Monday, March 28, 2011

Movie Oasis

I'd love to tell you I was book-gorger in my younger years. That I passed on Friday night parties or girly sleepovers where my girlfriends and I pulled out our clipboards and played Rate-the-Cutest-Guy Game. Or that I fell head-over-heels for the newest YA male character in a hot New York Times Bestseller.

I didn't, and I wasn't.

Stories were still my passion, though. But it was through MOVIES.

My best guy friend and I watched a ton. We were like Dawson's Creek, only without the creek. We lived next door to each other and spend umpteen hours watching old movies.

By nature, I'm a visual person. As a former makeup artist and painter, I see everything in colors, textures, and patterns. It's just my way. Stories spread out on the silver screen feed my visual hunger.

Back then, I'd be drawn into setting and character development without even knowing it. Then my secret opinions and observations would rev up. I was interested in the inner workings of the film, how it was threaded, formulated, and eventually presented. Without knowing it, I was becoming a critiquer, not a critic. There's a difference.

I wanted to learn the roadways of each story, and eventually realized I wanted to tell stories, too. By examining each scene and segment of films, I learned those inner workings and also how I would have handled maybe the dialog of a scene or a certain setting differently. Way back then, I was exploring the inner storyteller within me. (That's pretty cool!)

So the next time you're feeling down about your writing or the whole writing game is getting you down, rent one of your favorite movies. Sit back with a warm blanket and cuddle up with that virtual story. Let all your senses be tantalized and...inspired.

Sometimes that's all it takes for your writing to be reborn.


What was your favorite film as a high school student? What about it, do you realize now, drew you in?

9 comments:

  1. I tend to analyze movies from the first minute, trying to figure out where the writer's are going with the plot. My husband and I watched one last night and I figured out what was going to happen. It amazes him when I do that, but honestly it's easy if you think about the story from a writer's POV.

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  2. I love it all! Movies and books take over my blog. I can't wait to post my new hot movie reviews. Are you with me? Lol!

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  3. Great point, Kelly.

    LM - of course!!

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  4. hehehe... my fav movie as a teen was Top Gun and it had way more to do with the shirt-less torsos in the beach volleyball scene than the plot. Although the plot was good too.
    When I watch movies (unlike when I read), I let the film carry me away. No analysis (except for a few snarky comments if something is particularly dumb). But I don't want to have to think when I'm being entertained. I never see the ending to anything coming.

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  5. Ooh, Jessie, good one. Me it was Iron Eagle. Mmm...

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  6. Ok, I'm dating myself, but that's okay. I'm proud to be a grandma. When I was a teen, my favorite movies were the ones with Doris Day and Rock Hudson. Musicals were popular too. Not exactly the kind of musicals we have today, but I like the new ones too because I like music.

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  7. Hey, cutie, that's a great idea! I should do that. I do, only when absolutely necessary because writing time is so precious. Thanks for the eye-opener, though, that I can give myself permission to indulge that side of me, too!(I'm an artist as well!)

    ♥.•*¨ Elizabeth ¨*•.♥

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  8. I’ve noticed that if I’m having trouble describing scenery, I watch a movie, or even walk outside. I inhale the air, sit in the grass, and feel the leaves on the ground. Anything, really. I watch a movie that has beautiful scenery. Perhaps with great cinematography. From here, I’m able to visualize my scene, and write a beautiful description of the scenery.

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  9. I'm a visual person, so watching movies was part of my fascination with people watching.

    My latest post has to do with movies too! Great minds, great minds...

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