Arty film rules that work
A life story well told
Previously, we looked at the guideline for making films that will attract artistic recognition. Now, just to prove that these guides really work, here’s an example of films that has won industry recognition, fan applause, box-office success or a combination of both or more.
(warning: Spoilers alert!)
1) Make your viewers go “Huh?”
Known essentially as an independent film, ‘The Blair Witch Project’ went on to create a small cult following and word of mouth stood in the place of little marketing. Making back its investment and then more, studio executives found themselves being outshined by this little film.
A fictional story that was supposedly based on real life, the film tackles the mystery of a small group of film makers who disappeared while filming a documentary on the local legend of the Blair Witch. The drama unfolds through the film footage recovered a year after their disappearance. It is this unique and sole use of the cast’s camera view that brings a new dimension to the tale.
Audiences are left to watch what looked like home-made video, with the protagonists often not properly positioned in the frame. Sound intrusions were common as is continuity. There are moments not captured on film and we must figure this out ourselves.
Commercial films tend to have to describe what is happening through narration or scripted dialogues. But this doesn’t happen with ‘The Blair Witch Project’. Many moments were ‘huh?’ moments – and it is your task to put yourself in their shoes.
Deservingly, the final scene of this film is probably one of the most “Huh?” moments in cinema.
What the-?!
2) Use split time
This technique was beautifully employed in ‘Run Lola Run’ to showcase the speed, urgency and the confusion by lead actress Franke Potente. But I’ve gone on and on about this film in many a post already, so I’ll feature another film that made use of this technique successfully – Citizen Kane.
The stylishly told story first created interest by providing a glimpse of the protagonist before sending viewers onto a trail of history, constantly moving into different points of his lifetime as told by various parties.
Cleverly, director Orson Wells has already dropped key points in Charles Kane’s life – ensuring that unlike most films, we know to a certain extent what was going to happen. But throw in a few perspective as seen by his friends and associates and we find ourselves wondering what lead to the event that we already know happened – thus trapped in the world of Charles Kane, eager to view the next chapter.
The retelling of his life’s tale is kick start by a mystery of the present time – what did Kane’s last words meant? Spurred on by this question, viewers go wherever the director takes them, yet find themselves more and more eager to find out about the person behind the name Kane. It is a brilliant mesh of today’s mystery and yesterday’s history.
3) Have ugly actors/actresses
The ugly duckling story is a mainstream success. We’ve seen the films that show how a plain Jane changes her life when she beautifies herself. It is the rare occasion that we see the reverse.
In the film ‘The Exorcism of Emily Rose’, three of the techniques mentioned here are employed. It’s told in flashbacks and is inspired by true events. But the heart breaking part is perhaps how the title character morphs from a beautiful and promising college student to a face of pain and suffering.
No surprise then that one of scenes that elicited gasp is the courtroom drama when the prosecuting attorney shows a before and after picture of Emily Rose. Director Scott Derrickson takes us on a journey of how her looks disintegrate as the possession of the devil takes hold of her.
Despite the fact that the film centres on the trial of a priest accused of negligence and recognition of the Catholic Church of demonic possessions, the haunting effects of this film come perhaps from the savage blows her looks take every time her spirit caves. It is reflective of her unspoken suffering, demonstrative of her internal struggle and more importantly, tugs at the heart.
4) A serious storyline based in history
Sweeping 11 Academy Awards out of 13 nominations and breaking the all-time box-office record, Titanic set sail in 1997 and has since been written in the history books as a ground breaking film. Retelling the tale of the famous ship that sank in its maiden voyage, director James Cameron went as far as casting actors that resembled the actual key characters on the ship that fateful night in 1912.
Of course, the story of the poor boy Jack meets rich girl Rose is made up but the premise is richly researched and stems in history. From the various theories on how the ‘unsinkable ship’ sank to the stories that emerged from survivors – the orchestra that continued playing to the very end, half-filled life boats and only a handful that turned back to pick up more passengers, living bodies that jumped out of the sinking ship through sheer desperation, the hours of loneliness and cries for help from those in the cold sea and the help that finally arrived from another ship.
Cameron went as far as to describe the actual sinking using computer generation and explanation from engineering expertise – showcasing the splitting of the ship – when it was previously imagined to have sunk as a whole ship.
These details helped win over audiences as history found a visually stunning picture to tell its story.
Close to history
5) Cut down on entertainment factor – throw in the Da Vinci Code
‘Lost in Translation’ touched a raw nerve in audiences on its way to sweeping the awards and winning industry recognition. Sofia Coppola succeeded in saying what she wanted to say (or in this case show) – she made audiences feel the loneliness felt by the protagonists.
No car chase scenes was needed and certainly no explosives. Instead, Coppola achieved her goal by leaving a lot of words unsaid. Isolation was clearly marked despite the bright lights of Tokyo while the locals pointedly spoke in their own language – creating a strong sense of isolation.
With so little dialogue and special effects, the film relied heavily on Bill Murray’s performance – through which he undoubtedly delivered. Scarlett Johansson supported well in an effective contrast with Murray’s character. As the film progressed, subtle questions were dropped and viewers were left with the question mark plaguing the protagonists throughout the film. The success of the film then, is in its ability to capture the dreary reality of life on celluloid and leave questions unanswered.
Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson dishes it out
These are just some of the films that have successfully used these methods of story telling. In the end, they serve as the cream to a well crafted story line and are adorned by some of the best cinematography.
And of course, not every arty rule equates to general acceptance. There is always the film wins accolades or adoration from the critics (or fan and cash) yet fail to impress other cross sections of the audience. But then again, films are a matter of taste… and taste can be discriminative.
Rhythmatism
Budget Centsability
I love the split time as in Run Lola Run which was brilliantly brought to life. But sometimes although the premise is good it can be let down by the execution. I went to see the movie Vantage Point because of the use of split time and the various viewpoints of what each character felt and saw but it was awful and disappointing.
I have to revisit Citizen Kane because it has been so many years I can't even remember it.