F for Fake (1973) - How to Structure a Video Essay
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- čas přidán 30. 03. 2015
- If you want to make video essays, there’s no better film to study than Orson Welles’ 1973 masterpiece, F for Fake. There are a million lessons to take away from it, but today, let’s see what it has to teach us about structure. NO SPOILERS.
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Patreon: / everyframeapainting
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Twitter: / tonyszhou
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Music:
Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus & Max Roach - Very Special
Michel Legrand - F for Fake (Cinéma)
A Tribe Called Quest - Oh My God (Instrumental)
Michel Legrand - Orson’s Theme (After the Rain Version)
A Tribe Called Quest - Oh My God
Interview Clips:
Trey Parker & Matt Stone at NYU: nyti.ms/1bNx6xf
John Sturges' legendary audio commentary: bit.ly/1C2Jq1J
Help us caption & translate this video!
amara.org/v/GWnD/
*Bad Story Structure:* A man is at the corner store, and then he goes to the pub, and then he goes home.
*Good Story Structure:* A man is at the corner store eating chips. The chips make him thirsty so therefore he goes to the pub. But the pub is out of beer so he goes home. Meanwhile back at the store, the clerk realises, "Hey! He didn't pay for his chips!".
LittleJimmy835 i wasn't understanding the therefore/but concept until I read your commentary, I thank you for your contribution
LittleJimmy835 Hey Jimmy, any chance we get a video-essay-reaction to Neill Blomkamp's helming of Alien 5?
***** Oh come on. I don't know what world you live in Dan, but in my world humans are fallible lumps of squishy stuff that make constant strings of poor choices punctuated by the odd bright moment. If people made the right choice then bars wouldn't put out pretzels and complementary peanuts. Sure beer doesn't hydrate you, but damn it tastes good when you are thirsty.
***** Uh... I honestly didn't know that. And people are not computers, they easily do things like that.
***** never had a beer, but say a simple person is stupid for drinking beer if he's thirsty? you seem to be out of touch with reality, not a good thing for writing scripts.
This is some next-level stuff. I write my video essays like they're blog posts, and it's fine as a delivery device for writing to people who won't read, but I could be doing so much more. Thanks for shining a light in a good direction.
Fancy seeing you here. Personally, I like the style of your videos as they are. They're very personable.
No worries. He just made me re-think the structure of my next video too. :)
Digibro I love your content! Maybe the next level stuff would be using anime clips with dialogue to replace your voice in certain parts like Tony has?
Oh, hi digi, i like seeing your comments on videos i like.
Other youtubers could(and should) learn from this!
Is it me or is Digi the closest thing to Every Frame a Painting there is when it comes specifically to anime?
Not just editing, but these techniques are instrumental in writing too! And of course, they shouldn't just apply to video essays, but all films!
love this idea of applying storytelling principles to educational videos - that's something for me to try
I felt bad that nobody replied to you, so... Hi.
DSLRguide - I bet you do it already, you just don't notice. Humans subsist on stories, we make stories out of everything, even our own lives!
So I was assigned a college course called Professional Presentation and without knowing much, I immediately knew where I would base it on: the Google I/O event that introduced Material Design. Their presentation was well-structured but it wasn't the end all be all of my search for how to approach the subject. That actually led me to Steve Jobs keynote introducing the world to the very first iPhone (I'm not a fanboy; I don't even own an Apple product). That also led me to Carmine Gallo's book about how to make good presentations the way Steve Jobs does it. This also led me to look into The Presentation Zen book by Garr Reynolds. What's so good about these discoveries was both books intertwine with each other. So instead of struggling to pair both resources, they actually just gel pretty well. And one thing they have in common was that central to any good presentation is the idea of storytelling.
So while teaching such course, I also learned how to approach a presentation to make it more interesting to students (I hope I made it interesting to them). I've been applying the techniques for a while now and I've enjoyed the whole creation process of turning a textbook/internet article topic into something more appealing. Because of the pandemic, and the lack of Internet speeds here, I wound up producing educational videos that my students can access anytime they have internet access (it seemed more favorable to them rather than doing live online sessions all the time). I still try to structure my lessons in that manner; it's not perfect but the awareness of the structure is there.
