Friday, November 21, 2014
I was thinking that we might have a bit of a Mike Nichols retrospective, but in fact he was so prolific that it is difficult to avoid his work. Last week, for example, we watched Closer, a movie that surprised me-- I kept getting exasperated with the characters but felt like I had to keep watching. The other evening I came home to find that A and CLA were watching The Birdcage. Regarding Henry and Wolf are kind of Lawyer Movies that I have to account for in my ongoing Lawyers in Movies project. And of course The Graduate and Barefoot in the Park are evergreens.
So instead, a couple of things that Nichols had to say about filmmaking and storytelling. First, via Mark Evanier, five rules for filmmaking:
So instead, a couple of things that Nichols had to say about filmmaking and storytelling. First, via Mark Evanier, five rules for filmmaking:
And then there is this: "There are only three kinds of scenes: fights, seductions, and negotiations. Oh, and contradictions. As Elaine used to say, “When in doubt, seduce.”
- The careful application of terror is an important form of communication.
- Anything worth fighting for is worth fighting dirty for.
- There's absolutely no substitute for genuine lack of preparation.
- If you think there's good in everybody, you haven't met everybody.
- Friends may come and go, but enemies will certainly become studio heads.
// posted by Bill @ 1:14 PM 
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