Challenges while writing a story

Challenges while writing a story

This phase I think almost everyone one of us has gone through. Before the production of the film starts obviously we will need a proper story, and most importantly the proper structure of the story to execute it. But have you ever thought about the difficulties faced while creating a story? The first and the trickiest part are the beginning, and the end of the story. For getting our audience indulged for watching the film, our beginning of the film should be very interesting, and also give a reason to the audience to continue watching the film. Whereas the end of the film is also in my point of view is tough to think about as it will give the film more impact as well, and also complete the film in an appropriate way.  Sometimes some endings leave the audience with confusion which usually loses the the impact of the film. I am not talking about cliff hangers, but just a confusion ending. The brain also has to get pressurized thinking how to continue the story without making the audience feel bored. Sometimes during the movie before the climax the audience usually gets either bored or restless, and to avoid that it is not an easy task, as you have a ‘blind audience’. In my previous post I have spoken about ‘’Who is our audience?’ And trust me without knowing it becomes even more a challenging part, as you cannot generalize.people as well. While writing a story there also challenges like our own self-consciousness. Sometimes while creating a story in between we are not very confident about it thinking about the reaction of the viewers which somewhere also is a red light to the creative part as well.  Another task can also be the ‘structuring part of the story’. While forming a story we always will have the visualization into our heads. But the challenge which will be born during creating the story comes when we have to structure it. In some films the story will be very unique, and also nicely written but the structure fails, and sometimes also pulls down the concept of the film. So it’s very vital for looking upon that as well. Making the protagonist is also a very challenging part as well. Mostly the main motive of the story is to make the audience attached with the hero/heroine of the film, and the rival being hated as well. Before creating a story which is in our mind, it will be fixed that how you want to make your audience leave the hall, for example while crying after being emotional. So creating those emotions also is not a very easy task, as we have to make the story very strong enough to reach the audience.

These challenges are not impossible to overcome, and every film cannot be a success right? So experience and knowledge is the cure to this, and also your creativity cannot be stolen by anyone as well. At the end of the day, it’s your own world created, and portrayed.

Who is our audience?

Who is our audience?

When we make a film, we have many things which go inside our minds, and one of those is the target audience. A film is made and categorized in a particular genre, and certified either as ‘U’ U/A’ or an ‘A’. But have you ever thought of what exact audience you want for watching your film? This is also a very tricky part as well. Let me explain how. We make a film according to our own creativity. As I had said previously that this is the biggest disadvantage in this field as one may like your creativity, and the other may not.  But what if your film is loved by a small part of the audience instead of the majority part? Let me take an example, in India. We our brought up by a particular culture, and psychologically our mind follows only that way of learning, behaving, seeing, and reacting to the things happening in front of us. But usually what happens is that if we make a film which is very distinct from the particular way of the current living status, then mostly at start the audience will not be able to connect themselves, and also they might go against the film. How much ever talented and creative you are until, and unless the film is not liked by the majority of the audience it will not be successful, and also people might after sometime forget even if it exits in the film industry. In India it usually happens that ‘majority’ of the people go to watch a film as according to the star system; the cast chosen for the film, instead of seeing the plot. I am not generalizing anything, as there also might be people who prefer to watch films according to the story, etc. In my point of view, there is no harm in experimenting different kinds of films. Maybe a person who is just in love with the genre like drama can experiment watching a violent film. There is no guarantee that he/she might like it, but at least as an audience you tried to watch something different right? As a film maker we make films if we like the idea, and have the trust that you will also do, because that ‘trust’ only pushes the film maker to carry on with the idea.

Cinema is such a strong medium that we can show the culture, and the way people live for example we can show how the living style of the people who are in The United States sitting just in India itself. But as an audience you can be entertained, and explore as well.  In my point of view if we choose our audience then your talent, and name as well will be in limited people’s head and this for surely just depends on the way of your film making. Obviously the film being certified to particular audiences is accepted but there is at least no harm in looking at something very different portrayed by someone’s point of view. Hence as a film maker you can never know who your audience exactly is, but just can see the numeric figures rated to your film.