This parallel structure is not new to me but it's never been pointed out this perfectly before. And I will also look into this when making films, educational videos, and even lectures.
sorry to be offtopic but does anyone know of a tool to log back into an instagram account?
I somehow lost the account password. I love any tips you can offer me!
@@kaleldarian8406 I'm no IG user but if it's connected to an email, aren't you able to just do a "Forgot the Password" option and have your connected email be verified so that you can be allowed to change your password?
I love how you're willing to criticize your own work, and you improve.
This is literally the best fucking channel on CZcams.
i enjoy the soundtrack to these videos. this should really be it's own netflix original series, i love the formula of your videos
In case you never found out, the first song on this video is "Very Special" off Duke Ellington's Money Jungle with Max Roach and Charles Mingus, an album worth checking out.
Also in case you never found out, they (yes, they; despite the intro Tony doesn't make these videos by himself) did continue to put out content, just on their own website/thing. I CBA to remember the details, check their channel profile for more info.
aged like wine
Did you kinda predict the future, my friend?
Orson Welles was the man.
Probably applies just as well to any sort of narrative writing, too, eh?
That's pretty much what I was thinking, I'll remember that about writing too since that's the area I'm seeking improvement in.
in any way to tell a story
Ostsol Yeah, the books I can't put down always have a Meanwhile Back at the Ranch thing going on.
+Ostsol yes, but saying that it also applies to good essays is great.But sure, since it takes you back to the very basics of narration, it really makes you think about any story you could be writing. I know it works for me...
One of the interesting things about The Lord of the Rings (the novel) is how long it holds one strand of the story before switching to another.
this video is deceptively short. it has so much information in it, and it's placed so well! and somehow it's still less than 5 minutes long. remarkable stuff
I miss this channel so much
"How to Structure a Video Essay
OR
When Tony Zhou Goes Meta"
God damnit Tony. You have got to end your winning streak of interesting, engaging videos that teach me something new about filmmaking. Or not even teach me something new, just show me something I knew in a far clearer, cleaner, simpler way than I could ever portray it. But it won't be anytime soon from the looks of things. Well done. I've loved every moment of the first year of this channel, and I look forward to the next.
Man I think you jinxed us
If Trey Parker and Matt Stone were my teachers, I would be sooooo happy !
A masterpiece. Stuffing that much value in 4 minutes is insane
Dude ever since Adam Savage posted your silence of the lamb's winning the scene video up on his Facebook page I have been following you ever since. Please don't ever stop you're one of the better film educations that I have ever found.
I salute you sir
rip
@@joomface The EFAP duo hasn't stopped; they've just moved elsewhere.
Kudos for pointing out the underrated story-telling ability of Trey Parker and Matt Stone. In every medium TV, film, and theater, their stories are tight, logical and engaging. And the do it in a week. Damn do I respect those guys.
Scott Kaptur I will never comprehend how they got from "I bought these pubes from Scott Tenorman" to "Oh yes Scott, your tears. Let me lick them from your face." I remember just rewatching that episode over and over in college like, this is diabolical.
Every Frame a Painting And that's why South parks one of the few good Adult cartoons still running.
Every Frame a Painting South Park and early Simpsons managed to perfect the TV transition from Act 1 to 2 so well. You've only got around 22 minutes but they can jump ahead with the most ridiculous story-lines but as long as they nail that 30 second turn-around then the audience is on board.
Missing you Tony.
I teared up a bit when i heard him say "this is year one of every frame a painting."
RIP to the best film analysis channel on youtube.
Steven lost his job. Therefore, he started selling meth to pay the rent. But the police arrested him. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Steven's ex-wife mortgaged the ranch to put their son through college. Does that work?
i don't think so. the entire thing sounds boring as fark.
caco ko That is because the character's motivations are not fleshed out. Lets try again: Gary wanted glory. Therefore, he joined the armed forces, because he thought that they would have him fight in a key battle and win great prestige, assuming that he survived. But they stationed him in Antarctica. Therefore, Gary thought that he would never get glory. But he would still get a decent pension if he stayed in the armed forces. Therefore, he decided to tough it out, because he wanted financial security more than glory. But, unknown enemy forces attacked his post. Therefore, he probably won't live long enough to get his pension. Meanwhile, back in the U.S., Gary's brother David went to work on Wall street, because he wanted money and power. But David had an existential crisis because he also wanted to make a meaningful contribution to the world, which he could not do in the world of corporate finance. Therefore, David ran for Mayor of New York, because being a politician would allow him to have money and power and still make a meaningful contribution to the world. But the only person willing to back David's campaign was a shady businessman with mob connections. Therefore, David had to decide if he could still make a meaningful contribution to the world and take dirty money at the same time. Meanwhile, back in Antarctica, Gary decided to fight the enemy rather than flee, because he feared disgrace more than he feared death. Is that better?
