Comment Technology is Value-Neutral (Score 1) 148
...meaning that it is neither inherently good or bad, but rather, context-sensitive.
As the writer/director of two shorts that worked with SCFX (The Gamers and Garageband) I feel that I might lend some insight to the grumblings I sometimes hear about the death and/or salvation of creativity at the hands of digital technology.
In response to those who bemoan the death of story at the hands of wealthy, spoiled technobrats at the elite film schools of America, I say this: There have been and always will be those who leverage their resources to compensate for a lack of creativity or ambition.
Technobrat though I might be, I am certainly not wealthy. For those of us who love telling stories in fantasy/adventure genres, though, digital technology is a godsend. The Gamers was produced, against all odds and with no official school backing or funding for a tiny fraction of what it should have cost. This is due, in large part, to the team of dedicated, resourceful, tech savvy production and post-production crew members who were supporting me and making every dollar of our $8,000 budget count.
On the other hand, in response to those who laude the advent of digital technology, let me just say this: it isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Sure, we could set a mage's hands on fire using particle effects, or build a digital church for our climactic setting, but I can assure you it would have looked far better and taken less energy had we been able to use real fire or a real set. Of course, one makes decisions based on what resources one has available (in our case we had 3 G4s, plenty of time, and very little money) but I will still say that I developed a whole new appreciation for practical effects and soundstages. There ain't nothing like the real thing, baby.
The bottom line: digital technology is an important tool that, when used properly, can put unprecedented power in the hands of creative filmmakers. Students should be using digital video and CG if for no other reason than to learn what these tools can and cannot do for them, and I for one believe that they have given me a much better perspective on the importance of story and character in cinema.
I predict we will see many more students fumbling with these new technologies, and I could think of nothing better. For all of the scoffing I hear about them, the undeniable fact is that schools like USC Cinema do put powerful tools in the hands of creative people and force them to produce material, make mistakes, and LEARN about their craft. Student films aren't about the finished product, they're about the process. And I, for one, feel far better prepared having experienced both the goods and evils that digital technology imposes on the creative process of filmmaking.
Oh, and (shameless plug) check out the Gamers website: www.gamersthemovie.com
As the writer/director of two shorts that worked with SCFX (The Gamers and Garageband) I feel that I might lend some insight to the grumblings I sometimes hear about the death and/or salvation of creativity at the hands of digital technology.
In response to those who bemoan the death of story at the hands of wealthy, spoiled technobrats at the elite film schools of America, I say this: There have been and always will be those who leverage their resources to compensate for a lack of creativity or ambition.
Technobrat though I might be, I am certainly not wealthy. For those of us who love telling stories in fantasy/adventure genres, though, digital technology is a godsend. The Gamers was produced, against all odds and with no official school backing or funding for a tiny fraction of what it should have cost. This is due, in large part, to the team of dedicated, resourceful, tech savvy production and post-production crew members who were supporting me and making every dollar of our $8,000 budget count.
On the other hand, in response to those who laude the advent of digital technology, let me just say this: it isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Sure, we could set a mage's hands on fire using particle effects, or build a digital church for our climactic setting, but I can assure you it would have looked far better and taken less energy had we been able to use real fire or a real set. Of course, one makes decisions based on what resources one has available (in our case we had 3 G4s, plenty of time, and very little money) but I will still say that I developed a whole new appreciation for practical effects and soundstages. There ain't nothing like the real thing, baby.
The bottom line: digital technology is an important tool that, when used properly, can put unprecedented power in the hands of creative filmmakers. Students should be using digital video and CG if for no other reason than to learn what these tools can and cannot do for them, and I for one believe that they have given me a much better perspective on the importance of story and character in cinema.
I predict we will see many more students fumbling with these new technologies, and I could think of nothing better. For all of the scoffing I hear about them, the undeniable fact is that schools like USC Cinema do put powerful tools in the hands of creative people and force them to produce material, make mistakes, and LEARN about their craft. Student films aren't about the finished product, they're about the process. And I, for one, feel far better prepared having experienced both the goods and evils that digital technology imposes on the creative process of filmmaking.
Oh, and (shameless plug) check out the Gamers website: www.gamersthemovie.com
