Robert Inglis requests: > I'm wondering if anyone could suggest to me films - experimental, avante garde, or even mainstream - that compensate for a certain lack of acting talent in its principles by employing very creative, formalisitc editing, in particular, or other effects, that successfully 'hide' these shortcomings. In at least some cases, the lack of "talent" may be an intentional part of the effect (i.e., "bad" acting for its own sake, not acting that pretends to be bad). Many of John Waters' films, for example, fall into this category. The "success" of his films, though, has to do more with a certain attitude than with particular formal techniques. On the other hand, the minimalist camerawork and editing, along with the obsessive use of Screaming Jay Hawkins, in STRANGER THAN PARADISE might be along the lines of your request. Action and editing are far more important in many martial arts films than "acting talent" as such. Don Larsson ----------------------------------------------------------- Donald F. Larsson English Department, AH 230 Minnesota State University Mankato, MN 56001 ---- Online resources for film/TV studies may be found at ScreenSite http://www.tcf.ua.edu/ScreenSite