This week at Effing The Dog, we discuss one of the career choices that can made by many wayward creative souls as they search for not only themselves, but stories to tell about others: the filmmaker. None of the other prEFFessions that fall under the creative umbrella quite encompass the range of tasks that befall a filmmaker, and it is usually predated by other chocies that either (a) ddin't work out; (b) didn't present a challenge; (c) didn't involve a large enough tuition.
Wikipedia – the most notorious source of information out there – defines a filmmaker as the following:
A filmmaker is a person who directs the making of a film. They visualize the script, controlling a film's artistic and dramatic aspects, while guiding the technical crew and actors in the fulfillment of their vision.
EffTD takes this definition a step further:
A filmmaker is a person who directs the making of the film. They also are involved in virtually every other aspect of the film. They are the ones that keep the filmmaking process moving, for that is right there in the name of their job.
The key is that they "keep the process moving." The filmmaker gets to choose the pace in which things are being made. It can be a quick shoot with very little in the way of filming, or a long-drawn out shoot with take after take. The filmmaker gets to decide. They are like God in this instance. If you do not believe in God, a better analogy might be that they are like a bus driver.
Independent filmmakers are the ultimate variation in this prEFFession, as they get their hands in everything and usually have a point to prove or a message to send. This often results in an even more eventualistic approach to the medium. They are like a different, better God – or tour bus drivers. Your pick.
Inevitably, writers become filmmakers. I cannot think of one writer other than Shakespeare (who wrote plays which are like films but not as good) who did not become a filmmaker. Actors also will often go on to make films – and they are so used to the "hurry up and wait" mentality involved that they can really excel at the EffTD involved.
Remember, films take a long time to make – from concept to finished product – and even the bad ones are an eventual work in progress. There is a lot involved, and the filmmaker plays the most crucial role in this process. So, if you're looking for a creative outlet and you wanto EffTD while doing so – become a filmmaker. You won't regret it because you'll have problems even remembering why you did it in the first place.
That's a wrap.
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