Gregory Bogosian a little bit
Why would Steven need to pay rent if he owns the ranch?
+ChrisC Steven and his wife are divorced. She got the ranch in the settlement.
There's a recurring problem in "video essays" today which is that they tend to be just collections of the same kinds of shots that filmmakers do over and over again. Paul Thomas Anderson's wide shots or close-ups. Wes Andersons tracking shots. David Fincher's close-ups of fridges. These seem more like video collages then essays. Not saying some of them aren't interesting, but I do think they are improperly titled.
I'm editing through a documentary right now, I've been using this method although I was unaware of F for Fake - I've been calling it push / pull - each line pushes into another story and that story pulls meaning from the preceding one - that combined with the 'meanwhile, back at the ranch' editing which I just copied from television.
I'll check out F for Fake, as I'm sure to learn to use it in a different more stylish way. But it will kill me if my attempt feels amateurish and I'll have to start over - I don't have the budget or time!
messianicrogue I have heard it called (variously), the hook, the throw, the flowing transition, and "this fucking thing, do I have to spell it out for you, Tony?"
I think Matt & Trey's wording of "therefore/but" is probably the simplest and best.
just watch the movie after you finished the documentary :D
+messianicrogue Just start over in your next project. We never finish anything if we start over whenever we learn new things while making something.. (I'm saying this, because I've started over several novels and never finished any of them, lol)
messianicrogue I think you can find the film on youtube. I watched it here couple of years ago
Is the documentary out yet brotha?
This is one of the best channels on youtube. Consistent, thoughtful, humorous, and informational.
Any film essay video that utilizes "F For Fake", "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Dude, Where's My Car" in order to illustrate structure in the crafts of filmmaking and editing is sublime genius!!! :)
I had actually learned the "Therefore, But" rule in Film class during college, but I've never heard the "Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch." Good lesson. I really need to see this film.
I just discovered "F for fake" a short while ago and was absolutely amazed by it. Thanks for this vid.
I remember watching this video for the first time and being somewhat underwhelmed. I had seen "F for Fake" and I didn't understand exactly what this video was attempting to do. The more I watch it the more I learn. This video multitasks and teaches lessons in story and video essay structure all while reviewing "F for Fake". Great work Tony, this video is valuable for anyone who wishes to make video essays.
Absolutely love the delivery and detail. Oh and the Tribe Called Quest at the end made me press that subscribe button!
I've learned so much from you. I've started noticing things that otherwise I'd never pay attention to, realize the significance of the techniques, and thank you for that
I see that the example you used (Star Wars) includes multiple characters with their own stories and scenarios sprawling a galaxy. But I'm trying to figure out how this would work with something much smaller and singular. How do you structure "Meanwhile back at the ranch" with a film that is mainly focused on one person and their own narrative, with very little outside plot.
Flynn Gumshoe flashback?
Claire Savage
I mean, what he's talking about is a basic integral component of storytelling. At its core, it doesn't require flashbacks, which are a stylistic choice. I'm talking about something that applies broadly across the board
Flynn Gumshoe I don't think there's anything in filmmaking that applies across the board. Some stories are literally just an A plot with no B or C. A great example is Gravity. The studio executives wanted Mission Control to be a love interest so that they could cut to something besides Sandra Bullock. Cuaron said no. It's actually much harder to do this way, because now they have to be tight about "therefore/but."
Honestly, if you've only got one storyline and you want this to be a narrative short, I'd tell you to focus on "therefore/but." Write out a version and have somebody read it. If they start to get bored halfway, then you're probably doing some "and then" writing.
If you're doing something experimental or purely poetic, you should absolutely not listen to me and instead watch Tarkovsky on a loop and pray you figure it out. I still haven't.
