TEN THINGS THEY TRIED TO TEACH ME IN FILM SCHOOL
Which took me years of humiliating mistakes to learn.1. REMEMBER TO BREATHE
You’ve worked for two years to get to this moment, and there’s no guarantee you’ll ever get to do it again. You might as well enjoy it.2. THE CAMERA IS A BUDDHA
It sees the world as it is. It doesn’t photograph your expectations or your fantasies. Try to see as the camera sees.3. NO PLAN SURVIVES CONTACT WITH THE ENEMY
Overprepare and then be ready to throw it all away when the actor feels their character wouldn’t do it that way. Or you’re behind. Or both.4. A GOOD IDEA CAN COME FROM ANYWHERE
You might as well listen to what others have to say because you’re going to get the credit (and the blame) anyway. Remember, the key grip has probably made six times as many movies as you have.5. NO MOVIE CAN BE FUNNY ENOUGH
Laughter lets the audience know they’re in good hands. They let their guard dwn and become vulnerable to the serious stuff.6. ON EVERY PRODUCTION
The director loses faith in the movie, the actors lose faith in the director, the crew hates the actors. Somehow it all works out.7. THE AUDIENCE’S ATTENTION SPAN IS EVEN SHORTER THAN YOURS
Fill every moment. Be generous. Give them gifts: jokes, secrets, surprises, truths. The minute they’re bored, they’ll check their email.8. THE ACTORS MOVE THE CAMERA, THE CAMERA DOESN’T MOVE THE ACTORS
Unless you have a style, don’t pretend you do.9. MAKE THE MOVIE FOR ONE PERSON AT A TIME
Imagine your fourth-grade teacher sitting alone in the dark.10. WHERE THERE IS NO SOLUTION, THERE IS NO PROBLEM
As Hannibal said while deciding to cross the Alps, “I will find a way or I will make one.”P.S. NONE OF THESE RULES make any difference if you don’t have a good script.
Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions: My Fortysomething Years in Hollywood
Ed Zwick