On Fri, 21 Oct 1994, Randy Riddle wrote: > I'm sorry Patrick, but are you discounting Welles extensive stage and > radio experience from his preparation for making films? > > It seems to me that many filmmakers of the past (Welles, Sturges, > Coppola, etc) had a more more well-rounded liberal arts education, often with > more knowledge of classic literature, theater, music, or film > history itself, than alot of the young filmmakers I'm seeing today. But is there something inherent in that 'well-rounded liberal arts education' that will result in a good filmmaker? Truffaut didn't finish high school and debuted with "The 400 Blows." Chaplin had a damn sight less schooling than that (though, of course, extensive stage experience). The point that Patrick was making was that nothing about the age or experience of the filmmaker is relevant in judging the film. I mean, Michael Crichton was an MD and experienced novelist when he directed "Westworld," which, interesting though it might be in certain lights, ain't "Reservoir Dogs" by a long shot. If we're only going to be allowed to pay focused critical attention to a certain class of works, and if that class is defined by the life experiences of the directors of the films, then we haven't gotten much beyond 19th century pedagogy. |"I'm a multi-faceted, talented, wealthy, Shawn Levy | internationally famous genius. I have an [log in to unmask] | IQ of over 190. People don't like that." | -- Jerry Lewis