More Findings on Vimeo

After I posted about the Indy Christian Reviews, I wondered, "What are some other Christian films that I could find?" So I decided to search around Vimeo. The result: I found a Vimeo group called 'Christian Filmmakers." The purpose of this group is so that, "Christian Filmmakers from all over collaborate, share ideas, group think tank scripts and make Christian film making happen. Join the fray, glorify God and be spent!"

One of the films I found is a short film called "In the Grey." The film follows a naive Confederate solider who struggles with the idea of justification for killing in war. This film is a great example of how to make a good short film. The cinematography is beautiful, the characters are good and it brings up complex questions that actually made me stop and think about war. My only complaint about the film is the fact that it's too short. I wanted to know more about the characters and how they came to this situation. But nevertheless, it's still a film I highly recommend to others.

To look through the Christian Filmmakers page, follow this link: http://vimeo.com/groups/31056/page:2/sort:date

Tips for Watching Silent FIlms

When someone mentions Silent Films to a typical modern crowd, their reactions usually consist of eye-rolling and shudders as they think about the 'goofy acting and cheap sets.'

As for me, I enjoy silent films. I consider them the foundation of films of today: without them, we wouldn't have the films we have today. I'll admit that silent films are a acquired taste. But like most relationships, audiences need to see past the imperfections of silent films in order to find the beauty underneath.

So for those who're interested in watching silent films, I have a few tips to make their silent film experience better

1. Remember that these films were made in a different time with different equipment and expectations: They didn't have computers or sound mixing to make stories come to life: they had to rely on their actors and whatever set they could build.
2. Remember that silent films originated the genres and cliches you see today: It can be fun to watch a silent film and discover "Oh, that's where the twist ending came from," or "So this is where the sci-fi genre came from."
3. Make sure that the film you're watching has appropriate music: Since Silent Films had 'mood music' played at movie theaters, Silent Films don't have their own unique soundtrack. So often, cheap DVDs will place any music with the film - and often times, the music has nothing to do with the action of the scene. So invest in a film with a score specifically written for the movie.

Here are some silent films I recommend for beginners:

• The General with Buster Keaton
• The Phantom of the Opera with Lon Chaney
• The Patsy with Marion Davies
• The Wind with Lillian Gish

Spotlight on Indy Christian Review

In my mind, there's such joy in finding blogs or sites with similar content/messages. It's like finding out your new acquaintance has the same interests as you. During my search of Christian Film reviewers, I found a series of videos on Vimeo called Indy Christian Review. Zack Lawrence reviews Independent Christian Films; judging the overall content, effects and acting of the film. I'm glad to have found someone who covered this topic as I am illiterate in the area of Independent Christian Films.

Of course, such reviews as these must be shared. So I've posted a link to a review. If you like them, he has more on his account and on his website indychristianreview.com



My Top 5 Indie Christian Films - Indy Christian Review from Indy Christian Review on Vimeo.

If It's Broke, Fix It: Film Cliches I Can't Stand

It's a truth universally acknowledged that cliches are old as time (pun intended).  Joking aside, cliches are a staple of everyday life. Without them, we would have nothing to describe or compare situations with. And nowhere are cliches more prominent than in films. (i.e.; the good vs. evil battle, the damsel in distress, etc.) For the most part, film cliches are tolerable and helpful to the plot.

However, there are some cliches that I personally can't stand. These are cliches that ruin films and make the film-watching process unbearable. So of course, I have to write about it.

So to change things up, I've included a Prezi that presents some cliches I hate and include a short description of why I think they're bad. Also, I added films that have included these cliches and films that have used them in a good/different way.

So watch and enjoy. What are some film cliches that annoy you?

If it's broke, fix it: Using Film Cliches to your advantage on Prezi