Filmmaking / Directing : Is good memory always a sign of Director talent? by Laura Tabor-Huerta

I'm by no means an expert, but I'd be hard-pressed to believe that there's such a strong correlation between "fact" memory and directing skills. Your memory would have to cover techniques required from the standpoint of skill, I'm sure. But beyond that, I would think it's your memory of abstract concepts, the ability to see patterns, and the creativity to relate things on an abstract level that are the signs of your directorial prowess. I've never seen "A Bronx Tale" by Robert De Niro, but it seems to be praised by people in the industry -- and yet I've seen an interview with De Niro where he clearly does not remember lines and details of big movies he's been in. I'm betting there are other counter-examples like that.

I think what Snyder means by this is not that you should be able to quote a movie word for word, but rather that you should watch movies, talk about them and essentially LOVE them. It's more about passion than it is about memory.

arianne and kevin right on. but when i finally directed a film i did need every bit of my memory.

I tend to agree that I feel he did not mean what he said literally perhaps. He maybe is a spontaneous person and wrote his book in a hurry not taking the time to "read between his own lines". He says one thing not taking the time to reverse it and ask if the reverse of what he says is also true and if not he maybe should have revised what he wrote. Or maybe he does mean it literally and I can just disagree. Mark, needing memory to direct and reciting lines from memory are 2 different things, no?

Two different things "yes".

Maybe the fact that "some" cant even quote their own movies is equivalent to saying that some do not THINK about their movies as much. If you spend enormous amounts of time and energy planning the details of what you want to be said and how you want it said you are likely to recall this, also if you spend time thinking about others movies and considering what and why things were said there aslo, the same is likely to be true. If you happen to have a poor memry for recall, its no a judgement here, but if you spend more time thinking and planning surely you will rememeber more than if you did not spend that time...

I've been watching a lot of interviews lately of some of the most highly respected actors, about their backgrounds, thought processes, and techniques. And in most of the cases, the actor spends enormous amounts of energy planning an understanding of the character, and rarely the details of what they want to say and exactly how. They feel that doing otherwise removes much of the spontaneity and "in the moment" quality of their actual performance when they get in front of the camera. In such cases I'm not at all surprised that they leave behind any memory of the details of what actually came out. Many times they do several takes, and then rarely watch the final movie that is released. So I can imagine they may not remember exactly which take was edited in from that one or two times they sat through the film.

I'm not a director, but I know this. The first directors had no one to quote. :)

Paul, yes I get what your saying-I agree. Keith, I do not agree with Blake. I know myself and stopped beating myself up about having no memory fro movie lines 20 years ago. Making films is like an illness sometimes and I have to make them. I am not looking for a job in it-I do it on the side for fun. So I know for a fat that if I concentrate and "spend enormous amounts of time and energy planning the details of what you want to be said " I still won't recall lines from others films. Or my own I guess. I also think I see some filmmakers spend so much time watching films they are siphons of style and have no substance and many of them I'm sure can quote lines well. True James. Mark, I was speaking like a foreigner and being creative when I used the word "no" at the end. Americans like to say "yes" after a question.

Well James I'm sure they quoted the greeks!!

Well,..... who doesn't? lol

It is vitally important to know movies as far as I'm concerned. Don't think it's important to be able to quote it though. I can recite the entire transcript line for line from Star Wars IV, but that ain't helped shit in my career!

FIrst of all, I think Snyder was talking about screenwriters when he refers to "up-and-comers" as Save The Cat is a screenwriting book. To suggest that "he wrote the book in a hurry" and did not read between his own lines in an ill informed point of view. There are a lot of rules of thumb in movie making (and most industries) that can always be challenged or even tossed aside. This idea is one of the primary "between the lines" points that Snyder makes.

Why remember/know about past art/writing/film? When the Vietnam War was raging and America was a shit-pit of Republican values and power abused, Coppola and Milius were probably were having a brandy, lamenting the state of US and one of them remembered Joseph Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness' and in a "Eureka!' moment, equated it to American Colonialism. Of course, you won't remember or be able to quote works out of your genre. Why should you? But you should know your genre like the back of your hand and be able to apply 'art power' when society needs it. People don't go to the movies to look at pretty pictures, they want substance and you should know the thematic/social relevance to works of art in the past and how it is applied to the now and the future. If you don't have a grounding in the humanities then you'll never be able to direct societies eye and mind to the important things.

