Short one this week, and it starts with a quote I’ve found extremely helpful:
“A problem well-put is half-solved” -John Dewey
This applies so much to the endless problem-solving that comes with writing a story.
Whenever I’m stuck, it’s usually because I haven’t clearly identified and articulated the actual problem, and asked myself the right question about it.
In fact, I’m excited to start posting a monthly series of screenwriting videos on the channel soon, and that’s something you’ll see me doing non-stop: stating problems and asking myself questions.
For me, that’s about 80% of the writing process.
But “A problem well-put is half-solved” also applies perfectly to directing a film, producing a film, and editing a film.
Clarity ➡ Solutions
Here’s a further elaboration from Tim Ferriss:
“Life punishes the vague wish and rewards the specific ask. If you want confusion and heartache, ask vague questions. If you want uncommon clarity and results, ask uncommonly clear questions.”
So if you’re struggling to make progress on a project, especially creative progress, you probably just need to ask yourself better questions.
Questions are the pickaxe of the mind, the tool that unearths the gold inside us. So make your questions as sharp as you can.
Three particularly helpful questions when I’m stuck on any kind of film problem:
- How would this look if it were dead simple?
- How could this be more fun for me?
- What are some bad solutions to this problem?
Favorites this week:
🍿 Movie: Another Round
This had been on my list since it came out, and I’m so glad I finally watched. I found the first act a bit slow, but from there I was hooked. The characters and the performances are the heart of the film, they’re so endearing and fun to watch. I also enjoyed the simplicity of the plot: Four middle-aged teachers try out alcoholism as an experiment.
Then after watching it, I read this devastating bit of IMDB trivia about director Thomas Vinterberg’s daughter, Ida:
Ida had originally pressed Vinterberg to adapt the play into a movie, and was slated to play the daughter of Martin (Mads Mikkelsen). The story was originally "A celebration of alcohol based on the thesis that world history would have been different without alcohol", and according to Vinterberg, it was "a much angrier movie".
However, four days into filming, Ida was killed in a car accident. Following the tragedy, Vinterberg stated that he considered to stop making the film, and even considered to "stop living". However, he eventually decided to rework the script to become more life-affirming. "It should not just be about drinking. It was about being awakened to life," stated Vinterberg. Co-writer Tobias Lindholm served as director in the week following the accident. The film was dedicated to Ida, and was partially filmed in her classroom with her classmates.
I can’t even imagine what that production must have been like for him. But it’s beautiful that he soldiered on making this film for her, and I hope it gave him and his wife some level of catharsis.
If you feel like crying, you can watch him dedicating the film’s Oscar win to her.
That’s it for this week.
Let’s make some movies.
-Kent
🎓 Film School for the Real World
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