On Friday we started out with finishing up the discussion about Zach's script. The next one was Elisa's which opened up really effectively by establishing a close friendship.
Mine was next, which was about two guitarists in a band, one a nervous wreck and another one pretty much normal. The nervous one eventually snaps, violently blows up a bus, blames it on a "guy with a leather jacket and hood" (Kontroll reference, heh) and then finally confesses to his friend. While I was writing it, I really wasn't paying attention to whether or not it would be shootable.
What I took from the workshop is that something much less drastic could have the same effect, such as smashing a guitar instead of a bus. This would be much more personal and effect the audience much more than an exploding bus, which is completely impersonal, not to mention very expensive to shoot. I'm currently re-writing it, with much better choices in shots.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
workshop #1
Really interesting workshop. The focus wasnt on plot points as much as it was on changing and refining what was already written. Of the scripts that were read on Tuesday, I'd say my favorite was Cassie's. In my opinion it could make a really cool short film. I think her script is cool mostly because it could work with any two actors of any age group. Because it isn't specified, it could be two teenagers, two adults, or even two senior citizens. It involves two people who are presumed to be involved with each other, in a race. One of them wins (I forgot which one) and then they kiss, and it ends.
We ran out of time just after reading Zach's script. It was also about love, but this time it is much more direct. The main character accuses his friends of conspiring against him in order to win over his ex girlfriend. All in all, I didn't get as much from this workshop as I did Friday's.
We ran out of time just after reading Zach's script. It was also about love, but this time it is much more direct. The main character accuses his friends of conspiring against him in order to win over his ex girlfriend. All in all, I didn't get as much from this workshop as I did Friday's.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Hmm
I've come to realize something: when formally trained musicians get together to make heavy metal music, it will always suck, or it will be amazing. There is no middle ground. The bands are either focused so much on the individual parts that the virtuosity of the single members does not add up to the whole that it technically should be. On the other hand, bands with high skill levels of composition will look past single instruments and solos and realize that composition is key.
Let's start with the bad: Dream Theater. While they're not the worst band I've ever heard, (and I'll openly admit to liking their album Metropolis II: Scenes) they're an example of how NOT to write songs. Pretty much every member has some form of formal music training, such as the guitarist and bassist, who both went to Berklee College of music, but it simply doesnt add up. What you get is 10-20 minute songs with emphasis on showing off and flashy soloing. While this may be somewhat interesting for the first couple of times listening to them, to me they are superficial. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkF4JD2rO3Q
On the other hand, there are bands who's level of composition is so high that there isnt really any room for them to be showing off much. Swedish band Spawn of Possession is a pretty good example of the good side. With most of the members being formally trained, they are naturally more influenced by ensemble music such as Shostakovich and Bach than they are by death metal, although it definitely shows through. They make knowing use of counterpoint and compositional technique such as fugues. Contrasting with the metal makes them quite interesting. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA7lBgn8Ukc
The German band Defeated Sanity is similar to the previous example in that they work together to form a cohesive unit. However, with them, the focus has moved away from melody and instead has moved to texture and sound. The bassist (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJEMHyFxUB4) and the drummer are both classically trained, yet from hearing them you probably would never guess. They are death metal of the heaviest kind, but they are so much better than pretty much all others. When trying to write this kind of music, a lot of bands just go for random notes and powerchords, but Defeated Sanity found a way to actually write it musically: Arnold Schoenberg's 12 tone technique. Combining this with very lucid knowledge of rhythm and syncopation yields some interesting results. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awlUcEQ8qt8&feature=related)
Let's start with the bad: Dream Theater. While they're not the worst band I've ever heard, (and I'll openly admit to liking their album Metropolis II: Scenes) they're an example of how NOT to write songs. Pretty much every member has some form of formal music training, such as the guitarist and bassist, who both went to Berklee College of music, but it simply doesnt add up. What you get is 10-20 minute songs with emphasis on showing off and flashy soloing. While this may be somewhat interesting for the first couple of times listening to them, to me they are superficial. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkF4JD2rO3Q
On the other hand, there are bands who's level of composition is so high that there isnt really any room for them to be showing off much. Swedish band Spawn of Possession is a pretty good example of the good side. With most of the members being formally trained, they are naturally more influenced by ensemble music such as Shostakovich and Bach than they are by death metal, although it definitely shows through. They make knowing use of counterpoint and compositional technique such as fugues. Contrasting with the metal makes them quite interesting. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA7lBgn8Ukc
The German band Defeated Sanity is similar to the previous example in that they work together to form a cohesive unit. However, with them, the focus has moved away from melody and instead has moved to texture and sound. The bassist (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJEMHyFxUB4) and the drummer are both classically trained, yet from hearing them you probably would never guess. They are death metal of the heaviest kind, but they are so much better than pretty much all others. When trying to write this kind of music, a lot of bands just go for random notes and powerchords, but Defeated Sanity found a way to actually write it musically: Arnold Schoenberg's 12 tone technique. Combining this with very lucid knowledge of rhythm and syncopation yields some interesting results. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awlUcEQ8qt8&feature=related)
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