Eric SamulskiWhy do film-makers want to live in Balmain
January 14th 2007 23:01
Thunderbirds are go again
International rescue au go-go.
I remember hearing Nigel Kennedy describe how he had to spend ten years un-learning when he left the Yehudi Menuhin school. To re-establish his creative mind-set. I imagine a young film-maker leaving any mainstream film school would be in much the same position. And if the cry-baby movies the Australian film industry churn-out are anything to go by – not enough people are un-learning. I’ve seen three films in the top-ten most successful Aussie films of the past two years. I was shocked. Two of them had gapping holes in the script.
It’s as if the scripts were re-worked and re-shaped to the level where no-one remembered the original concept. Or the script got thrown into a brain-storming gaggle of cry-babies who attempted to sophisticate it up – Australianise it up and forgot basic old-school rules like;
Without a good script you’re just trying to turn shit into ice-cream and to turn ice-cream into shit all you need is time and money.
You can’t learn how to write a good script. And the worst thing you could ever do is give one to a professional script assessor. Who the hell are those people? If someone is worth asking they’d be too busy to waste time being a script assessor.
Sort of like how worn-out authors do book reviews.
People are constantly going on about how scripts are commercialised or Americanised but no-one says;
Can we have one Australian film that doesn’t feel obligated to Canonise Australian culture or give work to a mate.
Anyway, blah- blah… and as I always say, films are supposed to be entertaining. They’re not about a bunch of film school graduates wanting to move to Balmain.
Beer Taste Test 373
Leffe Radieuse 8.2%
7/10
Authentic Belgian abbey beer. I’ve been to Belgium – the beer is the best bit. You couldn’t drink this all night. You wouldn’t drink this on a first date. But if you’re ever stuck in a large stone building wearing sandals contemplating the meaning of life or why you think it’s important to live in Balmain – four of these in the first hour will put you well on the path.
Until next time and happy film-making.
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