Caught

Well, I've been caught writing about USC films. I wonder how my post got tracked down...

I'm glad I wrote good things about the particular film, but even if I didn't, I'd almost prefer hearing anonymous, candid thoughts about my films than my friends kissing my ass or being "nice," or not saying anything at all. But maybe that's just me.

Speaking of student films - I'm thinking of organizing a screening sometime next semester of fun student films. Every time I go to a thesis screening I come away depressed that people spent a ton on money on generally mediocre (and usually poor) films. I also feel a weird sort of envy when someone makes a great thesis film, like it will propel them into this universe of being a "filmmaker" afterwards, a universe I would like to join, but know the odds are slim. I hate the make-it-or-break feeling of the thesis and 546 screenings, it's destructive to the enjoyment of watching (and making, I think) movies. It makes it all very stressful. I also hate the long speeches and thank you's by the filmmakers. No one gives a shit. All the speeches are simply a testament to the only folks going to the films are people who worked on the movie.

I want to organize a screening of films that are fun to watch, with no speeches, where people are free to laugh with or at the films, where we see something edgy or wrong, or inappropriate or anything that wouldn't ever get past the 546 committee or the 581 faculty. I want to see loose student films where people haven't poured their savings and begged relatives for money to shoot on 35. I want to watch limber, ballsy movies that succeed because they took a risk or executed a cool idea.

I want a mix of 507s, directing projects, 1 minute movies, group movies from visual expression, documentary pitches, maybe an occassional archive from somewhat forgotten USC filmmakers - John Carpenter, John Milnuis, or even Walter Murch, or Bryan Singer.

The event will be designed to be a fun atmosphere, a party. We'll track down films we've seen in classes that stood out, or films we hear about from other folks in different classes. USC makes hundreds of films per year and in nearly every class I find something impressive...yet, if one were to watch only the thesis project, one comes away with a very limited sense of what type of movies are being made at school.

We have creative, hard working, talented people making experimental, funny, crazy movies - and none of this comes out in thesis screenings. This will happen at the very beginning of next semester - keep your eyes open.