Let's talk about Craft.

[David Battistella]

Does it still matter?

Is there anything being done that has not already been done?

Have the tools become more important than how we use them?


Discuss.


Daivd

 

[Randall Nott]

Does it still matter?

Food always matters.

Is there anything being done that has not already been done?

Probably not. Depends what you've eaten.

Have the tools become more important than how we use them?

Manners are still more important than the utensils.

Why are you so concerned about craft services?

 

[Jim Hoffman]

I could never stand the pointy black hats. And the broom chafes.

 

[michael zaletel]

Better tools make the best craftsmen better.

-michael zaletel

 

[Ian Laurie]

I believe that the better tools allow the craftsman to develop his own unique style. For instance, the extra dynamic range of the mysterium x over that of the previous version, may allow someone to experiment with a little less concentration on the medium and its limitations, and a little on how he can manipulate it for their own benefit.

 

[Subhadip Sen]

Does it still matter?

Of course it does!

Is there anything being done that has not already been done?

Certainly. I mean, not completely unique, of course. But there are enough visionary films being made today - particularly in Asia.

Have the tools become more important than how we use them?

This is a tough question. It is clear that many have been carried away by the neat tools available today. Shallow depth of field, for example, is being heavily overused, from first time short films to House.

At the same time, some of the best artists just pick up whatever tool they have, and do the very best with it. One of the decade’s most visually brilliant film in my opinion is Still Life, and it was shot on an HVR-Z1. A Z1!!!

That's the difference between visionary artists and mediocre ones, I suppose.

Also, the most important element in any image - the composition - isn't solved by using neat tools. That is a completely human effort.

 

[Alexander Ibrahim]

I'd argue that the tools are useless without the craftsperson.

That is why I am confident shooting on a very low end camera like the 7D.

It still looks like my work, and I am proud of my work.

I think my work looks better with a RED of course.

What matters isn't the camera ultimately- or any other tool I use in whatever job I have.

What matters is my choices and skills- and the work of the team behind me and next to me.

I remember a talk I had with my first AC. She's really good, but she's fairly new to the craft. We were on a shoot and she had to roll from a foreground subject to a background reaction. She snapped the focus by the numbers perfectly.

That wasn't right.

I told her to try rolling in slowly. She did it and we moved on.

Between set ups she asked me what was wrong. I told her that she wasn't there to wiggle a wheel for me, but rather to bring her own taste and instincts into a scene, and deliver a performance of her own to enhance and amplify what the actors were putting in front of our camera.

That is true for everyone on a film crew to one extent or another. How a grip rigs a stand, how a lamp operator aims the light, what kind of powder make up chooses, the finish of the set piece... all these details are little bits of art that add up to make a show.

RED can't replace that, no matter how good their cameras get.

What exemplifies production gear, is a refined tool that lets me accomplish whatever it is I want or need without getting in my way. The better the tool hews to my intentions, the better the tool is.

When we argue about resolution or latitude, we are hopefully looking at those technical details as elements in refining a tool so that it makes us freer to express our intentions through it.

What I don't want is the cinematographic equivalent of a synthesizer.

 

[Stephen Aldridge]

a friend of mine likes to say:

We've done so much with so little for so long that we're now capable of doing anything with nothing.

Of course this is a joke but there is a lot of truth to the idea that the end and the means are two different things. Obviously a RED will make better images than the prosumer camera I'm currently shooting but I'd be willing to bet that I know as much or more about my craft than some Red owners. So, I'm patiently working, learning, creating and looking forward to the day that I can shoot on more professional equipment like the Red.

 

[Peter Arnold]

Well, in the end it's easy.
You have a computer with a word processing software on it.
So you are - from the technical point of view - a writer or an author.
But are you, just because you have the tools? No, because "It's not the tools, it's the craft."

In other words: A skilled carpenter with a very old hammer nails better than a newbie with the newest hammer.

My 2c

Peter

 

[Fredrik Callinggard]

Food always matters.



Probably not. Depends what you've eaten.



Manners are still more important than the utensils.

Why are you so concerned about craft services?

ROFL :lol:

 

[David Battistella]

Food always matters.



Probably not. Depends what you've eaten.



Manners are still more important than the utensils.

Why are you so concerned about craft services?

ha ha ha

 

[David Battistella]

What about editng?

What makes for good editing?

David

 

[Mark Phelan]

What about editng?

What amkes for good editing?

David

The art of brevity, plus understanding the human condition.

 

[MichaelHalsell]

David, how does one manage to become really polished, when there is expectation of managing several disciplines of the post production process?

How long does one stick with a comfortable and competent toolset before the market pressure srequires a re-evaluation?

 

[Elsie N]

Is there anything being done that has not already been done?

Daivd

No, but they will never get done due to copyright-in-perpetuity restrictions. If things would just go back into the public domain... and I include inventions in that as well, after a reasonable amount of time then creativity in general would explode IMHO. Yes, authors, inventors, etc. should be protected for a reasonable amount of time with a sharply rising fee for maintaining the copyright, patent, trademark etc. If it has value, it should make enough income to justify rising fees of ownership. If not, let a more creative individual or group have at it.

 

[David Battistella]

The art of brevity, plus understanding the human condition.

Expand on this.

 

[David Battistella]

David, how does one manage to become really polished, when there is expectation of managing several disciplines of the post production process?

Yes. Where has the idea of a guild gone? The editing department has often been replaced by one person doing it all on their way to early burnout. As young people we think we can do it all, but it's better to have an assistant and teach as well.

How long does one stick with a comfortable and competent toolset before the market pressure srequires a re-evaluation?

Computers, software companies and the constant need to be in KAIZEN mode to report quarterly.

Did KEM or Moviola have an upgrade every ten minutes. Machines that worked.

 

[David Battistella]

No, but they will never get done due to copyright-in-perpetuity restrictions. If things would just go back into the public domain... and I include inventions in that as well, after a reasonable amount of time then creativity in general would explode IMHO. Yes, authors, inventors, etc. should be protected for a reasonable amount of time with a sharply rising fee for maintaining the copyright, patent, trademark etc. If it has value, it should make enough income to justify rising fees of ownership. If not, let a more creative individual or group have at it.

Copyright is a tough one. Tell it to the people who have moved all manufacturing of goods to China. How to you track down that maze of copyright infringement?

Copyright is only as good as it is enforceable. If you can not force people to stop, stealing, copying and knocking off, then it will happen.

I guess it is up to consumers to buy originals. Really, the consumer is also to blame.

Copyright = Capitalism

David

 

[David Mullen ASC]

It's hard to speak about technique and tools in the abstract because they are supposed to solve particular problems or to achieve particular creative ideas in the service of a particular project/story.

 

[Richard Foster]

Craft is definitely important. Developing your skill set, honing your innate talents through practice and experimentation, and perfecting your techniques contribute more to the final frames than your tools. Tools do contribute but I used to maintain back in my still days that I could take a better picture with and Instamatic in the same circumstances than Joe Blow could with a Nikon and a great prime lens.

Owning a Ferrari does not mean you know how to drive one. But if you want to drive fast that tool certainly helps if you know how. Otherwise you could kill yourself.