David, I think you are getting at the heart of it, but I'm not even sure that "being a fan" in the usual sense of immersing yourself, is exactly the key, either. I certainly don't agree with the author that it is important to be able to quote from movies in your genre. I studied classical piano for 18 years, and became quite proficient with both my technique and interpretation, but I could rarely remember pieces that I hadn't played recently or tell you about the history of the composers. I just wasn't gifted that way. I wasn't "crippled" in this regard ... I had some muscle memory, knew the predominant melodies, and the key signatures, etc. I knew basics about where and when composers were born, perhaps some of who their contemporaries were, etc. But to "quote" verbatim from one of their pieces ... no, this was difficult for me. I often didn't recall the name of the piece (or would mix up Schumann with Schubert as the composer, etc.). For me, this kind of long-term memory was not necessary for accomplishing a great performance of the pieces I was learning. For 5 years I studied under a former child prodigy who was also a friend and contemporary of Arthur Rubenstein, named Adolph Baller. He was also an accompanist of Yehudi Menuhin for years. He once described me as among his 7 best students (who came from all over the world to study with him). After performing the Emporer Concerto by Beethoven, he remarked to me that I had played it as well as Horowitz, and in some places better! Yet to this day, I could not just sit down and play much of the piece for you ... nor could I tell you any of the great pieces or places that Horowitz had ever played. I think the art form and that kind of memory are just two different things. I never listened to a lot of great classical pianists. During that time I studied with Adolph, my favorite music to listen to was stuff like Huey Lewis and the News. But I always felt the music I was practicing ... and you didn't go to Mr. Baller to fix wrong notes. It was all about the interpretation. I'm guessing that it would be the same, or at least similar, for being a film director. Perhaps I'm wrong.

@David, then I agree with your perspective ... disagree that you "failed miserably". :-) Being familiar with many directorial styles and techniques no doubt gives you a broader set of tools from which to build your own style and make your own statements. And unlike classical music, I would imagine it's important to be familiar with the work of your contemporaries in film making because that is what has been shaping the perspective and expectations of your audience. The memories and familiarity with movies shown by Scorsese and Spielberg are so admirable to me, and yes, I think you are right that these are an indication of their basic love for films and film making. That fundamental goal of making great art, rather than making multi-million dollar block-busters is what I think helps set apart the good directors from the great ones. True of any art form, I would suspect.

Hi Paul, I do try and live up to "That fundamental goal of making great art, rather than making multi-million dollar block-busters is what I think helps set apart the good directors from the great ones. "

Thanks for all the opinions too whether I agree or not. I did find it interesting that along with answering my initial question many feel a need to direct me in a certain direction which I really wasn't asking for here. It makes me think of back in college I would go and play pool alone sometimes at lunch and always some guy would ask if I wanted to play with him. At first I said yes, trying to be polite. They would then instruct me on this or that. So I got sick of it and gave this one guy instruction to improve his playing back. He looked uncomfortable. I stopped playing pool with others at lunch.

Hi Chris, unless you have read the book how can you say my opinion is ill informed? And he was speaking of Directors when he made the comment if only by inference(I don't have the book with me) by saying " "Listen to Spielberg or Scorsese talk about movies. They know and can quote from hundreds." and earlier he says "I am shocked -shocked! - to find how many up-and-comers can not even quote from movies in their own genre, much less movies generally." If he mentions Scorsese and Spielberg by name sounds like he is talking about Director's. You'd have to read it-it is written either in an "off the cuff" style or he wrote it in a hurry.

I realize my point about playing pool may have come off wrongly. I was getting into the story realizing and lost site of the only parallel being the instruction part. Actually I will still "keep playing pool at lunch" with you all. thx

I don't know why but I feel I have to add, Spielberg or Scorsese don't have to work paycheck to paycheck, so they have TIME to watch and memorize and quote all those movies. Just throwin' my 2 cents in :)

Talk about missing the point. Snyder is talking about PASSION, not memory. You need to understand how high the bar is if you want to be a writer or director on that level. They eat, sleep and breathe movies and have immersed themselves in its form and words. If they're people you want to emulate, you need to understand this.

I dont think the great memory is about old movies I think it's the memory you need of how the film your shooting all fits together. How the shot I did last month is going to fit with the piece i'm doing today. When I started in film 78 there was no play back, You had to remember all.

