A LIST OF THINGS TO AVOID WHEN MAKING A STUDENT FILM.

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This message has been edited. Last edited by: alexbutterfield,

This has been talked about numerous times in the past. You can't just make a list of cliches and say "Don't do this." People are still going to make typical studentfilms, whether you like it or not. It's not something that can be simply terminated, especially with younger students who always go after those kind of storylines because they think it's "dramatic."

Try doing a search to find other form topics such as this, if you so please. Personally, I'm just sick of listing these studentfilm cliches. Besides, I think I've come to accept the fact that it's OK to be cliche, as long as it's not a complete reiteration of someone else's idea.

a movie without meaning or personality or depth or creativity or originality or feeling

thats what most filmmakers avoid.

I really don't give a damn if someone does a cliche, just do it in a different WAY. Yes the suicide/domestic violence thing is very common among cheesy student docs and many other movies, but as long as the actual film is made well, I don't care. Though one thing that does get to me alot about some studentfilms(not just on studentfilms.com) is that some people will make the WORST films, total garbage I mean, and then pay to post it online, and get all disappointed when people say it sucks. I have a condition where I refuse to post anything unless it passes under not just my critique, but everyone elses too. Take the time to make a good movie. Please.

Frankly I dont want to give any advice to anyone about what not to make movies about. I want people to keep making cliche and boring movies. It makes my movies stand out that much further. It sounds harsh but if everybody made cinematic masterpieces it would become impossible to be noticed.

quote:

Originally posted by braininabox:
Frankly I dont want to give any advice to anyone about what not to make movies about. I want people to keep making cliche and boring movies. It makes my movies stand out that much further. It sounds harsh but if everybody made cinematic masterpieces it would become impossible to be noticed.

And who are you, again?

It's pretty clear that nobody here makes cinematic masterpieces. If you do you wouldn't be chatting around here to show other people how much better movies you make. No, if you really do have the ability to make impressive cinematic movies you would pass the student part of film making and start into film making.

That's what this site is about. You make good movies, you get noticed, you make bad movies, you get feedback. And most people here are looking for that feedback. You actually tell them to **** off.

The only reason why good film makers would keep visiting this site is to actually help student film makers to make better movies.

Has anyone noticed this topis is kinda messed..
Isnt this site called "Student Films" not "Pro Films"??
Doesn't "Student" mean in one way or another, that the ppl are learning.
Saying that everyone that makes movies in this site are just making cliches is because it's a learning cycle, it takes time, and everyone learns by adapting from other ppl who have made movies...think back to when you began and then say wats on your mind. Everyone has to start somewhere, and noone expects them to be pro's from the beginning.

quote:

Originally posted by Kyle Johnson:
a movie without meaning or personality or depth or creativity or originality or feeling

thats what most filmmakers avoid.

I think creativity is important, but when most students try the other stuff most times they do it wrong and makes me able to laugh at a movie where a kid is commiting suicide.

I do agree with artofilm. Its a learning expirience, and i think if you have fun making your student film, thats all that matters. Sometimes students get so caught up in making something serious, you wonder why they're doing it. Im not usually trying to change the world with a movie maybe only a hundred people will see, so have fun, be creative, make mistakes, do whatever makes you feel good.

Student filmmakers who make cheesy, boring "dramatic" movies right off the bat simply don't have the right mindset to be successful in the first place. Student filmmaking isn't about trying to impress your audience, which is what those filmmakers are trying to do. It's about impressing yourself, because then you know you've done your best. While it's not wrong to attempt a drama once in a while, it would help to have a sense of worldliness and accept the limitations of being, well, a student.

Frankly I've found student attempts at dramatic, profound filmmaking to be nothing less than embarrassing.

And for all you do-gooders out to call me a hypocrit who've seen my site, the only two serious films on there are (surprise) of the same kid--Noah Bird--who wanted to create those films to satisfy his need for dramatic reprise. Please excuse his blissful ignorance.

don't get stuck on one genre! have fun, expand. Do a kung fu flick, try a love story, try a suicide thing, put together a comedy, and then, after you try that, try and smash it all together into one. then take cerain parts of those and make a different movie. the point I'm trying to make is, make an action movie, but make MORE then an action movie. Put a believable love story. Put funny scenes. You'll have a lot more fun, and your audience will appreciate the diversity.

I didn't get to read the list! What should I avoid! Argggghhh!
I'll just assume it had something to do with giant octopuses. Oh well, so much for my next film Attack of the Giant Octopuses.

Here's what not to do.

Talk about making movies and never make one.


And here's a shameless plug for a doc that discussess such matters http://www.studentfilms.com/film/get.do?id=963

quote:

Originally posted by ktabes:

I think creativity is important, but when most students try the other stuff most times they do it wrong and makes me able to laugh at a movie where a kid is commiting suicide.

...

Sometimes students get so caught up in making something serious, you wonder why they're doing it. Im not usually trying to change the world with a movie maybe only a hundred people will see, so have fun, be creative, make mistakes, do whatever makes you feel good.

This was my point. I do't think students need to be making films that will have an impact on society, they need to be experimenting. making films is the most importnt thing, as Redking says, not just talking about making them. (but talking about making them is better than nothing). I think that the chap from forsaken productions has a good point too: try a bit f everything... though not because your audience will appreciate it, I don't thin at this level it's about your audience.

Student need to get experience in more areas than they usually do, or get chance to...

that's why I'd recommend holding auditions, or using special effects, or trying to do a set piece shot, or building a set. Even if it's crap in the end, the experience of organising that stuff, of going through it, is invaluable.

Alex

PS. My original list wasn't meant to be this serious. I just thought, there's so many posts from students who want inspiration for their stories, and when that was the case were I study they usually fell back on cliches. I thought if there was a light hearted list of cliches, then maybe people would avoid them, after all what is there to learn from casting yourself opposite your girlfriend in a two person cast for an internet romance story, filmed documentary style??? This is a way of making a film without any effort. And at the end of it, all you'll learn is that you shouldn't do that again. That was the point of my list of cliches.

quote:

Originally posted by Narrator:
And who are you, again?

It's pretty clear that nobody here makes cinematic masterpieces. If you do you wouldn't be chatting around here to show other people how much better movies you make. No, if you really do have the ability to make impressive cinematic movies you would pass the student part of film making and start into film making.

That's what this site is about. You make good movies, you get noticed, you make bad movies, you get feedback. And most people here are looking for that feedback. You actually tell them to **** off.

The only reason why good film makers would keep visiting this site is to actually help student film makers to make better movies.

The point of my comment was that less competition is always better. I wasnt trying to elevate myself above anyone else. When trying to break into an industry, there is a higher chance of success when the competition is weaker.

quote:

Originally posted by braininabox:
The point of my comment was that less competition is always better. I wasnt trying to elevate myself above anyone else. When trying to break into an industry, there is a higher chance of success when the competition is weaker.

Perhaps for the individual director or writer less competition is better but for the industry it can be worse. If there is more competition, better movies will appear on the big screen in the end.

But I checked some of your older posts and it seems like you actually do help other people out here. Hmm, I think you are giving people false information on stuff like how to make cool explosions and such so they will blow themselfs up.

Better for the rest of us!

quote:

Originally posted by Narrator:
If there is more competition, better movies will appear on the big screen in the end.

I really wish I could believe that was true.