The state of film-maker blogs
I can’t even describe how much I appreciate blogs from certain professionals that have inspired, taught, and challenged me to be a better film-maker. For visual effects using 3D and compositing software like After Effects, Video Copilot has made it much easier to understand and develop techniques with motion graphics, colour correction, grading, and compositing. Another great resource that I’ve been inpsired by over the last two years (more and more each day) is Philip Bloom’s personal blog. I was in the middle of saving for a Sony EX3, or equivalent camera when he started using the Canon 5D MarkII and posting reviews. Needless to say, I’m now a proud 5D owner – as are many film-school friends of mine.
Today I came across a tasteless article, whilst searching for people’s opinions on the Canon DSLR video and how it’s affecting the industry. In it, a domain registrant Jim Stark goes on to say that none other than well known DP Philip Bloom is just “Editing a bunch of pretty pictures together in no apparent order and with no story with a sound track…. which is not filmmaking.”
Philip Bloom’s tale of Lucasfilm, Skywalker Ranch, Red Tails, Star Wars and Canon DSLRs on a 40′ screen
I was only able to grab Stark’s name by searching the whois.net directory. Even if he’s the same Jim Stark from imdb.com, his opinion is really shallow and nothing worth deeply considering. He makes very bold statements with very little information and examples to back up his articles. Ironically, in the “about” page, he mentions that he started the website to give his thoughts on the changing industry and how he feels it isn’t fair or correct that new technologies are becoming more affordable. Jim also hates the fact that plenty of people follow film-makers like Philip Bloom
After finishing his article, and reading anything else he had to say on his website (to get a better sense of where he could have been coming from) I decided to make my comment, keeping it to the point. Upon hitting submit, I find he’s disabled the comments feed on his blog so there’s no discussion to be had. His one-sided opinions remain as such and we can only go on to post on our own blogs and tweet our answers abroad.
Here’s what I had to say:
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I can understand the frustration with all these new videos coming up on vimeo.com and the like having no story – all seem to be tests that are labeled ’short film’. I feel the same way.
I can’t, however, agree with the idea that the work Philip Bloom has created aren’t ’short films’. He has great talent and he doesn’t seem to post a lot of his commercial work – just what he’s done in-between, reviews, shorts, all with various pieces of equipment. The breakthrough Skywalker Ranch video, as I see it, is a demo piece – and it worked beautifully. He only had a short period of time to create something to show what these Canon DSLRs were capable of. The result of what he came up with still blows my mind with the amount of time and resources available.
There are plenty of artistic and gorgeous shots up online of what claim to be ‘films’ shot on these DSLRs that I would agree, are very film-like and as such could be called ’short films’. Ones without a proper story, even. That’s not to say I’m not appreciating the films that have a great story, acting, lighting, the whole bit – I just think that these shorter edits of location, scenery, and real people have their place under that title as well.
Anyways, just my thoughts for today.
5 Responses to “The state of film-maker blogs”
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Great article Steve. I hope that Jim Stark guy reads your reply and posts it. Bloom, I hope you’re resting well knowing you’ve got friends out there fighting for you
Good stuff, this enter helped me alot in my college assignement. Thank you
Hey very nice blog!!
Sorry, Phillip Bloom, might be a good source of technical information. But his “films” are moving bits of fancy wallpaper with awful lite jazz thrown over them.
If his point was to prove that anyone can now create pretty, cinematic video on the, relatively, cheap the scores of Vimeo videos with 7 and 5D in their title have proved him right.
Technical wankery with great technology is easy. Creating actual art, or even properly lighting a scene, is something completely different. Those who can accomplish that don’t need to bother touting what their camera was.
Hey Jim,
I’m sure if you’ve actually seen Philip Bloom’s work (commercial and personal) you’d see that his work is far more than a technical wankering. He doesn’t just own cameras, he owns and operates lights, follow focuses, monitors, complete production equipment. All of his personal projects are far more organic shooting/editing and more of a fun way of testing out new gear. You’re probably just getting confused with watching his reviews on cameras and equipment.
As for the comment on lighting and know-how, if you haven’t seen one of his latest productions he’s been shooting, at Lucas Films, here’s a few images worth clicking on:
http://philipbloom.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/IMG_0071.jpg
http://philipbloom.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/IMG_0063.jpg
But I’m sure you’re also at the point where you’re filming along side of other famous Hollywood directors and DPs and your comment is valuable