directing lessons from the best

for anyone out there looking for a quick film school lesson in what actors should ALWAYS be bringing to the set, and what directors should be trying to do inside a frame, check out the directors commentary for the original 1971 version of 'get carter'.

michael cane really, really lays it down in here. he talks about, among other things; characterization, eye movement, pacing, tempo, inner monologue, and why he doesn't mind dying in his movies. poor mike hodges really solidifies himself, in my mind, as a wonderful guy who tried his best to elevate his material the best way he knew how. he was just hired by the producers to come in a make a british gangster film in 38 days. it's quite remarkable really, though there is a 15 minute scene that really slogs down the second act. he discusses, amongst other things; how to shoot a sex scene, why you show the money men the good stuff first (seems obvious) and what makes a movie actor different from a tv actor.

three things hollywood can take from this movie now over 25 years old;
1.) market the small movies small and the big movies big. the market is fractured, don't get caught up worrying about making every small movie a huge hit. if it works, it works and if you build it, yada-yada-yada.
2.) violence really works when it plays real. on a side note, i still think that little spielberg film 'munich' had some horrifically violent scenes that i just haven't seen recently in movies. why not? why isn't violence being shown 'real'? (i'm sure there's some simulacra/post-modern discussion here but i'm not in the mood for that right now.)
3.) packaging is everything. the movie almost disappeared into nothingness because it was released as a double feature with a feel-good frank sinatra film. THE MARKET IS FRACTURED!!! find your audience and market to them. it's not hard folks. it just isn't.

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