Every Frame a Painting
Thank you so much for taking the time to respond to me. I guess I am thinking about it too hard in terms of absolutes.
*****
I'd like to dissect those movies and figure out why they work so well without Back at the Ranch
I just watched the Netflix Amanda Knox documentary. I wasn't even too interested in the subject, but I'm so glad I watched it because the construction of that piece was OUTSTANDING as well as the directing and cinematography and sound design. It is led by the connection of ideas, and avoids any feeling of "and then" even though it is telling a linear sequence of events! It is seriously a masterpiece little documentary.
And therefore everything I thought I knew about editing just exploded, but, it'll get better.
Tony, it's so great you can learn from your own work. It's truly the mark of not only a great student but a great teacher. I greatly look forward to what the next year has in store!
I want to kiss you on the mouth,
Every single video has clearly and concisely demonstrated something new about the beauty of cinema. Many of the topics are things that i understand well but that i've simply not been able to fully articulate and get the idea straight in my head, as if the idea was standing just out side my field of view and i just couldn't turn my head to see it clearly...Thank you so much for helping me to turn my head!
I watch a lot of video essays, this literally blew my mind. I want to make films, and because video essays are what I digest most frequently, I should consider starting to make some of my own! This vid has shown me how I’d do that. Even if you don’t see this, thanks.
Tony, your videos are NEVER boring. Listing things is a good way to make a point, and I think there's a difference between going forward within a narrative, and taking more time to explain and exemplify a concept. Thank you for one year of intriguing, delightful and plain awesome lessons in cinematography :)
I miss this channel so much.
You're self-conscious and that's a wonderful thing. You're seriously the best at what you do. I know you do not take requests but I'd be happy to see a video about Paul Thomas Anderson.
Tony,
I have to thank you completely for all the essays over the last year. I began production on my first feature around the same time you started doing this, and your video essays as well as the experience of shooting every week have pushed me to be much more thoughtful in my approach. I'm very grateful to know that this much thought and effort is put into film making, since many of my peers simply shoot for coverage and tell me I over think things. I'd love to pose questions to you sometime ( yes I totally missed your AMA and can't find it now). In the meantime, I look forward to your next video.
Congratulations, Tony on making the one-year mark! You're a huge inspiration, and every single video you've made has taught me a lot about not just movies but the art of critically thinking about them. Can't wait for more out of you.
Genius.
F for fake is one of my favorite movies ever.
But after watching this video I think I should watch it again
Therefore,
But
I always try to apply rules from some mediums to others to see if there's some underlying truth that seems universally applicable. With structure it's to control the pacing, which is what a lot of mediums build rules for: the constant tense and release and constant build up which has been proven to be seemingly the only commonality in terms of what engages - from stories to lectures, stand up and photography. Everything else has exceptions.
What I mean by rules across mediums is for example animation has a rule about anticipation and follow through - basically for controlling the pacing of a single moment of a scene, yet it's something that I've found to be applicable to the scenes themselves: the short moment of contemplation after a scene should technically be done in regards to the plot, but not character or emotion - in other words, the follow-through of the scene.
The dual story structure doesn't necessarily make for a better story - but it allows the pacing to be better controlled since you switch when you need to go between the valleys and peaks of the interest curve.
The pattern that shows up when doing this is that the most universal thing is the importance of pacing. It's why there are so many rules for it in so many mediums: what you see first in an image - which part you read first - in games, the core gameplay loop, the rhythm to every action, frequency of combat encounters, and even the common level progression in games - both in terms of character levels, and playable areas.
I love that you draw from movies I watched as a child such as Dude Where's My Car and Goofy Movie and the greatest films ever made in different genres, including anime.
Please never stop doing these videos, they are so good and informative. Really loving this channel, keep up the good work!
who the HECK disliked this video
It was probably Nazis
quorkquork jewish communist-nazis
Nihilists
KriechenderHouden jewish homophobic communist-nazis from Canada.
Arsene Murzatov Not from Canada :o
this is a great advice for story tellers. thank you
Truly grateful to hear this channel will continue into another year! And thanks Tony for inspiring the rest of us not to make video essays, but to make films!
