Are you in the process of working on developing blocking for action scenes? Comedy? What about both? This excellent video from the YouTube channel Every Frame a Painting (by Tony Zhou and Taylor Ramos) focuses on the work of master filmmaker Jackie Chan, and it features some very revealing insights about his working process and unique approaches to directing and editing (and martial arts choreography, of course). Of particular note are ways in which he creates scenes in his earlier work produced in Asia versus movies made in Hollywood. A very fun and enlightening movie for film students.
Archive for the ‘Directors’ Category
Directing and Editing Masterclass with Jackie Chan
Posted in Chapter 1, Chapter 5, Directors, tagged Cinema of Hong Kong, Every Frame a Painting, Jackie Chan, Martial Arts, Taylor Ramos, Tony Zhou on November 1, 2017| 1 Comment »
Talking Stories, Engaging Debates: An Essay by Sarah Polley
Posted in Chapter 5, Directors, Women Mediamakers, tagged Director, Harvey Weinstein, Sarah Polley, The Men You Meet Making Movies, The Stories We Tell on October 15, 2017| Leave a Comment »
Among the very necessary debates and amidst the range of fallout that mediamakers have seen and are still to see from the New York Times investigative report on Harvey Weinstein and his subsequent fall from power as a movie studio executive, media students, educators, and professionals must sift through many perspectives and viewpoints. I would like to highlight this op-ed by Sarah Polley that appeared today, The Men You Meet Making Movies. Ms. Polley was the subject of an earlier post in mediateacher.net’s series on Women Mediamakers, Talking Stories: Portraits with Sarah Polley, which readers may wish to check out for further information on this important multi-talented creator.
The Michael Jordan of American Filmmaking is Back
Posted in Chapter 5, Directors, tagged Behind the Candelabra, Logan Lucky, Michael Jordan, Rebecca Blunt, Steven Soderbergh, The Knick on August 11, 2017| Leave a Comment »
Soderbergh on set of “Logan Lucky”
“Really? Can’t be. Say it ain’t so, Steven.” That was what many of us said when Mr. Soderbergh declared that he was retiring from directing movies. And for those who had followed, studied, or were inspired by his unique career and creative output, it seemed that this might certainly turn out to be a bit of a joke from a world-class jokester. Well, that indeed appears to be the case, and of course, he never really retired by any stretch of the term (such as with Behind the Candelabra, The Knick, and more). Here is an excellent article on Soderbergh right now one week before the release of his promising new movie, Logan Lucky (written by the decidedly mysterious Rebecca Blunt — is this another Soderbergh joke?).
The Tilda
Posted in Chapter 5, Directors, tagged Bong Joon-Ho, Broken Flowers, Derek Jarman, Doctor Strange, Michael Clayton, Okja, Snowpiercer, The Host, Tilda Swinton on June 30, 2017| Leave a Comment »
By grace of the particular brand of her presence in Bong Joon-ho‘s Okja, it is clear that “The Tilda” is a distinct genre unto itself, from Doctor Strange to the films of Derek Jarman to Michael Clayton, Broken Flowers, and more. 
And beyond the power of Tilda Swinton, there is much more to explore, clearly, in the newest work by one of the most dynamic of 21st century directors, Bong Joon-ho (Snowpiercer, Mother, and The Host).
Some more notes with Patty Jenkins
Posted in Chapter 5, Directors, Women Mediamakers, tagged Cara Buckley, Gal Gadot, Mekado Murphy, New York Times, Patty Jenkins, Richard Donner, Superman, Wonder Woman on May 31, 2017| Leave a Comment »
Here is a follow-up to the Women Pioneers of the Cinema: Patty Jenkins and the Wonder Women post from a few days ago (see below). For Mekado Murphy’s New York Times “Anatomy of a Scene” series, Patty Jenkins narrates a key scene from Wonder Woman, along with a nice tip of the hat to a strong inspiration for her — Richard Donner’s Superman from 1978.
P.S.: Right after I posted this piece, the NYTimes published this highly interesting and enlightening interview with Patty Jenkins. Read it to the end. The exchange at the tail of this conversation with journalist Cara Buckley was one of the most take-your-breath-away moments I have read in an interview with a filmmaker in quite some time. It features a very inspiring and strikingly original statement from Ms. Jenkins.
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