Improvisation

Improvisation

A film is successful also obviously by the acting of the cast, as they play the real characters of the story written. It’s really not an easy job to face so many people without knowing who will watch you, and in which way they will watch you as well. And also the fear of if they will like or dislike you. For an actor/actress it’s very important to look natural on screen, as through that method acting the audience will get more connected towards the film.  But one more very important thing an actor/actress should consider is the ‘Improvisation’ tool. Basically, improvisation is adding on your own creativity to the part which is already planned, for example the script. It’s not just the director, writer, cinematographer, editor,  etc.  job to be creative. An actor as well should be very creative enough to improvise on a particular thing. The key for that success is just imaging him/her at the place of the character. For example, if a particular scene consists of an actor/actress crying out loud, then he/she should also imagine themselves at at hat very position. This will help them to look more natural on screen as well. Even it’s not very necessary to deliver the ‘exact’ dialogues written in the script. But this thing does not apply always. Dialogues help for the message to be even clearer to the audience, so if an actor/actress using his/her imagination improvises on it in a much better way; it will also contribute to the film being a success.

Improvisation only doesn’t concern to actors, but also at many different jobs of film making. Let’s consider ‘cinematography’. A cinematographer, having the ‘shooting script’ in his/her mind can also use the power of his/her imagination to improvise the look of the shot. As a director we give our visualization into a screenplay jotting down everything. A cinematographer also can have the freedom to somewhere change the outcome of the shot as it will give a better result as well. Film making is a process involved with the use of more than one brain. So including everyone’s point of view, and improvising the film will at the end of the day surely indeed to help it being a success, and make the audience not just like but love it as well. 

Being Busy - A feeling when we reach cloud 9

Being Busy – The feeling when we reach cloud 9

Usually people crave for vacations, and to have some rest for either sleeping or enjoying or for any other reason. But over here we crave for working, as hardly there is a chance to work in a film. This kind of field is a just like being on a vacation as we get to travel at different places, and we shoot, and also getting together the whole cast and crew for discussions, etc. Well if I give my personnel point of view when I say that ‘I am busy’ it’s equally the feeling of reaching cloud nine. Being in a shoot, and having that experience with your name associated with it is a feeling which cannot be expressed through words trust me. Sometimes our tiredness rules over us, but we have to learn to overcome that as well. If you are in a film making course, and you are lazy to work I am sorry to say that you are in deep trouble. We have to learn how to go through sleepless nights, and also learn to be fit enough during the shoots. Recently I have developed this into me. Having two three projects together also in the other hand is difficult to handle but not impossible. If you are in case dead tired, and have to go to the shoot, as an actor as you come in front of the camera trust me the word ‘Lazy’ will be vanished from your dictionary. If I take the example of a director as well with lots of pressure, and work the feeling of making a film will be the medicine to cure that problem. To be honest, at start I had that passion of working, but used to not take more than a project, because I wanted to avoid being too busy. Now I can proudly say that having two- three projects in a line with the tag line ‘being busy’ will also make you feel more proud about yourself. Sometimes it also becomes a distraction as we cannot focus on one thing, but this world will not stop for you right? You also have to learn how to work in two three tasks together, and that can only happen if you are good in ‘time management’. No one will stand with a script in their hand, and wait for you to approach them, it’s you who has to take the steps first. As a learner I am having my personnel, and college projects with exams on their way, but I do not want to step back, as the more experience we will have right now the more prepared we will be in the future as well. But this only depends on you. Some people likes to just concentrate on one project, and that is absolutely not a wrong thing. But it’s good enough to have the capability to manage more than just one.

Having the opportunity in front of you, and stepping back from it is the sign of your passion decreasing. Learn to kill your laziness, and increase your passion towards your goal, because when you will achieve what you want to do the it will take you to some other world trust me.

Continuity- The breath of the film

 Continuity- The breath of the film

This particular term is one of the most vital parts to be considered during making a film. Continuity is one of the toughest stages to maintain in film making. Over here the pressure is almost on everyone’s head; the actor/actress, the cinematographer, make-up people, the assistant director, director, etc. Maintaining continuity will help give life to your film. In my words it’s the breath of the film. Basically it is the part where you make sure that the scenario which is created is maintained the same way every time you shoot it. Let me explain this with a very small example. If an actress has to wear blue shoes in a particular scene, so it has to be sure that this is continued every time we shoot the same scene. As when our audience will watch the film, and notice that the continuity of the film is broken they will start discussing about it as well and, this will make the film somewhere break the audience’s interest, and belief. Sometimes minor mistakes are not pointed out, but it is noticed very quickly. The toughest part comes when we have to shoot a particular scene in different days. For example, if we do the make-up of the actor/actress, it has to be taken care that it should be done the exact same way it was done previously. Sometimes even the positioning of the accessories matters a lot. The assistant director takes care of all of these due to so many pressures on the director as well, but the director cannot ignore it completely. And the cinematographer also has to try his/her best to maintain the same way the shot is being taken. The actor/actresses sometimes struggle with their personal problems, like if an actor wants to shave due to the heat he is forbidden too.

