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Check out this great video about Loyola Marymount University Film School...

Visit http://sftv.lmu.edu/

 

To students around the world: Always remember that it's all about story...

I've been so lucky to speak to Universities over the years. I've spoken at USC, De Anza College, Loyola Marymount, and many more.

I've been lucky enough to talk with students about Reality Television Editing, Documentary, and Scripted Motion Pictures.  All have their differences, but all have their common thread in our discussions:  Story...

No matter what genre you work in, no matter what camera you shoot, no matter what editing system you use, no matter what budget level you work at... Story is king.

I love this.

I love the fact that we all manipulate the story that others experience, witness, and share all around the world; and that story connects our common human experience.  When we, as filmmakers, leave in that "little bit" that shows that extra bit of human nature or point of view, people watch, by the millions, and share in that moment.  It's about communicating our experience.

It's also key to student success in entertainment.  The ability to craft or shape story is exactly the bread and butter of filmmakers around the world.  In writing, you craft it from scratch, in directing, you capture it, in editing you shape it.  But in the end, in every debate, the story wins, no matter what.  Story is king.

Everytime I talk with students, I share with them that one fact.  It dictates the camera angles, it shapes the edit, it circumvents the limitations of budget, and time.  If a story needs to be made, it gets made.  If a story is troubled, it's flaws show themselves at a microscopic level, and we all work to fix them.

It's truly amazing.

 

Advice for students:

 Show your script & edit to others.  Get feedback.  Don't explain "why"; just listen.  (I've been in these rooms so I'll repeat, zip it and listen!)  If you get more than a few "bumps" from others on your screenplay/edit, then revise.  You might be holding on to a baby.  Remember "story is king".  Don't get in the way of it, and you won't be getting in the way of yourself.  For some it's the tough choice, we all fall in love with our own stuff.  We like to explain away the faults of a piece.  "'This or that' happened while shooting."  Doesn't matter.  Fix it.  You'll have a better film for it, and over the long haul, will connect deeper with audiences and your future collaborators.  In the words of one of my favorite professors Zaki Lisha (De Anza)... "You must be ruthless with your editing."  Be ruthless, tell great stories.

Speaking to Editing Students at De Anza College

Tuesday night I will be speaking to editing students at De Anza College in Cupertino, CA. De Anza is one of the premiere community colleges for film and television training in the United States and has an extraordinary Advanced Technology Center. Looking forward to it.