Finding vision is hard

I’m currently going through set designs to determine if the overall concept is right of the scene(s) they relate to and if the designs are in enough detail to determine shot selections.

Don’t you find its often easier to see whats wrong with something then to imagine what it can be.  When a project of any kind starts, by definition everything is undone.  A project in process is just one big set of uncompleted tasks and issues to address.  Does it really take much ability to create a scorecard that tallies everything wrong with a project?

The aspect of media production I didn’t anticipate going in was how difficult it is for everyone to find a vision.  When you think about it, its not too surprising.  Highly paid movie professionals over look gems and produce garbage all the time because they had a mistake of vision from reading nothing but a script.  How then can we ask a community with less relative experience to read a script as the primary method of visualizing what we have in mind for a film?

My own life experience has taught me that its a much harder task and a higher calling to be able to see what’s right about a project and envision what it can be if given a chance.  A collaborative media project has the added dimension of having to envision what the outcome can be with ones own high performing contributions within a reasonable scope for one person, while trusting that others will bring their game just the same.

My free (so you know what its worth,) advice?  Use every means possible to communicate your vision and utilize every resource available to understand the vision of the people you are working with.  That could be the script, personal conversations, supplementary media… anything.  In the end you are producing media and the focus should be on the vision that the media itself portrays and not on isoteric analysis of the tools used to communicate that vision along the way.

Dominic2.jpgDominic Lino by Dave Jenkins

Filed in: X&Y Director's Journal | Ty | October 21, 2006 | Comments (0)

Masters of the obvious

We 41 out of 111 storyboards sketched and 7 out of 54 sets/locations designed.

Why do some people in this type of endeavor insist on regurgitating the completely obvious to everyone around them as if they own the secret to some special recipe?

It’s far too common when I meet people interested in Film Making that a laundry list of everything they think a project like, “The X and Y,” film should be doing gets whipped out and given as free advice.  Often the list appears before the person has a comprehensive understanding of the project or the people involved.

I realize the person delivering the sermon of obvious issues to address and tasks to complete is attempting to create credibility for themselves.  However, it always leaves me thinking, “Does this person think I and everyone else contributing to this project are so stupid as to not know these things or have at least considered them?”

Of course since I know I’m not stupid, the attempt by these Masters of the Obvious to instill instant credibility fails everytime.

Here is my tip for the professional in training.  Have the confidence to shut up and wait until your advice is clearly needed and/or someone asks.  Don’t presume that because you know something… no one else around does and they are just waiting for you to tell them.  If you really know your stuff, it will be self evident and the people around you will seek advice.  Don’t be a shy little clam either… knowing the right time to speak demonstrates the experience that instills credibility.

 

personaltransportconcept.louise.jpgPassing Vehicle Concept by Jonathan Murphy

Filed in: X&Y Director's Journal | Ty | October 13, 2006 | Comments (0)