films working your way up from the grassroots level and don’t know how to rally your troops for one final push towards victory. All you did on your path to being director was watch a lot of films, read some books on film theory and hopefully write a script which your mother thinks is absolutely fabulous.
In which case you my friend are well and truly fucked even if you don’t find that out till you start editing your baby. Welcome to the wonderful world of filmmaking. Why the fuck didn’t the DVD of “City of God” talk about this stuff you might ask.
There seems to be some newfangled idea going around that experience is actually a bad thing while making a film. This frankly is one of the most ludicruous things I have heard in a long long time. I am constantly given the example of Orson Welles who made “Citizen Kane” as his debut without a shred of experience. In rebuttal to that argument I would only like to inform everyone that the now defunct RKO studio provided all their considerable resources and expertise at the Welles’ disposal and gave him a free reign to do as he pleased. And of course his Director of Photography was a certain Greg Tolland who is considered more than a God amongst cinematographic circles.
Let me take a min to talk about Tolland. As the story goes when the news reached Tolland that Welles was making a film on the life of William Randolph Hearst he made an appointment to see the newbie director. As he entered the room Tolland placed the Oscar he had won for lensing “Great Expectations” on the table in front of Welles and tells him that he was going to the cinematographer on the film which was at that time titled RKO 281. He got the job of course.
Citizen Kane changed cinematic language forever and Welles was wel aware of how much of a contribution Tolland had made to the film be it building faster lenses to inventing new techniques to attain the legendary deep focus photography in the film. So as a gesture of tribtue from one genius to another, Welles insisted of sharing the final credit title card with his DP in a break of longstanding tradition. A similar break in tradition hasn’t happened since.
Now just imagine would “Citizen Kane” be the timeless masterpiece it is if along with the rookie director, the rest of the crew were also neophytes ? I think not. The opposite also applies. I’ve seen experienced directors mother their comparatively green crew through an entire feature film which went on to break all box office records. That director in question just happens to be an FTII grad and his name is Raju Hirani.
I just finished working on two back to back cool shorts shot on the RED and the crew was a mixture of experienced and rookies getting their feet wet. The entire camera crew which included the AC’s , grips and electrics all went to film school but nobody waved that around in each other’s faces. All of us knew our jobs for the most part and while fuck ups happened it was rectifiable. One’s work ethic counts for even more than one’s skills and expertise in the real world.
So before anyone goes off to make that film which will change the world or knock mainstream Bollywood on it’s ass I suggest learning how to compose a shot, design coverage effectively, write a script and format it correctly, pace the edit of a film and most importantly how to direct actors.
Go work on films even if it’s as a PA and see the diff between a well run set where channels of communication are clear and and a badly clusterfucked set where everyone is running around like headless chickens.
Of course you don’t really need to do any of this since we both know the script you wrote is just fantastic and experience is anyways overrated. After all “aadmi aur achaar main farak hota hain”.
Translation – There is a difference between a man and a pickle.
Anurag Kashyap
Abhay Deol
Dibakar Banerjee
Hansal Mehta
Khalid Mohamed
Kundan Shah
Anish Kuruvilla
Jaideep Verma
Manish Gupta
Navdeep Singh
Bhavani Iyer
D. Santosh
Onir
Ashvin Kumar
Ramu Ramanathan
Sudhir Mishra
Pankaj Advani
Revathy
Saurabh Shukla
Shilpa Shukla
Sujoy Ghosh
Suparn Verma
Santosh Sivan
Shashank Ghosh
Shivajee
Pavan Kaul
Partho Sen-Gupta
Prroshant Naryannan
Sam Langoria
Satish Kasetty
Wow. Not a very feel good post so to say, but very deeply rooted in what it wants to convey. Impressive
!
Awesome. Inspiring.
This is kind of a basic question, but honestly, I didnt’ quite get what Mitch is trying to put across. Is it that one has to go through the academic rigmarole of FTII, work bottom up in film-making, get a through understanding of the process before taking the reins?
This article also says that a successful and a ‘good’ (subjective this is) film can be made only when there are experienced hands on the set. Exp hands are who? Film school products only? I didnt get that from the write-up. Not sure if always the team on set is a good mixture of old hats and neophytes. The film that comes to my mind now is NK’s Hyd Blues. Even though he was a product of some part time filmmaking course, MK and his team were completely new to makingthis film and yet it was a decently made original film which tasted comm success. Does this defy whats been said then?
I could be missing a point here but these things just came to my mind as I read this. Hence wrote..
surely…there’s a big diff between a man and a pickle…the point made…a punch in the face…a ‘halla’ of a post…keep ur gloves on maaan…great!
