Best movies to watch to learn filmaking at DVinfo.net

Andrew McDowell · July 23rd, 2007, 08:50 PM

give some names of movies other people can watch (like me) to learn the art of filmaking

My examples
Cinematography: Citizen Kane
dialogue: Inherit the wind
lighting: Casablanca
actors: Silence of the lambs
script: the usual suspects and american beauty
Etc etc

Sean Skube · July 24th, 2007, 11:22 AM

A Bug's Live vs. Ants, or Finding Nemo vs. SharkTale for the importance of Story and Character development

Garden State for Cinematography

The Shining for Sound and Cinematography

Epic Movie for everything you shouldn't do.

Primer for story

The Descent for atmosphere

Devil's Backbone and Pan's Labyrinth for just about everything

I could go on and on and on, but I have work to do.

Richard Alvarez · July 24th, 2007, 11:42 AM

Whats the best dish to eat to learn the art of cooking?

Depends on your interests, tastes, and approach. That's why it's an art.

An easy approach if you are interested, is simply selecting the top academy award winners for each category for the last, say fifty years. That will give you a sampling of what the peers thought of their companions' work. Watch each one for it's particular 'winning' merits, and see how the compare.

Emre Safak · July 24th, 2007, 12:20 PM

I'm with Rich: study what you like. This question is too vague.

Dennis Stevens · July 24th, 2007, 12:52 PM

I find the process of directing really fascinating, so when I've really been blown away by a movie, I'll try to watch films by the same director.

Netflix can be really useful for this. If you can spend the bucks, DVD sets of a director's works are great.

Seeing the same director take on different stories, work with different actors, etc is really interesting.

Matt Buys · July 24th, 2007, 05:05 PM

Cinematography: The English Patient. I felt like some of the scenes were the actors.

Dialogue: Glengary Glen Ross (Drama) I think Mamet's stage experience gives him an edge, The Big Lebowski (Comedy),

Actors: Ikiru (Never seen a better performance for the lead) It's change your life good.

Script: I'm with you on The Usual Suspects for drama. Strictly Ballroom for comedy.

Epic: I think Titanic was epic. Poor boy, rich girl, love, death, rebirth, sinking ship. I know, I know, it's cliche but I can't help it.

Lighting: I think most movies by spielberg is worth watching for the lighting if for no other reason you don't notice it, you feel it.

Victor Kellar · July 24th, 2007, 09:34 PM

Mise en scene: My Darling Clemetine

Lighting and Production Design: Citizen Cane

Cinematography: Ran - Black Stallion

Storytelling: Rashoman

Dialouge: Anything by Mamett ... Let's just cast out House of Games, Spanish Prisoner and the Heist just for examples

Handling actors/performances: Most of George Stevens work

Cole McDonald · July 25th, 2007, 08:42 AM

Panic Room 3 disk set BTS
Dead Poet's Society Collectors edition w/ cinematography master class
PJ's King Kong Pre-production Diaries

Every BTS Making of thing ever...stare at what they're doing on set and what they're putting where in relation to the camera. BTS is what netflix is for! You can get the supplementary disks from 2+ disk sets without having to get the movie ;) I buy movies not only based on how much I like them, but who did the commentary and what BTS they have. Unless it's a movie I really like!

Brian Standing · July 25th, 2007, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Skube

A Bug's Live vs. Ants, or Finding Nemo vs. SharkTale for the importance of Story and Character development
.

I have often thought that I would use Finding Nemo as a textbook example of how to write a good movie script. The editing is excellent, too. I have a six-year-old at home, so have seen that movie dozens of times. I'm constantly blown away by how quickly and engagingly that story moves along. Not a wasted moment in the whole movie.

Brian Standing · July 25th, 2007, 09:03 AM

How to break all the "rules" of filmmaking (at least when you know what you're doing):

2001 - Stanley Kubrick.

First line of dialog: 40 minutes into the story.

The "Film Look": shot almost completely in wide angle, with extremely deep depth of field.

