Am I a complete film buff fraud?

Scott D S · 06-04-2003, 05:24 PM

Okay, this might not be the right section to post in but I digress.

I can't help but feel like I'm a complete fraud when it comes to film. I'm only 20 and I know I have a lifetime of film-watching and learning ahead of me but I also want to be a filmmaker (writer/director - more on that later) and I'm really starting to think I'm nothing more than a novice, a wannabe. Everyone I know calls me "the film guy" and I'm really interested in the medium but I think I have a world of work ahead of me. For example:

-I have seen only 2 westerns (Maverick with Mel Gibson and The Magnificent Seven)
-I haven't seen any of the Fox Classics (except for The Day the Earth Stood Still)
-I haven't seen any silent films
-I haven't seen any of the classic Universal horror films
-I've only seen 6 Hitchcock films (Shadow of a Doubt, Psycho, The Birds, Vertigo, North by Northwest, and Rear Window)
-I've only seen 1 Fellini film (Amarcord - I got a kick out of it!)
-I've seen only 1 Truffaut film (The 400 Blows)
-I've seen only 2 Jimmy Stewart films (Rear Window and Vertigo)
-I've seen only 1 John Wayne film (Sands of Iwo Jima)
-I've seen only 1 Billy Wilder film (Double Indemnity)
-I've seen 0 Bergman films
-I've seen 0 Bogart films
-I've seen only 1 Katherine Hepburn film (Bringing up baby which I hated)
-I've seen only 1 Audrey Hepburn film (My Fair Lady)
-I've seen 0 Preston Sturges films
-I've seen only 2 David Lean films (Lawrence of Arabia and Bridge on the River Kwai which I thought was great)
-I've seen only 2 John Sturges films (Magnificent Seven and The Great Escape)
-I've seen only 3 Scorsese films (Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, and Cape Fear)

On the other hand, I've seen:

-All of Kubrick's WB-owned films (except for Barry Lyndon)
-All of Kevin Smith's films
-All of Woody Allen's films (except for What's Up, Tiger Lily?, September, and Another Woman)
-All of the Marx Brothers' films
-Closely Watched Trains
-Rififi (thanks to Bill Hunt's review at the Bits)
-Big Deal on Madonna Street
-Harold and Maude
-All of Tim Burton's films
-All of James Cameron's films (except for Piranha 2)
-West Side Story (but not The Sound of Music)
-All of the Star Trek/Wars films
-Alien and Aliens
-Rashomon
-Time After Time
-The Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming
-It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
-Patton
-Buckaroo Bonzai
-Office Space

Everytime I tell my co-workers that I haven't seen title X or Y, they are shocked. I appreciate that they think I know everything (I don't) and I shouldn't care what they think but I do take it personally. On the other hand, I'm probably the only person in the 561 area code that has ever heard of Rififi.

As for my own work, I haven't touched a camcorder or camera in years. I've had some serious self-esteem issues in the past (which necessitated visits with shrinks) and I never had any friends half-way interested in film or filmmaking (I have a few now). Money was also an issue. I asked my parents if they would help fund a short film (or full-length) and their answer was "No!"

I'm working on 3 scripts right now and I think I'm doing okay. (I figured I could focus on character and plot and dialogue versus composition and lighting.) We'll see what happens.

Thanks for listening to my non-sensical ramblings.

Alex Spindler · 06-04-2003, 05:38 PM

I think you're much more well rounded than you give yourself credit for. Outside of a few members of the forum, not many 20 year olds can say they've even seen a black and white film outside of Clerks.

Myself, I far less rounded than you, but I never profess to be a film buff. So I don't feel guilty continuing to fill my brain with 80's crap.

Michael Reuben · 06-04-2003, 05:41 PM

Think of it this way, Scott -- you have a lot to look forward to!

M.

Lew Crippen · 06-04-2003, 06:01 PM

No way I’d dwell on what I’ve not seen, other than to make a list for what else I’d like to see.

I’ve seen a lot of films (and most of the classics more than once), but then I’m not 20 any longer.

And even so, every day I come across a film (or more) that I’d like to see and I’ve never even heard of. This does not include catching the latest releases in which I’m interested (I actually can’t keep up with this either).

I could make a list fully as long as yours about what I’ve not seen—just different titles and directors. For example I’ve very few mainstream, big-budget films of the 80s and 90s. Too much else got in the way.

