What I Want and What it Is

Have any of you seen Shadow of the Vampire? It's a movie starring John Malchovich and is a fictionalized account of the making of the classic silent film Nosferatu. Anyway, what I want film making to be like is how it is in that movie. Everything is taken seriously, it's all organized, and it is treated as a very scientific process (hell, they even wear lab coats). The director talks of making the movie in very epic ways; saying that this is the key to their immortality, that the image will keep moving long after they as individuals have all fallen still. And everyone believes in what he's saying. They take it just as seriously as he does. He is their captain and they will fallow him on his epic quest.

What's it really like? The Climatic Death of Dark Ninja. Sure the toys get bigger and more expensive, and you may even get more people willing to help you, but it's pretty much the same. It's like pulling teeth to get things to go the way you want. You have to reason with people or boss them around, even though you don't really carry that kind of authority. A lot of times you will find yourself doing something odd like strapping a sword to a dummy's hand and thinking, "I can make this work...right?" You are just the kid with the camera. You never grow up. In fact, if you grew up you'd probably realize what a hassle and waste of time it all was and go get a "real job." And just when everything is ready to go, a huge tree falls on your set. (The tree fell while he was holding a camera, so I suppose that puts it in the realm of digital arts. Hmm...that sounds somewhat familiar.)