Helm's Deep

WHEN MOST PEOPLE THINK ABOUT TOUR-DE-FORCE DIRECTORS THEY OFTEN PICTURE THEM WALKING AROUND ON SET, COMMANDING THE FIELD LIKE A BRAZEN GENERAL. OR PERHAPS THEY PICTURE THEM AS SOME SELF-POSSESSED MAESTRO, CONDUCTING AN ORCHESTRA WITH RECKLESS ABANDON. WHATEVER THE IMAGE, THE POINT IS THAT WE JUST ASSUME THEM TO BE THE KIND OF PEOPLE WHO PARADE THEIR AUDACITY, CHUTZPAH, AND PASSION AS IF IT WAS INGRAINED INTO THE VERY FIBER OF THEIR BEING. BUT THE TRUTH IS MOST OF THE GREAT FILMMAKERS ARE SIMPLY QUIET, THOUGHTFUL, AND KIND INDIVIDUALS. WHEN HULK USES THESE ADJECTIVES IT IS LIKELY THAT YOUR FIRST THOUGHTS DRIFT TOWARD A GUY LIKE STEVEN SPIELBERG, WHOSE WILD SUCCESSES ARE MOSTLY GARNERED FROM HIS SENSE OF CHILD-LIKE WONDER AND HUMANE DISPOSITION. BUT THE TRUTH IS EVEN A MASTER LIKE STANLY KUBRICK, WHO WAS RENOWNED FOR EXACTING AND SOMEWHAT-PRICKLY BEHAVIOR, WAS IN ACTUALITY MUCH MORE OF A QUIET TINKERER RATHER THE DEVILISH TYRANT SOME WOULD HAVE YOU BELIEVE.

THE REASON THAT HAVING A DEMURE DISPOSITION WORKS SO WELL IN THIS PROFESSION IS RELATIVELY SIMPLE: FILMMAKING IS THE ART OF CONSTRUCTING A VISION. ONLY IT IS A VISION THAT HAPPENS TO BE SOLELY LOCATED BETWEEN THE EARS OF THE PERSON DIRECTING IT. BUT IN ORDER TO BRING SAID VISION TO LIFE, A DIRECTOR NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE IT CLEARLY TO EVERY SINGLE PERSON THEY ARE WORKING WITH, WHILE STILL SOMEHOW GETTING THE BEST WORK OUT OF THEM TOO. SO WHEN LOOKING AT FILMMAKING IN THOSE STARK TERMS IT BECOMES PRETTY OBVIOUS THAT POSSESSING THE QUALITIES OF BEING QUIET, THOUGHTFUL, AND KIND WOULD BE A GOOD WAY OF ACTUALLY GOING ABOUT ALL THAT.

FILMCRITHULK on directing (from Rian Johnson Opens the Loop)

This is some of the best advice about directing I’ve ever read. Also, can’t wait to see LOOPER soon.

(via EW)