Good luck on your dreams. Hard work may turn them into reality.

Matt Stone · 06-04-2003, 06:38 PM

Quote:

I think you're much more well rounded than you give yourself credit for. Outside of a few members of the forum, not many 20 year olds can say they've even seen a black and white film outside of Clerks.

I know how you feel, Scott. I'm 21, and people think I'm almost not-human because of my interest in movies. I've got about 300 DVDs, which I don't think is that much...but then again most of my college buddies have 5 or 10...so sometimes I feel like a ~35-year-old trapped in a 21-year-old's body (and wallet)

Anyway, I started feeling like I wasn't much of a film buff, so the first thing I did was take a film class at school. It was really enriching, and helped as far as analysis of general films and introductions to other stuff. I finally got to see some silent feature-level stuff (up to that point I had only seen shorts), and really have come to appreciate Buster Keaton. My advice to you would be just to continue watching as many films as you can, and most importantly try to watch stuff you haven't seen before. I always fall into the trap of watching my favorites over and over again, and not expanding my horizons...but it's really about balance.

Also, as far as being a fraud...don't worry about it. When you are hanging around your friends, you are the film guy. You know infinitely more about film than they do. The problem is when you go hanging around this crazy bunch at the HTF, you start thinking that you're nothing but a simpleton.

**HTF Ads**

Joshua_Y · 06-04-2003, 06:54 PM

Your a schmuck! But in a good way...your pretty well rounded...ya need to see more silent movies though...and few older movies...and you MUST see Raging Bull...

Eman_Ramos · 06-04-2003, 07:49 PM

I think what it all comes down to is if you have a deep, burning passion for movies.

If you have that, you're ok.

Just my 2 cents...

Stephen_L · 06-04-2003, 08:47 PM

Scott I think you're doing okay, though I'd agree with the advice that rather than rewatching favorites hit the video store and check out some oldies. You're in for a treat: there is a world of amazing films out there!

One good way to expand your horizons is to start viewing "The Classics", those films that have stood the test of time. You won't love em all, but they last usually because they are timeless and can really speak to you. Here are a few suggestions.

Metropolis- a silent film and perhaps the first science fiction film. Weird and dreamlike full of amazing imagery

African Queen- Bogart's Academy Award winning performance and you get some fabulous Kate Hepburn in the same package. A funny, exciting romantic adventure.

Casablanca- I watched this film for the first time as an adult and was amazed how much of this film and its lines are integrated into our popular culture. Tremendous romance, gorgeous Ingrid Bergman.

Seven Samurai- you've seen the Magnificent Seven and Rashoman, now tackle Kurosawa's best. A bit long and the Japanese style of acting takes a bit of getting used to, but brother, this is a great film.

Give some of these a viewing. If you're like me, you'll realize all the good stuff you've not seen and dive into older and foreign films with gusto.

Bruce Hedtke · 06-04-2003, 08:50 PM

Quote:

I think what it all comes down to is if you have a deep, burning passion for movies

Exactly. You are already a film buff...you just haven't seen all the films you want to. Just acknowledging the fact that there is so many films you want to see, you are on the path towards watching them. I think you have the idea that true film buffs watch 10,000 films and only have a dozen or so that they haven't watched. If I was a multi-millionaire, that might be my story

But, as it is, the list of films that I want to watch is as big or bigger than the list of films I have seen.

Bruce

DaveGR · 06-04-2003, 08:59 PM

Hmm Id suggest you go on a dvd shopping spree. hehe
ever since I was about 7 or 8 Ive been a huge Hitch Fan,and it went from there. I suggest you start hunting for your favorite director,and watch everything you can from them. Read anything you can on them. Then go to some of there contemporaries films,and look at all the examples of influence.
Plus you gotta figure out what about film you like. Is it the camera work,the great dialogue,the great story,ect. Im sure you like it all but theres prob. something that your always looking for more than other things. I only mention that because different directors of course were known for certain specific film traits.
Even though a film may seem dull sounding,or not on your track,go on a limb,youll be surprised many times.
Just dont get in a rut of seeing whatever HBO is showing ya. or the typical stuff that comes out in theaters.

Thats just what I would do. hehe

Scott D S · 06-04-2003, 10:20 PM

Thanks! This all does mean a lot. I