Recently, I had watched an amazing film ‘Neerja’. This film had left people scandalized, including me as well, and also was very touching. But it somewhere had failed to maintain the continuity. Like in a particular scene at one part the actress’s lipstick was dark red in color, and just the next part it magically turned pink. So these are the mistakes which sometimes make the audience ignore the action in front of them, and notice it. As I am learning film making, and also being an audience watching films I have noticed that now a days the audience has become very witty enough to point out all of these. It also becomes a very frustrating job especially for the director if an actor/actress does not listen in certain ways such as being dressed up the way he/she was previously to have that continuity. There also reasons like tiredness sometimes, and if we consider the human psychology, because of the pressure it is not noticed by the cast, and crew. These all things must be taken care of, and also continuity in a film should surely never be ignored as well to make your film avoid being a prey for the critiques and also makes the film alive and also successful.

Reality in a film

Reality in a film

Portraying reality in a film is one of the major key to make the audience believe in what you are trying to show on screen. Especially in specific genres like; biopic, epics, romance, etc. But the tricky part over here is how to show the reality to the audience. There are so many key elements through which an audience for a moment believes and connects to the film which is going on in front of them. Firstly we can say the way the actor/actresses portrays his/her character. I might have repeated it several times, and I will repeat it once again. Through the actor/actresses acting and making the viewer’s believe that he/she is not faking out the character will help the audience to get more connected, and most importantly believe in the film as well. Avoiding of exaggeration also can help show reality in a film. There are obviously exceptions such as melo-dramatic films or any other genre, but now a days audiences usually crave for a more realistic plot. In my point of view this will also help giving more effect to the film. The locations also help emphasizing the realistic part of the film even more. Art films comparative to commercial ones surely looks at this point as well. There is one very vital term that is the continuity of a particular movie. Sometimes we notice that in a particular scene at one shot the actor’s hair is messy, and in the other shot it is automatically neat. This is a fail in continuity. Maintaining the continuity also helps to add a realistic part also. For a film maker it’s very important to understand his or her audience. If a biopic is being made, as a film maker you have to make sure that carrying out the facts and the realistic part with entertainment is taken place, because without that we will have limited people to watch our films. Basically cinema is a medium of entertainment and also somewhere we are either influenced or motivated after watching a particular film. But adding more realism to the film will add more color to it as well. Reality in a film only doesn’t mean non-fictional stories. Obviously fictional stories can also have realism in their films. Let’s consider a plot of two lovers with different religion. So a made up story will surely work but the role of realism over here takes place according to what kind of scenario you are trying to show your audience. For example if we are showing that story in an orthodox family the situation which will really occur will have more impact. And sometimes if we want to change the perception of the people of our society we can also show it in the way of the same situation but later on the opposite of it.

Having reality in a film will surely make your audience enjoy and even get emotionally connected to the film, and also learn something from it as well, but most importantly it also depends on the genre as well.

Fears- After being a film maker

Fears – 'After being a film maker'

In my previous post I had written about the fears faced by an individual before being a film maker. Now I will just consider the topic of the fears ‘after being a film maker’. After struggling, and making a film successfully the first question in almost every director’s mind will be ‘the audience’s reaction to it’. I cannot consider this as a part of ‘fear’, as in some people it might be an excitement also. But not for everyone, as some people usually are not very confident enough about themselves, and the work they do as well. The fear arouses is if the film will not be successful as you had expected in front of the audience. A key for a film to be a success is when it is able to connect the audience.. So a fear always is there regarding if that connection will be made or not. Another fear which haunts a director also can be if he/she won’t be able to meet the audience’s expectations. Usually before the film is released the audience has some kind of excitement related to the film due to various kinds of reasons like; after seeing the trailer, or the cast, etc. Meeting the expectations of the audience also will help your future of film making as if your film will be released people will surely go for it due to your name associated with it. After being a famous film maker and making a lot of movies and fans as well the fear of losing all your fame, and name as well is also considered. In this particular field everyone is considered different from the crowd due to its creativity. But sometimes competition is surely there especially between two people whose type of film making is somewhere similar.

