F is for ....Film

Yes, film. The other great love of my life. In my opinion, film is in fact the greatest art form because to make a film, you must draw from every other art form. Visual art, photography, music, acting, writing, sculpture and more are all used to make a film. And these days, you can add science in there too, with the number of computers involved with every production.

But you can throw as many effects and flashy edits as you want at a film, and without a good story and engaging characters, it's going to fall flat. It comes back to the writing every time. A film with a good script, made for under a million dollars can often be more satisfying and engaging than a multi-million dollar blockbuster which disguises its plot holes and one dimensional characters with flash and effects.

I guess that's why I work in arthouse. Effects movies don't interest me. I can't even think when I last went to the multiplex to see one. I think it may have been two years ago when I was still reviewing on TV. I don't feel like I've missed out on anything.

It's an endless frustration to me that films get made before the scripts are ready. I watch these things and can see so much potential in them, but they get raced into production before that extra draft or three have been done, and the end product just doesn't work. Characters are not developed enough, so you question their actions and reactions. Or plot threads are left hanging after their purpose is spent. Supporting characters show up without motivation and disappear as soon as they're function is over, often without explanation.

All these problems could be easily fixed with a little more drafting. And the finished product would be that much more satisfying. So, film makers. The script is the most important thing. Forget the CGI for a minute, and give us some real, flawed characters we an care about. Give us a plot that makes sense. Then you can go blow some shit up....