Ambient sound: the most dramatic scenes occur in the dead silence of outer space. No fake "whooshes" like in Star Wars or Star Trek.

Subject matter: Uncompromisingly grown-up, intellectually rigorous science fiction.

Music: No original score, all compositions are classical standards in the public domain.

Scary Villain: a simple glass lens.

Ending: Ambiguous and disquieting. Is it a happy ending? Or not?

I could go on, but you get the idea.

Claude Mangold · July 25th, 2007, 09:19 AM

great comment, Brian, 2001 is a mindblower
I would add Godard's A Bout de Souffle to your "breaking the rules" category

Louis Mostert · July 25th, 2007, 09:43 AM

Unique cinematography: Requiem for a Dream

Collateral: Movie takes place over +/- 10 hour period and there is no back-story.

_________________________________________________________

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Standing

Ambient sound: the most dramatic scenes occur in the dead silence of outer space. No fake "whooshes" like in Star Wars or Star Trek.

Where that hatch closed and the sound returns. Spine tingling moment.

Cole McDonald · July 26th, 2007, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Standing

I have often thought that I would use Finding Nemo as a textbook example of how to write a good movie script. The editing is excellent, too. I have a six-year-old at home, so have seen that movie dozens of times. I'm constantly blown away by how quickly and engagingly that story moves along. Not a wasted moment in the whole movie.

Look farther back:

Disney: Lion King = hamlet

Hate to do it but, Pixar:
Bug's Life = seven samurai
Finding Nemo = pinocchio
Cars = doc hollywood

Monster's inc...haven't found a matching plot yet
Ratatouille, haven't really tried yet.
Toys, I'm sure there's one, but I've refused to look for it.

Chris Leong · July 27th, 2007, 02:13 PM

Don't study it, do it.

"I love to eat souffles, therefore I can cook souffles".

"I love Mona Lisa, therefore I can paint Mona Lisa"

Stupid nonsense, no?

"I watch movies, therefore I can make movies"

sound any better to you?

Practice it by doing it. There's no excuse. Tape costs less than books now.
Cameras cost less than film school

In the time it takes to talk about it, and circle around it, you could have done one. It won't be great but it'll be done.

The next time, it will be better, if you can learn at all.

After a while, and a few movies under your belt, it will be... what it will be.

Will people watch it?

Eat a souffle.
Then make one.
Then try and sell the first one you make.
Will people eat it?
Will people buy it?

John Dennis Robertson · July 27th, 2007, 03:06 PM

Chris ,Just love the way you think.eveytime I read your reply it just makes more sense.

July 23rd, 2007, 08:50 PM	#1
Andrew McDowell Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Toronto Canada Posts: 27	Best movies to watch to learn filmaking give some names of movies other people can watch (like me) to learn the art of filmaking My examples Cinematography: Citizen Kane dialogue: Inherit the wind lighting: Casablanca actors: Silence of the lambs script: the usual suspects and american beauty Etc etc __________________ XH-A1

July 25th, 2007, 08:42 AM	#8
Cole McDonald Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sauk Rapids, MN, USA Posts: 1,675	Panic Room 3 disk set BTS Dead Poet's Society Collectors edition w/ cinematography master class PJ's King Kong Pre-production Diaries Every BTS Making of thing ever...stare at what they're doing on set and what they're putting where in relation to the camera. BTS is what netflix is for! You can get the supplementary disks from 2+ disk sets without having to get the movie ;) I buy movies not only based on how much I like them, but who did the commentary and what BTS they have. Unless it's a movie I really like! __________________ Web Youtube Facebook

July 25th, 2007, 09:03 AM	#10
Brian Standing Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Madison, Wisconsin Posts: 621	How to break all the "rules" of filmmaking (at least when you know what you're doing): 2001 - Stanley Kubrick. First line of dialog: 40 minutes into the story. The "Film Look": shot almost completely in wide angle, with extremely deep depth of field. Ambient sound: the most dramatic scenes occur in the dead silence of outer space. No fake "whooshes" like in Star Wars or Star Trek. Subject matter: Uncompromisingly grown-up, intellectually rigorous science fiction. Music: No original score, all compositions are classical standards in the public domain. Scary Villain: a simple glass lens. Ending: Ambiguous and disquieting. Is it a happy ending? Or not? I could go on, but you get the idea. __________________ http://www.prolefeedstudios.com/blog/ Documentary for the masses!