‘Image’ is also a very essential point to be considered over here, especially for the actors. An actor who is well known in the industry surely might have the fear of losing his popularity, and his image getting spoil in front of the public, especially his/her fans. Making a person your fan isn’t very easy. It takes a lot of time for someone to love your work, but not much time for him/her to dislike you due to many reasons such as, your image getting negative due to the media, or another competitor in the market. We can also consider the fear of not getting a chance in making a film or getting a role in it. Usually in this industry at start you get very popular but later on ‘your face’ will not be needed for being taken for a role. I know this sounds harsh, but it’s the reality trust me. There are so many people who at start are seen, but later on are vanished. For an actor this is one of the biggest fears; not getting a chance to work for a particular film at a certain point of time. So to maintain the image, and your popularity in the industry with your talent obviously walking behind you is very essential.  If we take an example of a director he/she might have the fear of the audience getting bored of his/her style of film making. Even sometimes he/she might not get the proposed cast or budget for the film he/she wants to make as well. The last thing I can consider is as similar as my previous post, and that is the fear of ‘survival’. We never know how long we can survive in this industry, and who would come, and watch our work. These negative things are there for sure, but cannot stop us from working. If there are negative points there are also positive points as well. A film maker is loved by so many people with name and fame which hardly people get in this world.

These fears are also somewhere considered as the struggles. But a struggle is the outer part of what you see where as fear is internal. So these fears will walk with you, but it will not stop you from doing what you want. 

Fears- 'Before being a film maker'

Fears-  'Before being a film maker'

Fears are a very common and a natural human tendency. It can be anything, just like fear of losing everything you have, fear of darkness, and even fear of heights. Well, this particular topic is mostly in my point of view, so I will give you just a synopsis. A film maker has many fears before, and even after releasing his film. But let me start talking about the fear ‘Before being a film maker’. Well, going to a film school is a wonderful feeling, as somewhere you have already walked into the dreams which you want to accomplish. But just the 'baby steps' have been taken place. For all of us who are learning film making there is one very common fear which we all have is ‘How will we step into the industry?’ This question is almost every day into our minds; while eating, studying or even sometimes while even sleeping. Sometimes I have sleepless nights thinking about how I will step inside the gate of the film industry. Before I used to write blogs I spent all my time either just in writing stories, or just figuring out how to make short films out of it. But, the answer to this is just ‘our work’ will take us somewhere. It is tough trust me.

Another fear in a writer’s point of view is the fear of ‘losing your creative skills’ or we can also say having a 'writer's block'. Let me consider myself in this. Sometimes in a month it takes me to complete four stories. And sometimes hardly just one is completed. This is just because I personally get insecure that what will the result turn out to be; good or bad. Sometimes I also get insecure related to the blogs which I post; the fear of losing my audience. The solution to this one is to keep your mind set as that ‘not everyone can love your work’. This is a big disadvantage in this field. Maybe one person might like your story, but the other cannot. But we have to walk with the facts as well right. As a director while making a film, and thinking about the review from the audience will haunt you until and unless it will release on the big screen. ‘The struggles’ which we all have to go through is another very scary thing which is considered. Without any contacts it is tough to go to that platform, but not impossible. As I had said in my previous post it all depends on your time also as well. The ‘Emotional stress’ also is another thing which ought to be scared of. If we work as an assistant director for the first time, and we see our director which will be our ‘boss’ at that time very cruel, and harsh learning to control the emotions at that moment is tough. But later on when we see the industry it will be a very common thing as well.

‘Rejection’ is also a fear which is considered, especially by the actors. There are so many people around us who wants to be an actor, but only one will be chosen for the lead role and this fear also leads to ‘nervousness’ which might affect the performance as well. But the solution is to just ‘stick to the character’ that is what best an actor can do as well. If we consider ourselves different from the crowd there will be no harm until and unless you are motivating yourself.  We also have to learn to be prepared for every situation as you never know what will happen. Sometimes things do not go according to the schedule, so it might mess up the further upcoming shoots (this happens it very rare cases) so you should be smart enough to manage that as well. This particular thing scares me sometimes as well. ‘Survival’ is one of the most insecure feelings almost every film maker will have, especially the people who are new to the industry. Whenever I think of making different kinds of film in the future, this fear always strikes me. Maybe at start I might have films which will be successful, but what will happen after that?

