Notes from Video Storytelling Workshop (Peter's Dad)

Hey Everyone,
I just wanted to include the notes that Peter's Dad provided us with during his Video Storytelling Workshop. It was VERY informative. He entitled the notes "Thoughts for Luke" because Luke was a man that he worked with in the past and these were the suggestions that he provided him with in order to help him create a great film.

After Peter's Dad's notes I also included some of my own notes that I kept during the session. Hopefully they are helpful.
-Denae-

Thoughts for Luke
4/20/07

1. Basic themes are far more important than the embellished assumptions people place in their films
2. Look for themes that express universal, eternal meanings. Look for archetypes and Platonic forms
3. A filmmaker has to get out of his/her own way by removing clutter: stay simple
4. The most common mistake people make at the beginning of the editing process is that they stop thinking about what they are trying to say. Don’t assume anything. Make yourself examine what you are trying to say every time you approach the film
5. Take the time to sit with your footage and do absolutely nothing but absorb it
6. What characters want is the driving force in a story
7. Thinking about the meaning of the whole film is a lot harder than knowing how to use equipment or software programs
8. Know that all heroes are flawed. Look for the flaws, because that is what makes the characters interesting. That is the window through which we can see ourselves
9. Taking criticism: truly commit to listening to others. But listen to your own heart too. If someone’s criticism doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. But don’t reject criticism if you feel the slightest bit of defensiveness. If you are defensive, there’s probably something to the criticism. Positive criticism is like a fresh flower. It will only last so long. Negative criticism can help you, but it has to come with good intentions
10. If you are floundering, go back to thinking about basic themes again
11. No matter what, stay humble
12. If you don’t tell the story properly, it doesn’t matter how good the film looks or sounds
13. Always put the requirements of telling the story above all other considerations. Favorite shots and hurt feeling when scenes hit the editing room floor are the sad trials of the business

Denae's Random Notes:

Before Filming:
• Why do I want to do this film?
• What do I want to get across?
• Where is my passion in this?
• What do the characters (The people I'm filming) want? Money? Love? Truth?
• What is the theme? (A loss of fathers love etc.)
• What does this mean?

When Filming:
• Orient the viewer
• Meet the people in your film-Establish a bond between the viewer and the people
• Never have too many characters-It’s hard for the viewer and audience to follow
• Introduce the idea (What is rowing etc)
• Establish some suspense about it
• Establishing a sense of time is important
• Real time: Is connected to the emotional state of the viewer (To see the slight gestures of people etc.)
• You can’t do emotional suspense without real time
• If you want feeling you need real time.
• Fundamental hook is that the viewer is interested in the outcome
• Don’t be complex
• You never want to loose your viewer
• Keep it clear
• Keep it simple
• Give the audience what they want
• Cut out things that don’t tell the story no matter how hard that may be
• Actions often speak louder than words
• It’s less powerful to hear about things via storytelling but to see it is much stronger
• It’s not machinery that is going to make the film-don’t loose your focus

When all else fails go back to the question,"WHAT AM I TRYING TO SAY???"