I just saw an email by “ftii lad” in my inbox saying, “Jaideepji, here’s a fitting reply”. Fitting reply? Well, forget the incoherence (pointed out by Arthi V too) above, or the childishness of the assumptions, “fitting reply” to what? I didn’t know there was a war on. Typically, you guys can only stick together in your own space (and that too anonymously), don’t have the guts to come and make your points in the world. The intelligence in the above post sadly actually proves my point, but I don’t expect you to get that. If you want to make laughing stocks of yourselves, be my guest.
Actually, instead of talking so much, why not make your films and prove your point? I have at least managed to do that.
In clearly what is supposed to be a rebuttal to Jaideep Varma’s post on FTII graduates, I think Mitch has responded in a completely immature and childish manner. The article is very obviously dictated by emotions and lacks logical thought process. ( Varma did mention Raju Hirani as one of the better film makers from FTII, or did you miss that in your fit of anger?)
“The entire camera crew which included the AC’s , grips and electrics all went to film school but nobody waved that around in each other’s faces.” Maybe because they were ALL from film school?
Whatever may have happened between Greg Tolland and Orson Welles, was clearly based of mutual respect. Even though Orson Welles was not experienced. You just proved Varma’s point about the lack of mutual respect from FTII graduates by showing none whatsoever.
“Now just imagine would “Citizen Kane” be the timeless masterpiece it is if along with the rookie director, the rest of the crew were also neophytes.”
Whats the point here? Jaideep having already acknowledged that FTII produces great technicians – just that no great directors recently. So pick up FTII technicians and rookie directors and you may have another ‘Citizen Kane’ :P
Jaideep, you have made a film, but you haven’t proved any points yet. We shall see it when it comes out. From what filmbuff1234 says in an earlier thread (http://passionforcinema.com/hulla-finally-releasing-on-12th-sep-phew/), it appears that it’s a film with a good idea that has been poorly written and badly executed. So before you rant about FTII people, let us see your film first. Maybe it will prove the opposite point to the one your making.
@Arthi
One swallow doesn’t make a summer. For one Hyderabad Blues which got commercially released there are thousands others which will languish in the cans. Subrat nailed this phenomena very eloquently last night as “The Survivor Complex”. You only get to see the person who survived and not the others who perished. The point of my post is to merely highlight that a director be it a debutant or a seasoned veteran needs to know what the hell he is doing otherwise it becomes an unholy mess. I can tell you this from first hand experience. Even if the director isn’t technically savvy or experienced enough if he has faith and trust in his team he can weather out the war. And believe me making a film is a war.
@Jaideep
you need to get over your persecution complex. This post wasn’t a rebuttal to your post. I could care less about what yout think about FTII and vice versa. It just so happened that I had a conversation with someone who thought all film school grads are know it all punks and filmmakers are born and not made. This is a a viewpoint that I see a lot so I was merely attempting to address that. This conversation happened not in Bollywood but in Hollywood so I don’t know how u got the impression that I was talking bout you. And I am far from being an anonymous sniper. Would you like me to post my imdb link ?
And what exactly is the point you are trying to make now that you have made your film ? Is that supposed to grant you demigod status where each word you utter is a pearl which needs to be treasured ? Kanti Shah makes his films as does Uwe Boll. Uwe Boll infact challenges his critics to a boxing match and proceeds to beat the shit out of them. Why is it that the moment a filmmaker attains some modicum of success they start behaving like the Queen of Hearts.
@Bert and P
I didn’t go to FTII so I have no agenda to defend the said institution. I mention Raju Hirani coz I have worked with the man and respect him deeply both as a filmmaker and as a person. Before he made Munnabhai he worked for more than a decade as an editor, made commercials etc etc before taking the feature film plunge. So when he’s on set he’s editing the film in his mind as he goes along and doesn’t need to shoot insane amounts of coverage. That was my point of trying to articulate that experience and mastery over one’s craft results in a person being a better filmmaker in most cases.
And talking bout mutual respect I personally have no respect for anyone who comes out and bitches about his crew after the film has been shot and is ready for release. If you have a problem with a crew member then fire him and replace him. Stanley Kubrick had legendary fights with his vastly more experienced DP’s when he was starting out coz everybody thought that this kid doesn’t know shit. But since he was so technically gifted as savvy he could put anyone in his place and show them how to do their job better and more efficiently. That’s the reaon he’s reverred as a filmmaker. Paul Thomas Anderson fired half of his crew during the making of There will be Blood coz they couldn’t handle his improvisational shooting style. If the relationship isn’t working out it’s perfectly acceptable to replace said person. What’s hypocriticial is not acting during the actual filming but rather coming out later and pointing the finger.
