To film school or not to film school? To produce independently or tread the waters of Hollywood? To hire a manager or go it alone?
Filmmaker James Ponsoldt addressed these questions common to aspiring filmmakers during an hourlong seminar at Cin? earlier in December, as well as detailing how he progressed from film school to opening a film at the Sundance Film Festival.
A graduate of Cedar Shoals High School, Ponsoldt, in town to promote his latest film, ?Smashed,? attended graduate film school at Columbia University in New York.
Keeping himself as busy as he could writing, acting and making short films, Ponsoldt left Columbia with a script for his first film, ?Off the Black.?
Ponsoldt said that there are pros and cons to attending film school, but he?s definitely pro.
?One thing it got me was an amazing peer group who inspired me,? he said.
But not everyone found success in the academic environment.
?Some people?s stories weren?t unique enough,? he said. ?Some people worked really hard. Some people didn?t know why they were there.?
At this year?s Sundance Film Festival, Ponsoldt will premiere his second film, ?The Spectacular Now,? shot on location around Athens this summer.
Moderator Gabe Wardell asked Ponsoldt what lessons Sundance taught him.
Filmmaking has two sides, Ponsoldt said, making and selling. A serious filmmaker has to be comfortable with both elements.
?I?m much more acutely aware of how to talk about my film in business terms,? he said. A filmmaker has to assure financiers that he will minimize risk and be cost-effective, he said.
?You never know what the trigger is to get your film made,? Ponsoldt said.
Wardell noted that Ponsoldt, with ?Smashed? a critical hit and ?The Spectacular Now? on its way, was having a pretty good year.
But what?s tough about filmmaking, Wardell asked.
?You have to be able to enjoy collaboration,? Ponsoldt said.
He has many talents, but there?often?is a cinematographer, editor or actor who can do the job better than he can. Basically, to make a film, surround yourself with talented people. But understand that not everyone cares as much as the director.
?Not everyone is a craftsman or an artist,? he said.
? Follow arts and entertainment reporter Andr? Gallant on Twitter @andregallant and at www.facebook.com/GallantABH.
les paul fred thompson fred thompson red hook romney tax return the tree of life movie academy award nominees 2012
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.