Poll: If one cinematic skill could improve my life ...
Let's face it, even when everything's perfect, we're never totally satisfied : there is always more to do, always one or several aspects of our lives asking for some serious revisions. Now, if you were given the chance of getting one cinematic skill (because we're in a movie website after all) to improve your life in a literal or symbolical way, which one would you pick? Discuss here
Vote:
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Gene Kelly in Singin' in the Rain (1952)
ACTING (in a Leading Role) : Maybe I'm too spontaneous, too genuine in my attitude, abrupt in my demonstrations, or 'straight-forward' in my interactions with people, you know "that's the way I am, don't ever try to change me"... and I guess I should learn how to put up a facade, to inject some 'social/positive hypocrisy' in my behavior. They say the word 'Personality' comes from the Latin word for 'Mask', well, I should mask myself a little bit more. (by the way, did you know Gene Kelly had a very high fever when he did that legendary one-take? well, that's the kind of talent we're speaking of) -
Sylvester Stallone and Burgess Meredith in Rocky (1976)
ACTING (in a Supporting Role) : Maybe I should learn to talk less and listen to other people, to be more helpful and comprehensive. This is not to diminish the necessity of thinking about myself, but not to take it as an eternal priority. Indeed, sometimes, I gotta accept the fact that in a specific area, I'll never make it as a 'star', some people will, friends, relatives or strangers, and if I can help them to express their talent to the fullest or to raise their voice, I'd feel a little bit better. -
Jackass: The Movie (2002)
STUNT PERFORMING : Well, let's face it, I'm not a risk-taker, and playing safe doesn't help sometimes. In my case, I feel like I missed many great opportunities just because I was afraid of the danger. Fear and doubt have poisoned my life so much I think it's time to embrace the adversity, to fight, to 'go the distance', to get hit and -as Rocky Balboa said- keep moving forward. Like they say : "Nothing ventured, nothing gained", I'm not sure it'd improve my life, but it'd improve my resistance and self-confidence and that's what I need the most. -
The man, himself
DIRECTING : I always have the feeling to belong to the 'passive' type, I let myself being directed, even by well-intentioned people, following my parents or my friends' advice, but at the end, it's always the frustration not to have made my own choices or took my own decisions. And I can't take it anymore. I'm not afraid of making mistakes but if I expect to live with myself, I must for now, follow my personal feelings, my instinct and only seek other people's advice if I feel like it. -
#5
WRITING : Our lives are like a movie's plot, it has a beginning, an ending, and it's all about what we do during the middle-act, to make the ending more satisfying. I used to seize the day, to act without thinking too much of the consequences, I'm not totally unsatisfied but I guess I should give myself some guidelines, to write them down, with specific and countable objectives, followed by all the steps that will help me to accomplish my life goals, instead of saying "que sera, sera, what will be will be". Future is determined and conditioned by the present, and I'm sure people who have the talent to anticipate things are the most likely to succeed. -
Gene Wilder and Zero Mostel in The Producers (1967)
PRODUCING : I know what I am, and what I want ... I have the courage to say it ... but what I lack is the energy and the ressources to do it. Yes, I'm more a dreamer than a doer, I live in a world where it's all about big ideas, great dreams, and I lack that extra bit of rationality, of seeing things in a practical way : what do I need? how much? Life is also about making money, being successful in a palpable way ... and you can't accomplish anything without organization. Talent is one thing, inspiration is another, but it's the 'action' department that makes the difference. -
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
CINEMATOGRAPHY / PHOTOGRAPHY / ART DIRECTION : I am too disillusioned right now to see the bright side of life, I look at the world, at my environment, my house ... with a constant feeling of sorrow and boredom. Maybe I'm pessimistic, moody or angry ... but I'm ready to change my perspective, to embrace the simple and inner beauty of life, to look at the most banal stuff with excitment and dazzled eyes, or to make it look better according to my feelings. I don't need to change my behavior, just my relationship with the world. -
Kathleen Turner, Bob Hoskins, and Betsy Brantley in Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
EDITING : Sometimes, it's not what you feel, what you say or what you do that matters ... but when and where you say it. I need to be more patient, just because something's gotta be done, it doesn't mean 'now', on the other hand, I also have to seize the opportunity when it comes and not wait until the right moment. In both ways, I need to learn from my experiences when it's time and when it's not, where I can and where I can't. -
33-204 Audrey Hepburn in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" 1961 Paramount
COSTUME DESIGN : I have to accept the fact that we live in a superficial world, where the form is judged before the content. I need to be a bit more presentable, even if it contradicts my personal standards. I'm aware that fashion or clothing tastes always say something about our personalities, and there's no reason to be ashamed of it, but sadly, it's the only way to get yourself noticed, it's a necessary evil. -
Jeffrey Jones and Tom Hulce in Amadeus (1984)
SCORING / SINGING : Well, these are simple and not quite 'revolutionary' talents, but I do believe in their life-changing effect. I've never been into Art, and now, I seriously regret it, I believe music provides some sensitivity, a capability to see life on a more spiritual and universal level, and having thought too much about money and prosperity, I want to learn music, which is, with love and faith, the third universal language of soul. -
"Close Encounters of the Third Kind" Space Ship
SPECIAL EFFECTS : Yes, I want to have that 'special effect' on people, I want to be looked at with mesmerized eyes, I want to be admired, to 'wow' people, to make their heart pound and their eyes sparkle... even if for that, I've got to use some tricks, isn't it all about suspension of disbelief? No matter how many artifices I will use, I just don't want to be an average nobody (an expression that sounds like a pleonasm for me) -
Audrey Tautou in Amélie (2001)
BEING A GOOD SPECTATOR : Or maybe it's time for me to put my ego aside and see the real world, to contemplate its inner beauty or to be interested by the global issues that concern us all : social, political, economical and environmental, for a more sincere and efficient involvment. We live in a time poisoned by egomania and self-starification, in my case, I just want to stop saying 'I' or 'me', see what happens around and then I'll give my life a meaning not just according to my personal issues. It's time to think as people, not individuals.