Just curious whether or not you guys try to switch your brains from "screenwriter/filmmaker" to "fan" when watching new and old movies and TV shows. I've noticed that ever since I really started taking my craft seriously a few years ago that I kind of take in movies and TV differently. For example, when watching "Succession," I think to myself, "How can I write dialogue like that?" I was watching "The Bear" on Hulu recently, (I'm loving this show, by the way) and I found myself analyzing the way they cut away to insert shots. I thought to myself, "How can I make my short film look like that?" Another example: when I'm watching a show like "Euphoria," I find myself trying to analyze it structurally in order to figure out the series engine. On one hand, I think this is a good thing. I think it's good to be inspired by things that have made their way to the big screen or streaming services and want to constantly improve my craft. On the other hand, sometimes I just want to go to the theater or sit on my couch and take in the movie or TV show I'm watching without trying to analyze it and just be entertained. Ultimately, I think good movies and TV shows grab your attention and enthrall you enough to immerse yourself in the world, but does anyone else think about this?
Filmmaking / Directing : How We Watch Movies/TV by Trey Alessio
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I do the same. I want to be the best screenwriter I can be so I'm not only a fan, I'm still a screenwriter. My screenwriter brain never shuts off because I need to know how to make scenes interesting from action to the dialogue, whether I'm writing a short film, a feature film, or a TV show
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Micah Moore I'm right there with you! I watch mostly everything with inspirational intentions... Sometimes I find myself predicting the endings or different plot points in movies or shows and get annoyed that I ruined it for myself hahaha
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Same. I want to give a twist ending
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Trey Alessio, this is such a great thread. I find that I'm often jumping in between creative brains when I'm watching things - your Succession example is exactly what I think, too, that dialogue is unreal. I'm also looking, at it from a producer standpoint - how are they re-using locations, how many set pieces, etc. For me it's always a struggle to turn my brain off because I'm analyzing everything. Thanks for this thread and it's cool to see you and @Micah do the same thing!
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Amanda Toney I totally agree! It's hard for me to turn off my creative brain. I'm always getting inspiration for my writing, directing, producing, etc. Hopefully that's a good thing though!
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This happens to me all the time. Either I automatically imagine the script right next to the screen and do my best to think how it was written or analyze all the other ways the episode or movie was made (lighting, directing, cinematography, locations, etc.). Sometimes I do turn my brain off and get lost in the story like in my pre-filmmaking days; I really enjoy that.
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"Sometimes I find myself predicting the endings or different plot points in movies or shows and get annoyed that I ruined it for myself." Me too, Trey Alessio. Haha
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I've gotten pretty good at turning off my writer brain because I missed the pure engagement. Unless, of course, the movie misses a lot of marks. Then I start the mental revisions. Can't tell you how many ways I've rewritten the finale of 'Ozark.' That drove me crazy.
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I will first and always be the cinema/tv'ist enthralled on my couch watching most of anything. Only after film school did I find myself dissecting and scoffing and saying 'How lame'. Eventually I learned to process both and wait until the end of the episode or movie to process the whole. Occasionally there is that cut/transition, sequence or line of dialogue that takes me out of it to say WTF? An excellent topic!
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I haven't been able to just fully enjoy movies and shows since middle school drama class when we had to constantly analyze every little detail. But I'm still working on it! haha
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Maurice Vaughan - I totally relate to trying to predict the ending and ruining it for myself if I'm right lol! @Sheila - I could totally see that with Ozark! @Chris S. - totally agree, the littlest thing like a cut or a dialogue line can pull you out. @Chris G. - Love that you worked on THE EXPANSE - we've broken down that show in some of our webinars, it's really well done. @Eunhye - clearly from this thread we are all still workign on it!
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I know this sounds weird, Amanda Toney, but sometimes I'm able to predict what happens in movies because of certain camera shots that directors use. Example: The movie will have a close up shot of a character at a certain moment, and I'm able to predict what's going to happen such as figuring out that the character is the bad guy.
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My first viewing of a production is as a viewer. Letting the story take me on its ride. Should I need to dissect the show for some reason, that is done in subsequent viewings after I know and feel the story. If I start dissecting during my first screening, other than just noting things to revisit later, the production has not held my attention. Should I start watching as a critical pro and not a viewer, chances are I will not finish watching since my attention wandered too much. Means the show just didn’t hold me.
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First off, I just watch the movie. If I find it interesting, I watch again with a stopwatch and a legal pad, If it still holds my interest, I watch it again with the sound muted and if I'm still intrigued, I play it again with the video off. Then, if I'm still impresses, I just watch it again and break out scenes.
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CURSE OUR CREATIVE BRAINS! LOLOLOL