Making a Movie: Inspirations and Meaning
Having been very interested in film for the last number of years and having recently completed a minor in film studies, I have long been inspired to expand on this interest but have never afforded myself the time to do so. An aspect of film I have never been able to delve into is the creative process of making my own film, this in quirky project offers me an opportunity to finally do so. Therefore, my goal with this project is to create a short film by the end of the semester.
I would like to document this creative process as I move through writing the script, casting the film, filming, directing, editing, and eventually creating a finished product as well as whichever other steps I take along the way. Some of the things I have in my tool kit to help me achieve this goal are an extensive knowledge of film having seen nearly 700 films and a good grasp on filming techniques and convention as a byproduct of my undergraduate degree. I also have been doing research online, particularly on YouTUbe surrounding how to effectively create a short film on a low budget.
Some of my biggest inspirations for this project are the works of various directors such as Xavier Dolan, Gus Van Sant, Gregg Araki, Yorgos Lanthimos, and Emerald Fennel. There are also a number of scenes and shots from various films that I pull significant inspiration from. These are some film trailers for films that I have envisioned myself using as inspirations:
I Killed My Mother – Xavier Dolan
Saltburn – Emerald Fennel
My Own Private Idaho – Gus Van Sant
Totally Fucked Up – Gregg Araki
I believe this project will allow me to expand my knowledge of film and filmmaking while also allowing me to gain a greater understanding of the ways both the analysis and creation of film can be used as a tool in the classroom.
Film for Thought: I Killed My Mother (2009) is a Quebecois Indie film directed by Xavier Dolan that deals with the strained relationship between a single mother and her gay son. This film is not only seminal to Canadian indie film but a very important film to me personally.
Xavier Dolan directed, wrote, edited, and starred in this film at the age of 19 making it a rather inspirational from a filmmaking standpoint as well. He has gone on to become one of Canada’s most critically acclaimed directors and has brought Quebecois and Canadian film to an international audience through this film and his 2013 film Mommy.