July 24th, 2007, 11:22 AM	#2
Sean Skube Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 156	A Bug's Live vs. Ants, or Finding Nemo vs. SharkTale for the importance of Story and Character development Garden State for Cinematography The Shining for Sound and Cinematography Epic Movie for everything you shouldn't do. Primer for story The Descent for atmosphere Devil's Backbone and Pan's Labyrinth for just about everything I could go on and on and on, but I have work to do.

July 24th, 2007, 11:42 AM	#3
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Whats the best dish to eat to learn the art of cooking? Depends on your interests, tastes, and approach. That's why it's an art. An easy approach if you are interested, is simply selecting the top academy award winners for each category for the last, say fifty years. That will give you a sampling of what the peers thought of their companions' work. Watch each one for it's particular 'winning' merits, and see how the compare.

July 24th, 2007, 12:20 PM	#4
Emre Safak Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,447	I'm with Rich: study what you like. This question is too vague.

July 24th, 2007, 12:52 PM	#5
Dennis Stevens Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 425	I find the process of directing really fascinating, so when I've really been blown away by a movie, I'll try to watch films by the same director. Netflix can be really useful for this. If you can spend the bucks, DVD sets of a director's works are great. Seeing the same director take on different stories, work with different actors, etc is really interesting.

July 24th, 2007, 05:05 PM	#6
Matt Buys Major Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Asheville NC Posts: 426	Cinematography: The English Patient. I felt like some of the scenes were the actors. Dialogue: Glengary Glen Ross (Drama) I think Mamet's stage experience gives him an edge, The Big Lebowski (Comedy), Actors: Ikiru (Never seen a better performance for the lead) It's change your life good. Script: I'm with you on The Usual Suspects for drama. Strictly Ballroom for comedy. Epic: I think Titanic was epic. Poor boy, rich girl, love, death, rebirth, sinking ship. I know, I know, it's cliche but I can't help it. Lighting: I think most movies by spielberg is worth watching for the lighting if for no other reason you don't notice it, you feel it.

July 24th, 2007, 09:34 PM	#7
Victor Kellar Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Ontario Canada Posts: 239	Mise en scene: My Darling Clemetine Lighting and Production Design: Citizen Cane Cinematography: Ran - Black Stallion Storytelling: Rashoman Dialouge: Anything by Mamett ... Let's just cast out House of Games, Spanish Prisoner and the Heist just for examples Handling actors/performances: Most of George Stevens work

July 25th, 2007, 09:19 AM	#11
Claude Mangold Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Berlin and Geneva Posts: 259	great comment, Brian, 2001 is a mindblower I would add Godard's A Bout de Souffle to your "breaking the rules" category

July 27th, 2007, 02:13 PM	#14
Chris Leong Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Los Angeles CA USA Posts: 507	Don't study it, do it. "I love to eat souffles, therefore I can cook souffles". "I love Mona Lisa, therefore I can paint Mona Lisa" Stupid nonsense, no? "I watch movies, therefore I can make movies" sound any better to you? Practice it by doing it. There's no excuse. Tape costs less than books now. Cameras cost less than film school In the time it takes to talk about it, and circle around it, you could have done one. It won't be great but it'll be done. The next time, it will be better, if you can learn at all. After a while, and a few movies under your belt, it will be... what it will be. Will people watch it? Eat a souffle. Then make one. Then try and sell the first one you make. Will people eat it? Will people buy it?

July 27th, 2007, 03:06 PM	#15
John Dennis Robertson Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Johanesburg South Africa Posts: 217	Chris ,Just love the way you think.eveytime I read your reply it just makes more sense.