This is one of my favorite channels. I'm not even in the film industry, but I find every episode so fascinating. Keep up the good work. Here's to another year!!
Love your video's, where can we find "your own work?"
Orson Welles is GENIUS!!!!
Here's to many more to come. You are straight up my favorite channel on CZcams, man, and I recommend your videos every chance I get. Thank you for the awesome content.
more from Sturges here czcams.com/video/6korx4cE1KU/video.html and here czcams.com/video/CGBaU0msiKA/video.html
good topic for the essay; KEY in cinema. Everything that's done well utilizes this structure. On a micro scale watch any good music video.
Congratulation with one year on youtube. Are you trying to have a video out every 3 week, or is it just a coincidence that you ended up with 18 videos in a year? Everytime you post a video is a nice surprise.
Olyphantastic I was aiming for an average of one video per three weeks but some of those gaps are really long. Also some essays are 3 minutes, some are 9, but hopefully it evens out.
Olyphantastic dude what happened to you? it's been 8 months since you published another video essay :(
weird. i remember F for Fake as a difficult art film, mostly notable for it's jarring cuts and bizarre fractured 'fuck you' of a narrative.
I believe it's mostly remembered for inventing the MTV style of editing (for short attention spans). The idea that it is a good reference for cohesive film essays is ... really challenging.
This has to be one of my favorite if not my absolute favorite youtube channels. I get excited every time you pop up in my subscription box. Your videos are a joy. Thank you for a great year!
you made a masterpiece with this one man damn
Zack Snyder should have watched this! Dawn of Justice would have benefitted heavily from this form of structuring a narrative. With so much in it no wonder it was so convoluted!
Can it be saved in the edit?
Treblaine in the extended cut you mean? They tried, all that accomplished is a long-bloated quagmire of a movie
King Wizard ♔ Maybe using footage from extended cut... but probably they just need to learn to hire better writers and directors from the start.
Well, movies ARE made in the editing room, so a fan edit could fix it with all the footage that's available, it's just a matter of moving things around.
Very true. Star Wars after all was pretty much saved through editing.
A little confusing and a lot of wonderful. I can't wait for year two.
Please man, we need more of those videos!!
Congratulations on your work!
Every one of these videos is a treat, Tony. Congrats on keeping it up for a full year.
Do you think you could make a video about Stanley Kubrick?
reallybeenfar stanley kubrick need a whole movie not a 10 minutes video
Sᴇᴛᴜᴘ.ᴇxᴇ Just analyzing his style and techniques would take at least about 10 - 15 minutes though
***** Yeah but it would be cool if this guy made a video about him because these videos are really informative and fun to watch.
***** Well that would have been useful information to know before I posted my original comment. It was meant more as a suggestion than a request though
reallybeenfar Rule #1 of Every Frame a Painting: Tony doesn't take requests!!!
shit's getting meta
Hey Tony! Congrats on the one year. Extremely helpful Chanel. Learnt a lot from all the analyzed films. I look forward to seeing more in future.
I can not tell you how much these videos have helped me learn. You are an artist and a damn good one. You're doing a bang up job and I get legitimately excited when I see you added a new video. Keep up the good work, a lot of people are depending on it
The best documentaries I've seen are probably David Attenborough wildlife stuff, which generally don't have a clear narrative structure.
yes BUT you can apply this method to ideas TEREFORE you don't need to have a clear narrative to take advantage of this. MEANWHILE BACKT AT THE RANCH, my mind is blown by this video.
TRIG (Ireland) I wonder if you got down to it, you might very well find structure - or a set of mini-narrations, mini-stories of joy, tragedy, cooperation, competition, with the common emotive connection of curiosity + awe. We are finding out this: a detective story perhaps in part? In short, I do think every interesting thing has some sort of narrative structure.
@@blixten2928 You're right, I suppose, that even without a clear overall story, a documentary maker can still use narrative structure. In fact, a wildlife filmmaker probably has to think about this sort of thing more consciously.
@@qwertyTRiG Yes, and I see that you wrote "clear" narrative structure. It would actually be fun to decode Attenborough's way of using narrative devices in such an un-obvious ways. A challenge!