@Laura - you asked for input on whether "good memory" is "always a sign of Director talent", and sited the quote from the book as possible evidence that it is true. I think it was clear that this issue was causing perhaps some frustration and doubt in you, since you were convinced that you would never be the type to quote from movies, and yet you desire to be a director. I'm sorry that you felt a lot of unwanted "instruction" from the various responses. But I think the most simple and direct response to your post is to say: DON'T let it frustrate or discourage you. You say that you strive to make producing great art the goal ... in that case, you have the love and the passion for the art form that will turn every bit of talent you have into skillful execution. That may result in an ability to quote from movies, it may not. Who cares. Do what you love. And keep doing it until people start paying you for it. If you see another director's work, and think you understand what she was doing and why it worked, that is much more of an indication of talent than what lines you can quote from the movie. If you can direct a short film "in the style of" someone like Scorsese or Spielberg (albeit not at their level), that is much more of an indication of your talent. There is only one way to know if you have the talent. Do it as long as you love doing it ... and if people start responding positively at some point, then you ARE talented -- either that, or you are so far ahead of your time you are "misunderstood". :-) Good luck!

Paul Sumares is very wise!!! lucky for his thoughts!!!

Great feedback on your topic.

I don't think that's what Blake was saying. I think he was trying to say that these Directors are so into the film industry, it is their life, 24/7 and that's what makes them great directors and also enables them to remember so much information about so many movies. btw you know Blake passed away a couple of years back?

isn't the net great!!! any qustion or piece of info right at your fingertips!!!

I think a good takeaway from this discussion is: spend a lot of time thinking about your film before you attempt rehearsals, storyboarding, shooting, etc. I've worked on 50 some films with other directors, and it's the most common mistake: putting so much effort into getting the film into production and not enough in knowing what they want to do when they get there. If you can't see the entire film in your head in some version, I don't recommend starting production.

Hi Paul and Mark, thanks for your input and thoughtful responses. I do think perhaps Blake was attempting to make a different point than he did end up making. Because to me it did not seem he was addressing passion at all and was talking about memory for lines. I understand passion. He did not use the word passion. If you have not read the book it might be interesting to do so to see how he was maybe not doing his best book writing then. As far as getting unwanted intruction versus people answering the question-that is par for the course often with people in the film business and wannabes in the film biz. Also social networking often bring sout quick reading of posts and quick answers tehrefore they may be off the mark-it happens. Many answer with their ego wanting to sound smart rather than answering from a place of self comfortableness. Some men have a problem with wanting to instruct women. Thankfully most don't. Wanting an answer to the question in general that I started with is different than giving me personal advice, no? Personally, from the info I have given on here and my pic I guess many assume I am young and just starting out. I have actually been into filmmaking since 1984. I am also a Mom so I have to juggle that with filmmaking and the whole film, "boys club" and I do ok. I can spot a bullshitter really quick. I like grounded people and stay around them as much as possible. I make films as an artist rather than as a technician. I learn whatever equipment I can to make films and use whatever I can to make films. I am not a film snob. To me the film/project is more important than the medium.

And yes Will I have done lots of thinking o=about my films before I storyboard etc. over the past 20 years or so. Thanks.

Some very good singers sometime forget the lines to their own songs. Einstein was once asked "How many feet in a mile?" He answered that he did not know. The questioner then replied something to the effect of that he was the worlds greatest scientist/mathematician and he doesn't know how many feet in a mile? Einstein replied that though he didn't know how many feet are in a mile, he knows where to go to look that up should he ever need that information. I especially find solace in Einstein's comment because like Laura, I have a lousy memory at times. What I'm saying with the Einstein story is: it does not follow that good memory is a requirement for critical thinking

Hi Nick, ok, then I won't be "silly". Don't be silly either. Are you Czech btw?

Thank you Lonnie.

or even where your car keys are!!!!

Memory and recall can be a sign of intelligence. Maybe you have to be smart to be a good director.

I started as a still photo. but I was always so in love with film. still photography is like playing one dimensional chess where film is three dimensional chess with audio, music etc. The director is the one playing and you always hope he doesn't lose his queen.

Hello Princess, it is unfortunate he was unable to make himself clear. I am glad you are able to clear up that misunderstanding. It makes much more sense what you and others have said that "knowledge of cinematic history" is what is important. Mark, I love still photography as well. Chris memory and recall are parts of consciousness but I can and do argue that compassion, creativity, a foundation of cinema knowledge etc. count for a lot also. No one has mentioned empathy and ability to work with actors. That is a huge one. Yes Brad-sounds like good advice.

Memory is mysterious. I can't recall lines as we spoke of but I can recall odd things like 7 years ago, my husband promised to go see such and such film with me but went with so and so instead. If I could choose I would not recall that. I think some have misunderstood and thought I have a bad memory in general, no I have a peculiar memory. I also can recall the layout of cities really well. I can recall certain bad news stories too well. My fave thing I can recall the feel of my favorite films. The look, lighting, etc. I think my particular talent is my imagination. I like to see things most people pass by. I take the time to look at reflections, dirty puddles, shadows...