Ah, filmmaking style. That elusive, magical fingerprint that sets your work apart from everyone else in the Cinemaverse. A Red Komodo's not gonna do it. Neither is daddy's credit card or mortgaging your house. It's what makes a Wes Anderson story feel like a perpetual balancing act or a Richard Linklater masterpiece feel like a homecoming. It's that special sauce slathered on every Verner Hertzog frame that makes it seethe with emotion and on every Sally Potter cut that takes you into another dream. It's more than a sound, or an image, whip-pan, or oner. It's the sum of all the little bits that makes the auteur recognizable. But how do you, the emerging auteur, discover your own unique voice? Where's the roadmap to that illusive place called Stylistic Nirvana?
Firstly, stop thinking of your style as a destination. You are on a journey, my friend. One that is both fraught with challenges and packed to the brim in delight. Let's take a look down the road together.
Before shooting Zero Sum Game (ZSG), my first foray into the world of feature films, I had written and directed many, many shorts. In those shorts I was determined to put into practice everything I had learned from studying the greats. I sweated the camera angles, depth of field, the sound mix, you name it. All in pursuit of the goal of making my 10 minute masterpiece feel like the films of my favorite directors. But as I looked back at my catalogue, I wondered why a couple stood out as films that touched an audience, and the rest were, well, okay. Then, when I showed a friend an early cut of ZSG, she gave me a compliment I didn't expect. She said, "This feels like you."
That's when it hit me. The thing that made some of my shorts exceptional while most were merely "meh" was the sense of freedom I felt while creating them--I wasn't trying to be someone else.
I hadn't set out to make ZSG feel like me. We shot it during the pandemic on empty streets, I was my own cinematographer, and it was largely an exercise in getting a film done rather than getting a film perfect. It went from the page to the set in such a flurry that I didn't have time to ponder all the other films I wanted it to be like--I just had to shoot it!
This meant that, aside from a few scribbled notes to hand my producer, sound guy, AD and talent, I was largely dependent on my instincts as a filmmaker come shoot day. We'd rush into a location that I may or may not have scouted beforehand, I'd imagine what the scene looked like and felt like in my mind, then we'd shoot it. It was never perfect, almost always partly improvised, and what we came away with was what we could get rather than everything we wanted. I edited it with my good friend, Tim Murray, and used my sound design skills to get a working cut that we could use to raise funding for post. But, leaning on my instincts, honed by years and years of trying to emulate others, this film ended up not just having some great moments with outstanding performances, but also having my voice. For better or worse, there was no hiding my fingerprints all over this movie.
I also attribute this apparent authorship as a result of a lack of commercial preoccupation. There were no money people breathing down our necks about the film's marketability and ROI. My goal for this film was never to have the next breakout, indie hit that would catapult me into the stratosphere; it was to have a learning experience and something I would be proud to use as a resume piece. We were in production over nine months, shooting 2 to 3 times a week with no money and minimal (sometimes just me) crew. But knowing it wasn't something that would make or break my professional life meant that I could have a sense of play. I emerged from those 9 months are far different director than when i started: One with stronger opinions shaped by my experience, ironically coupled with a more open mind about listening to others.
You don't have to make a feature to discover what I finally came to realize. When it comes to your own pilgrimage of style, remember that the short film is your first, and maybe your most treasured ox and cart. Here's why short films are your perfect vehicle:
Low Stakes, High Learning: Unlike professionally produced features, your short films offer a safe space to experiment without the pressure of a massive budget or crew. You can try different camera angles, lighting techniques, editing styles – the sky's the limit!
Fail Fast, Learn Faster: Short films are quick to make, allowing you to learn from your mistakes quickly. Flopped on the comedic timing? No worries. Go back and re-shoot. The drama falling flat? Move onto your next 10 minute drama and use what you learned from the first. This rapid feedback loop helps you refine your vision and discover what works for you.
Quantity Breeds Quality: You may have heard that famous story about Jerry Uelsmann, a photography professor at the University of Florida. He split his class into "quantity" and "quality" groups. The quantity group, graded on number of photos, produced the best work. By constantly creating and experimenting, they honed their skills, while the quality group, focusing on one perfect photo, ended up with mediocre results. The more short films you create, the more you'll refine your instincts and discover what resonates with you. Think of it as a stylistic sketchbook, where you can test and iterate without the commitment of a full-length feature.
Genre Gymnastics: Don't be afraid to jump between genres! I've done thriller, animation, sci-fi, dramedy, documentary ... Craft a dark and moody thriller one week, then a whimsical stop-motion animation the next. This exploration helps you define your stylistic preferences and discover surprising talents you didn't know you possessed.
Tips for Unleashing Your Style Through Short Films:
Embrace Limitations: Working with constraints will spark creativity, take it from me. Limit yourself to a single location, a handful of props, a specific color palette, a single actor, etc. You'll be surprised what you come up with.
Challenge Yourself: Step outside your comfort zone. Try a technique you've never attempted, or make up a new technique of your own! The stakes are super low.
Find Inspiration Everywhere: Look at paintings, photographs, even music videos. Let them spark ideas and inspire you to experiment.
Don't Be Afraid to Share: Get feedback from fellow filmmakers or friends. Different perspectives can help you identify nascent stylistic tendencies you might miss on your own.
Shooting Zero Sum Game was like making a short film every week for nine months straight, and in that time, my voice developed into my own through experimentation born of necessity. Remember, finding your style is a journey, not a destination. Embrace the process, the exploration, the inevitable stumbles along the way. Your voice is there and will emerge. So, grab your camera, unleash your inner Doc Brown, and start experimenting!
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