@@blixten2928 And Attenborough is certainly worthy of analysis!
does anybody know where i can find the full video of matt and trey talking about story structure?
i gotchu www.mtvu.com/shows/stand-in/trey-parker-matt-stone-surprise-nyu-class/
Oh I really wanted to watch this but it doesn't seem to be available from where I am. Mirror?
Andy Campbell if you're using chrome of firefox you can get hola which will mask you ip
you're the greatest, most interesting youtuber/film "critic" that I've known. the directors comments, and your ideas are just perfect.
the only I wished you'd do, is more videos. but I do unsderstand these take time, and I'll wait for the next essay patiently.
really REALLY love your work, thanks for everything!
The music you choose for your videos is incredible, this episode in particular.
Does year 2 of every frame a painting start right now? or are you taking a break... i need more videos.
are their any written essays that use this structure? I'd love to read some of them.
This is extraordinary. I've only watched two of your videos so far but the amount I feel like I've learnt is impressive.
Your formatting is also just so stylish and impactful. I'm so glad to have found your channel.
Congratulations on your first year! You make some of the best content about films on CZcams!
Your videos have helped me learn more about the art of film making.
Thank you very much :D.
In my personal Opinion "Touch of Evil" is the best film directed by Orson Welles. A timeless Noir Cop Movie, the inspiration from "Dirty Harry" and other Hard Boiled Cop Movies in the 70's - today.
Which version have you watched? If you've watched more than one, which do you prefer?
You should do a video about Ingemar Bergmans greatness
So glad somebody finally gave some love to one of the greatest narrative documentaries in cinema history. You're doing great work man. Please keep it up.
Brilliant! Wish you still made these.
Tony have you thought of making more videos about story telling? I mean you focus on visual techniques of expression - which is very interesting - but what about the progression of the story? This is the number 1 issue I see in top "vissual directors" like Scoresse. I caught myself bored throught Goodfellas and especially "Casino".
***** I hope you mention it just as a fact not as an excuse.
I mean it's his duty to tell a story in a way that "holds you" and keeps you entrainted during the "journey".
I don't have problem with the "following the character" thing,ineed I kinda love it.For example I loved Taxi driver not only because is visually beautiful but also cause it tells you the story in way that it keeps you interested and curious during the whole movie.
On the other hand I felt almost nothing about the movies I mention above .
( Sorry for bad English )
+Dhm dim story telling it's overrated, actualy, i think the worst part about nowadays art its the focus on storytelling.
sensaiko May you please elaborate as to why? Not being irate here, I'm legitimately interested in learning your point of view.
@@sensaikoStorytelling is everything though.
This sort of work falls to the editor only if the screenwriter has failed.
BryceT Or if it's an essay film or a documentary.
+Every Frame a Painting What do you think of Xavier: Renegade Angel which does this to an extreme? Every episode has a dreamlike quality that every scene requires an explanation of the previous scene going back to the beginning. I love your work, thank you for sharing!
Great job. I've loved every one of you essays. I've watched several of them multiple times. They've - seriously - changed the way I watch movies. Thanks.
I adore F for Fake, and everything you say is true. What stuck me the most about the film was Welles' delivery. He's known for being narcissistic and a bit of a blow hard, and it'd be easy for these traits to bleed through in a film where he's guiding us through his personal knowledge. However, there is curiosity in his voice. There is hesitancy. He doesn't show us things, we learn them together. Too many narrators act like an overbearing ringmaster and it makes you not want to pay attention out of spite. Welles guides us so carefully in F for Fake that when he does ultimately pull a misdirection, it comes off as charming instead of pretentious. Absolutely agree that anyone who wants to make video essays should see this film.
are there more videos not on YT that i can watch if i become a patreon on your page?
Mads Louis Zilstorff Not really. The perks on Patreon are downloadable videos and annotated videos. The annotations are basically written commentary tracks that add more information and references and making-of stuff. Pretty much every video I make, I try to upload on here for everyone to see.
Every Frame a Painting
Allright mate thanks, i'll definitely contribute.
please keep up the good work :)
Mads Louis Zilstorff Yeah of course. Thank you for the support.