Mitch, that is a good point about not respecting your crew. Check out this Jaideep post where he rants about his editor and assistant director: http://www.silenceonthefloor.com/?p=163
I know both Sumit Kilam and Nimish Gaur personally, and have heard credible accounts of how Nimish time and again guided Jaideep through the shoot when he was making basic mistakes. It is in really bad taste for Jaideep to attack them like this.
@mitch,
I dont think Jaideep was refering to your post when he made the comment about anonymity. check his comment again
@Mitch
I guess we must get back to the original point. Not whether it’s important to go to film schools or not. Some of my fav directors like Polanski and Scorsese have been to film schools. The debate was why FTII ain’t producing any good directors recently? Let’s have your take on that.
And believe me everyone wants to know that.
@P
I know two good directors personally in Raju Hirani and Rabiranjan Maitra and am an admirer of Shriram Raghavan as well. If by recent you mean why haven’t any recent grads made any inroads perhaps it’s because they realise that they need to hone their skills in the real world before making a feature film. Not everyone wakes up one day and says “U know what directing a film seems so easy and since there are so many bad films being made maybe I can show everybody how to do it.”
I know of a very talented FTII guy who was about to make his first film but his financing fell through since it was a non-mainstream subject. Now if you ask me why don’t they make Bollywood potboilers I have no answer for that as I’m not privy to the thought process of FTII alumni.
@ftii lad. So you know Sumit Kilam and Nimish Gaur personally, do you? So why the reluctance to identify yourself. You’re comfortable taking other people’s names and getting personal with half baked rumours about them and me, but don’t have the balls to identify yourself. What a loser you are.
Unfortunately, that is all you guys are capable of, being personal, hiding behind anonymity, no ability to debate the points and answer those directly. Why not spend all this energy to do some worthwhile work at least? Ultimately, isn’t that what everything is about finally?
@Mitch. I just wonder what the url of your post was doing in my inbox, that’s all. I don’t really want to waste further time reacting to the likes of you, time will tell what one’s real worth is, yours or mine. Name-dropping doesn’t quite do that, sadly for you.
@Jaideep
Trust me the last thing I want to do is butt heads with someone who assigns blame to everyone on his crew right from his actors, his assistants and even his producer. To use a football analogy if one player doesn’t perform it’s his fault but if the entire team is underperforming its the manager’s/coach’s fault.
I just find it hilarious that the person whom you seem to ranting against is in fact Rajat Kapoor, your lead actor who also happens to be a FTII direction grad who also happened to direct one of the best Hindi films I have seen recently ie Mithya. I’m sure even you will agree that he made a “Conceptual” film as you put it. Peace out bro with one final piece of advice which I have learnt working below the line my entire career. You don’t demand respect but you earn it.
Mitch, this is getting pretty silly and childish now and you really need to stop this crap. I have read jaideep’s blog and there is no ranting on Rajat Kapoor or anyone else there, that is all nonsense. There are observations about the film’s process, and he is entitled to whatever he feels about it. As for his film, i don’t think he ever comes across like he thinks he’s making a classic.
If your post wasn’t about replying to him, why has the focus shifted? It is all so childish, grown up man.
To be honest, even i don’t understand what point you’re trying to make in your post. Maybe you really should move on to some other topic now.
Actually, Jaideep rants against Rajat Kapoor’s “brand of maturity” here: http://www.silenceonthefloor.com/?p=186
On his blog, in fact, he rants against almost everybody involved with the film, from Adlabs to Sunil Doshi to his assistant director Sumit Kilam to his editor Nimish Gaur to his actors. (http://www.silenceonthefloor.com/?p=163) Leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
And it isn’t Mitch who’s being “silly and childish”. Mitch’s post and comments are very mature and sensible, and weren’t meant to be taken personally in the first place. It’s Jaideep who got personal. Why so touchy, sirjee?
That’s ranting? To me it is just a diary with random candid thoughts. He doesn’t seem to spare himself either, even when he looks stupid. Whatever. This whole thing seems quite silly to me, especially when you still hide behind your mask of “ftii lad”. The personal attacks are coming from you, from what I can see here. And you’re still going on. Sad stuff.
‘ftii lad’ is as real a name as ‘abhinay singla’.
And do scroll up and see who started the personal attacks on this thread.