The entertaining world of movies is one of unyielding imagination, unequivocal creativity and constant play between the artsy elements of film and the more technical elements of technology, which help create an illusion, producing a structure within all the fictitious elements.
While much of the focus is on the plotlines, the actors and their respective acting, the most crucial element of filmmaking often doesn't quite get as much attention. It is this segment of the movie making business that puts all the loose ends of a full-length feature together to produce a movie that makes the best of every aspect of the process of movie making.
From choosing an appropriate location, to capturing the setting portrayed in the script, to aptly casting a befitting set of actors who aptly epitomize their roles to near perfection; thereby adding a tinge of believability to an otherwise make belief specialty that is cinema.
Thereby, just like neatly stacking a scattered set of playing cards; filmmakers work to string together all elements of cinema to produce movies that challenge the depths of imagination and go on to become the kind of films that even through time and competition live on as classics and popular favourites from generation to generation.
Movies like Steven Spielberg's E.T., though produced nearly three decades ago amidst limited technological availability, continues to be everyone's favourite tale of a lost extraterrestrial vying to return 'home' all the while establishing close ties with a couple of precocious young humans, eager to help. 'E.T. phone home' thus became a memorable movie tagline.
Of course, it goes without saying that not every movie on the theatre marquee or even Box Office list, relish such a loyal fan base. In fact most of today's most hyped films produce intriguing trailers but end up being painfully predictable and barely watch-able scripts that redefine, what entertainment ought to be.
Thus great movies are a collaboration of many things. It takes an original and inventive script, believable acting and an innovative and industrious filmmaker to put it all together in its respective 'best light'.
Among a few noteworthy filmmakers there is Peter Jackson who brings fantastical and magical creatures to life. Then there's M. Night Shyamalan who tests the waters of the supernatural and eerie genre. Steven Spielberg, who continues challenges audiences to envision the sci-fi world of what the future may entail. And Michael Moore, the politically candid documentary/editorialised filmmaker who has made no secret of his views about the Bush administration, health care and other 'shortcomings' America's is trying to revive from.
Moore is both criticized and lauded for his unabashed style of filming, the many truths in society which are often enveloped and swept aside by society's guilt and consequent need to put on a 'fictitious' façade to hide reality from reality.
Sometimes it takes more than just great innovative directing to make the movie industry truly great. It just so happens, sometimes the punch factor in the filmmaking realm lies in a few ruffled feathers, in other words controversy! At least considered as such by those who'd rather not conceal the truth. Directors like Michael Moore thus took the plunge to candidly film stories about high school violence in America in Bowling for Columbine which encircled the real life events of the high school, to Fahrenheit 9/11 which of course covered the story of war, army recruitment, and of course all the 'little' details many prefer undisclosed.
In spite of the controversy Moore stirs up, the blatant honest quality of his movies are more than popular among moviegoers who eagerly contribute to ticket sales of his movies. It just goes to show that great movies are about imagination, creativity and sometimes just a tinge of reality, no matter how raw or un-pretty.
There are few, who aren't amused and tickled by the magical imaginations brought to light in J.R.R Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy, books that since their debut continue to double in sales, as fans never cease to be mesmerized by the fantasy world of elves, hobbits, wizards and the all pivotal struggle for power.
New Zealand born filmmaker, Peter Jackson, best known for his work on the Lord of the Rings movies (filmed in his home town), is also accredited as the first person to direct three major films simultaneously. He is also well acclaimed for his work on masterfully filming a (mechanical made) giant ape in the remake of King Kong, the film that inspired his directorial interests.
In making the pages of Tolkien's imagination come to fictitious life, it was Peter Jackson who crafted a filming strategy that visualized giant Eagles, impish half humanlike hobbit creatures, amiable elves and vast mystical lands and elaborate battlefields.
His other notable efforts include 1994's Heavenly Creatures, which won a Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival, Braindead, which played at festivals around the world and won 16 international science fiction awards including the prestigious Saturn.
The 45-year-old filmmaker, who shares his birthday on Halloween, had had a penchant for filmmaking early on, experimenting with his parents' Super 8 camera. He left school at age 17 and started work as a photoengraving apprentice, after failed attempts in the New Zealand Film industry. He then purchased a 16mm camera, and began shooting a science fiction comedy short, which, three years later, became a seventy-five minute feature called Bad Taste, funded entirely from his own wages. He later received funding from the New Zealand Film Commission and completed the feature, which went on to become a cult classic.
As a director, producer, and screenwriter Peter Jackson is a celebrated name in an industry, which is highly competitive if nothing else. Synonymously recognized for his work on the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Jackson continues to exemplify his innovative directorial style amidst a contemporary era of filmmakers; through countless new genres of films including Alice Sebold's bestseller, The Lovely Bones and possibly The Hobbit estimated to be released in 2010.
Jackson and his children are also known to make cameo appearances in his films. In The Lord of the Rings film trilogy for instance, he played a drunken, carrot-toting citizen of Bree (The Fellowship of the Ring); a spear-throwing defender of Helm's Deep (The Two Towers); and as a rider during the charge on the Pelennor Fields in (The Return of the King). He was also the voice of Bilbo near the beginning of The Fellowship of The Ring when Gandalf first knocks at Bilbo's door.
Jackson reportedly earned a $20 million advance to film King Kong, which is considered the highest advance salary paid to a director to date. With the anticipation of The Hobbit in the works, Peter Jackson continues to be lauded as an innovative filmmaker with incomparable directorial vision.
Veteran Steven Spielberg famed after the eighties release of E.T., quoted as saying "Before I go off and direct a movie I always look at 4 films, namely Seven Samurai, Lawrence of Arabia, It's A Wonderful Life, and The Searchers" has had a career that spans over four decades.
Now in his sixties the director/producer commands a $332,000,000 salary according to Forbes. He is a three-time Academy Award winner and was named 'most influential person of his generation' by LIFE magazine in 2000. His long list of notable films include Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, Artificial Intelligence: AI, Munich, War of the Worlds, Terminal, Catch me if You Can, Minority Report, Jaws, Jurassic Park, The Color Purple, and a host of others. His recent features include Lincoln, Indiana Jones 4 and Interstellar (2009).
Considered one of the most diversified Directors to date, Spielberg has ventured into the action adventure, sci-fi, futuristic genres as well as dramatic features highlighting elements of history including slavery, the Holocaust and most recently terrorism.
Having had one of the most expansive careers in Hollywood, Spielberg ranks as one of the most inspirational filmmakers to date, including acclaimed directors in their own right like the likes of relatively new to the scene M. Night Shyamalan who is best known for the directing the The Sixth Sense.
These four filmmakers, among a host of others, specialize in their own unique niche area of filmmaking. They each mostly stick to their own set of concepts to materialize ideas and give structure to fiction in order to make the audiences feel, think, consider/reconsider and be amused all in one swoop. And as in the case of Michael Moore, they produce films that inspire the audience to see a little pieces of the obvious truth and make up one's own mind over the matter of what is fiction vis-à-vis reality. |