Every Frame a Painting I come to your channel, and then I watch a video, and then I watch another, and then I watch them all, and then I wait for more, and then I watch the new ones, therefor I like your butt.
funny
I appreciate this video essay but I think that the "list" technique vs cause and effect reminds me of "Adaptation" and "Story" by Robert McGee - trying to create an understanding to a pattern for making a documentary or video essay. I found nothing wrong in your original Scorsese piece - the visuals alone made it more than a list of A B and C's. And seriously, South Park is not ground-breaking Television. It's hashed out quick comedy that is more factory-line. Finally, Star Wars - star wars is - well it's star wars - fun and all that - but it's just Star Wars. Wait a second - my comment response is list-based but I still think it has a nice rhythm to it that works. I'm going to turn this into my own visual essay.
With every video of your I watch, I know that I've found my favorite... till the next one begins. This time, you've added your own bit of editing wizadry & punctuated it with a personally favorite song.
Wish I'd have found these when you began releasing them, & I look forward to more & more. Thank you!
This channel is amazing. I've always been in love with cinema, but these lessons are taking it to a whole new level.
I realize I was actually not enjoying good films as much as they can offer.
Thank you Every Frame a Painting
I think this kind of technique works very well for comedy, which depends highly on rhythm, and I guess it works well when you have a specific message to deliver. But as a technique for general forms of narrative, I'm not very sure. I mean, our life is nothing but a series of and-thens, and we somehow don't get bored of it. I tend to dislike it when The Narrative tramples every other element, and when it's constantly whoring out for my attention. If, say, a character is interesting, I won't mind a series of and-then moments, because the character can carry it out just fine. The character is its own therefore and its own but. Demanding a necessary logical consequence for everything is, for me, a weakness of "traditional" storytelling. Too many people seem to follow this as a be-all-end-all formula, and like this very channel shows, there is no such thing.
As with any narrative device, they're all tools to progress the story. Room doesn't follow Meanwhile, back at the ranch at all, and its plot is very well constructed and executed (maybe a little bit predictable, but still extremely well executed). Young Frankenstein has a bunch of "And then!" moments, as do most of Mel Brooks's movies, but it's hysterical and it works for the narrative of that movie.
Also something to consider is that "therefore" can replace "and then" if what follows is a logical conclusion. "And then" pretty much refers to a plot where a thing starts, climaxes, and is concluded, AND THEN a new thing unrelated to the original thing happens. Like if you take each episode of a sit com like Scrubs, or any TV show without a continuous plot and edit them into one movie, it's a terrible narrative because the ends and beginnings of episodes are not connected. They are true And Then moments as opposed to Therefore moments.
Amazing work my dude. I have enjoyed the whole season of your work and I find myself (in my crude fashion) applying your lessons as I watch movies now. Keep up the great work!
best channel about film making on CZcams, keep it up Tony!
As more of a film buff trying to branch into video essays to speak and talk about the craft I've come to love so much, I have learned and continue to learn so much from your videos.
Whether it is looking at all the different forms and aspects that build a shot, ways directors use actors, composition, movement, angles, to talking about making a Video Essay.
I've got something on the back burner right now and videos like these are ones that help push to keep working on it and have it be completed, if not, for only my own eyes.
Congrats on one year Tony! I've been here from month one, and it's been amazing watching you improve and progress your editing skills. Here's to a long, prosperous future of further learning together!
Thanks for the great year, Tony. Your content is top-notch and you only get better with each entry. Keep up the fantastic work!
- Dawson
I never comment, but I just wanted to say how much I enjoy your film essays. I've been watching and rewatching them religiously. Top quality. Thank you.
I am obsessed with this channel. Beautiful. Congrats!
Ah great to see another video so soon. And this comes at just the right time to help me work on developing a mockumentary idea I'm have.
Thanks I really needed a better look on how to do the essays. You're such an inspiration.
Thank you so much for these, they are seriously great! I get excited when I see a new one was uploaded, keep up the good work!
honestly these videos are so high quality each and every time!
Tony, what a fantastic way to end your first year with my favorite CZcams series; with one of my favorite movies. I've been trying to show friends this movie since it came out on Criterion. I love the points you've made here and will give it some series thought when needed. Thanks again! Can't wait to see what you have in store for us in season 2.
Your videos are so good. I absolutely love watching them.
Congratulations on a full year of amazement!
Your videos rock!
Can't wait to see what the next year brings!
It's been a great first year! This has definitely become one of my favorite channels.