 There are so many incidences which happen just like people disappearing from the industry or losing their fame. These are some kind of fears which a person has before stepping into the film industry. But it is does not mean that it is not possible for achieving what you want. Overcoming them, and achieving what you wanted to do will surely be one of the best feelings as well.

Pitching - The way to get the budget

Pitching

For making a film, including budget is one of the most necessary stages. After preparing all the paperwork, and then planning to start the shoot for that to be possible we have to start with pitching. This is a recent topic I had learnt in my class, and found it very interesting as well. Basically pitching is done when you approach to a producer, and then narrate your story outline to him/her. If you remember my post on ‘Communication’, this also includes in it as well. For your pitching to be perfect, the way you communicate also depends as well. No producer has the time to sit, and listen to the story until, and unless it’s beneficial for him/her. 'As time is money, so you have to make him/her believe that it will be worth in investing the budget required for the film you are planning to make. There are four very important points which includes in the process of your pitching. The first one is the ‘story’ which will we narrate which is very obvious, and then your purpose is the second point; the ‘budget’ which will include in making the film. Then we move onto the details which is our third point, and that is the ‘proposed cast’. This basically will let our producer know for example, if it’s a fresher then the budget invested will comparatively will be less than the cast which is already in the industry, and also for the producer’s general knowledge. Then the last point is the ‘Recovery Projection’.  This is the amount of profit which will be recovered from the film. These all points should be included during the pitching, and as I said before a producer will not have a lot of time, so that all has to be kept in mind while narrating the pitch. As a fresher, if we go to a famous producer for the pitching, considering ‘human psychology’ there will be nervousness, and also excitement together as well. But remember that this particular stage is also very common for a professional director as well.

Improving your communication skills will make your ‘pitching’ enhance much more. Sometimes the pitching could be done through the camera, and sent directly to the producer. But in my personal point of view, if I have the option of going to the producer, and meeting him/her face to face, I will choose that one. Sometimes we can be camera conscious, and because of that our presentation might mess up. Talking to a person face to face also helps you to understand the body language of the other person as well.  Hence, pitching is a very interesting stage of film making, as if we succeed in the narration of our story outline, then surely the film you dream to make will also be very successful as well. 

Communication- Another way of presentation

Communication

Communication is the tool which can help us in every field. But specifically for film making it’s also a subject for us. For a director to narrate his/her story, the tool for that to succeed is through communication only itself. Let’s consider if a director narrates the story which he/she would want to make, the way the narration will be taken place depends on your communicating skills. No one in this field also has the time to sit with the other person, so as a director we also have to keep that in mind. If someone will remove his/her time just to listen to you that particular time should be utilized in the best way. This can be done by narrating the story in short and crisp, with making the person keen to work with you as well. 

Our communication can be presented both verbally, and vocally. Let’s also take up the example of me writing my blogs. Sometimes I might over exceed the words for just explaining what my topic is about, but sometimes that also is very essential to tell all of you how important that particular thing is about.  In future, for example if you want to be an actor, your presentation will also very well depend upon your communication. One more very important thing is that the way you communicate should also match your body language. People often notice the style of the person, and observe the body language. If as a director when you are explaining your cast & crew about a particular subject with your body language confident, but if your communicative skills will not be that great, then somewhere you will also fail in making them do what you want.

This field will also take you to the center stage. Now just imagine you being in front of millions of public, maybe you have the clue of what to say, but ‘the way to communicate’ is all upon you.  One more very necessary thing to take in is that communicating just in English will just not impress the person. You can communicate in your native language, but that should be in the best way, because at the end of the day you know what you are saying, and most importantly how you are saying it. But now a days, if people do not understand the 'same language' most of them uses 'English' itself to communicate. This topic somewhere is very common, and maybe you already might have the idea of what I just said. But, I personally found it very necessary to write about this, because without this tool our process of making films will somewhere fail as well. Trust me, I have experienced, and also seen the hurdles when you face, because of your communication being week. So the better you communicate the better you work as well and make people work the way you want them to.