Don’t Forget: Tell a “Story”
I was reading a hardcover issue of LIFE magazine recently and I came across a quote by Steven Spielberg. As an offering of reverence to directors of the past, he said, “Filmmakers have forgotten how to tell a story.”
This one little quote make me take pause.
In the past week I’ve watched a lot of movies. From 1950s film noir to current day contemporary blockbusters. Many of the films I’ve seen at least ten times. Others I’ve only seen once. The difference: the films I watch over and over again tell good stories (to me).
Granted you cannot appeal to everyone, but writing these days has gotten lazy. Films forget about telling a story and jump on the templated bandwagon and try to churn out the same dismal stuff.
But Mr. Spielberg’s quote made me think. The point was driven home too as I went back to reread a book by TV writer Larry Brody. In fact, I pondered so much I went back and rewrote a rewrite I was working on. I thought about it as telling a story…
And you know what? Writing is so much easier now.
Storytelling is hard and special effects are easy, but expensive.
Movies have never been exclusively about stories, they were just moving pictures at one time. A train rides by, a boxing match, a man sneezing.
I can see why people don’t tell stories if they don’t have to, they want to make money and not communicate. I find that sad, but I do understand it.
This is where I feel indie filmmakers can make their way, like they always have, do what Hollywood doesn’t.
Couldn’t help but comment to this great post. Cinematic storytelling has almost been pushed to the way side in exchange for special effects, cool shots and celeb actors. Where did all the good stories go? Time for change. Time for a revolution! (couldn’t help dropping that last line in there. LOL)