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| THE
HACKNEY HERB’S FILM RANT |
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INDEX
The
intention of my writing is to offer my honest opinions of films, film
culture and current practice.
As
a highly opinionated, frustrated filmmaker, my writing may piss people
off.
I may include reviews, or comment on filmmakers, actors, studio trends
etc.
So
to begin. A sort of manifesto. Or perhaps a statement of my hopes
and aspirations.
Forty
years ago a young François Truffaut started writing in Cahier
du Cinema magazine.
A year earlier Jean Luc Goddard had begun writing for the same magazine.
In
these writings were sown the seeds of a film movement that revolutionised
filmmaking, the Nouvelle Vague, or French New Wave.
Their
influence can be traced through contemporary movements like New
British Cinema through the amazing creative period in American Cinema
during the seventies right through to Tarantino (Kill Bill) and
films like Fight Club. |
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Now
I’m not going to write in detail about them, it been done to death.
So
why am I writing about them?
Because
they were young, and cool in a way that only the French seem able to pull
off.
Because
they were a reaction against a formulaic, studio dominated film
industry, which was churning out product.
Sound
familiar? And that is the real reason.
Hollywood
is too dominant.
Marketing
has replaced creativity.
I’m
sick of sequels, remakes, comic book movies, bad romantic comedies,
effects driven blockbusters and all the other formulaic dross that
is currently dominating our cinema screens.
It
is lazy, lazy film making, with a quick buck in mind. Obviously
there are exceptions, even within these categories.
However,
the bottom line is, the bottom line! |
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Greedy
men in suits have too much control.
It’s
not that there is anything inherently wrong with most of the above.
It’s the way they are done.
Like
the Nouvelle Vague invented new ways of editing such as the Jump
Cut, perhaps new ways of using effects need to be found.
The
Digi Cams may offer the same newfound freedoms that the 16mm camera
once provided.
When
is the next new wave going to arrive?
My fantasy is that, like surfers waiting for the right wave, or
maybe the waves are too big and they are waiting for a brave surfer
to take one on, there are many exciting filmmakers waiting for the
right wave/surfer.
Its
not that people have nothing to say, its just finding the right
way to say it.
The
conditions are ripe, the big wave is coming, so get your cameras
ready and surf. |
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©
2003 - 2008 Danny Herbert.
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