The Few Things I Have Learned About Movie Making

Lately, I have found out that I really enjoy making movies. Short ones for now, but I would like to make full length movies someday. Movie making is one of those things that you learn (well, it's the way I learn) by observation. You can watch movies done by great film makers, see how they did things, think about how you would have done them different, and various different things like that. I often worry that I bother my friends by getting into how the camera work was terrible when they just asked what my favorite part was. By observing how some of my favorite movies were done, I can put the ideas I get from those and put them into my own short movies. Of corse, I do not have the resources that paid directors do to make their movies. However, I have found ways to make the ideas work in my own creations.

But just like I learned what things I can put into the movies at the beginning, I learned some things I need to add to future movies that I left out of others. For example, I learned that dialogue is very important to stick to. For the few movies I have done with important dialogue, I have just improvised the lines. It is probably a better idea to write them out, but who has that time? Anyways, in one of our earlier movies, Sid vs Nurf Ninja, an important part of the story is that the master is the brother of the evil Nurf Ninja. I didn't realize I had forgotten to indicate that relationship until the movie was done. In the newer movies we have made, we have been more careful about the dialogue.

Another thing I have been more careful about is putting the main inspiration of the title into the movie. Even better yet, let the title come after the story. In another one of our movies, Friday the 13th Jason Takes Art, we didn't really indicate the reason he was an artist instead of a, evil killer. Another thing to gather from this is not to let the title define the movie. That is, in fact, backwards. The story and the plot of the movie is supposed to shape the title. The title is supposed to be something that draws the audience to the story.

I still have a lot to learn before I can be a pro director. For the time being, I am gonna stick to my little camera and my brothers as my main cast of characters.

The Job Of Being A Sister

When I was younger, I had always wanted a little sister. Today, I am not too sure why I did. Maybe I was because I wanted a girl to play with or a closer companion. Now, I realize that I wouldn't have been able to survive with a sister. This is true for a few reasons: 1) I get my own room no matter where we live 2) sharing the title "sister" just wouldn't work for me 3) I could never ask for better siblings. As time went on, I discovered that I was meant to have little brothers. My brothers helped make me who I am. I have learned so much from them and I take joy in teaching them. I have found that I really enjoy being one of the teachers in their lives. As time goes on, I know that they will become great adults and I am happy to know that I watched them grow.

The Idea Of A Birthday

When we are younger, say 5 to 10 years old, our birthday is a very special moment. We are counting down they days until the big day and we make a list of things we want. When we are a little older, lets say teen-agers, we are of corse exited about our birthday but we are also sort of neutral on the celebration. Unless of corse you are one of those people who had been planning their sweet 16 since they could write their ABC's. But for the most part, we are pretty calm about the subject. And then there is the time when you are, eh, several years older than 29. By that time, you either don't care about your birthday, forgot, or are hoping everyone else will forget. Well, atlas that is what I have scene. Of corse, this is very stereotypical. I am just asserting what interests me.

So, why is this distinction of interests so fascinating? When you are little, you cant wait until you are one year older. When you are older, you are exited but you are pretty neutral on the idea. And when you are much older, often you would rather not celebrate. Is it because you are becoming another year older? Maybe. Is it because you are spending time with friends and family? Possibly. Is it because you are usually getting stuff you want? Sure. Birthdays are a great thing, and the celebration should be spent with friends and family. No matter what the age.

When The Masses Rise....

I have recently seen many examples of "protesting" in my life. Or, at least the people call it protesting. However, protesting may not be the appropriate word depending on the situation. The things I have seen can better be described as throwing a fit or rebellion. When students all over Texas walked out of school because they were angry about their teachers being fired was just stupid. This was stupid for a few reasons: 1) there was nothing the teachers or school board could do about the problem 2) more than half of those students didn't care what they were doing, they found the opportunity to cause trouble and took it. The world is full of idiots, ignorance, and laziness. When there is an opportunity to cause problems that can be called as freedom of speech, those people will usually take it. Even though there are some people who actually care about the situation at hand, they should learn to show how they feel the right way! I know that banned together, we can accomplish anything. Well, get together with the right people who actually know what is going on and who care about it.