More specifically, "Outlaw" Film-making (I use the term "outlaw" here rather than "underground," because I feel the latter carries with it a certain archaic connotation... no disrespect to artists who prefer that terminology) The reason why Outlaw Film-making has yet to see any real insurgence as of late is not because of lack of funding or memorable work... The problem is that too many filmmakers outside the Hollywood system are trying to get in... they use their films as ways of creating stories comparable to those produced by the film industry. What they forget is that it is in fact an INDUSTRY... thus making its output mechanical and without feeling (save the exception of a few anomalies here and there).
Now on to "Shooting the Moon"... man oh man... I could probably write 10 pages on the eight minutes on screen... but I'll spare you. This is a damn fine example of Outlaw film-making. I live in LA... Hollywood to be exact... and this little film from Connecticut blew me away. What I really dug about "Shooting the Moon" (besides the Tom Waits title reference) is the fact that the filmmaker employed elements of Americana and post-modernism such as the Buddy Holly-esquire main character, the beautiful, Rockabilly reminiscent opening track by Billy Childish, and a plethora of other little nuances that gave the film a very nostalgic piece. However, unlike so many new filmmakers, they did it all out of a genuine love of all those things. While a lot of post-modern filmmakers would use those elements because they seem "cool" or "quirky," their interest in the material is purely superficial, and it is in this work that there is an actual genuineness... You can tell Richards and Watson have a genuine love of nostalgia and Americana: Diners, Buddy Holly, Rockabilly, Punk Rock even... The themes of the film itself are about nostalgia... looking for a love that is no longer there... are further augmented by the gritty, black and white photography.
If more people made films like this... well, maybe the film industry wouldn't quite be so lucrative... but it would certainly be a better place. And, who knows... it's as the man once said: "Give the people what you want and they'll end up wanting what they get."
Overall, a commendable job from Richards and Watson. I look forward to future projects from both.
Now on to "Shooting the Moon"... man oh man... I could probably write 10 pages on the eight minutes on screen... but I'll spare you. This is a damn fine example of Outlaw film-making. I live in LA... Hollywood to be exact... and this little film from Connecticut blew me away. What I really dug about "Shooting the Moon" (besides the Tom Waits title reference) is the fact that the filmmaker employed elements of Americana and post-modernism such as the Buddy Holly-esquire main character, the beautiful, Rockabilly reminiscent opening track by Billy Childish, and a plethora of other little nuances that gave the film a very nostalgic piece. However, unlike so many new filmmakers, they did it all out of a genuine love of all those things. While a lot of post-modern filmmakers would use those elements because they seem "cool" or "quirky," their interest in the material is purely superficial, and it is in this work that there is an actual genuineness... You can tell Richards and Watson have a genuine love of nostalgia and Americana: Diners, Buddy Holly, Rockabilly, Punk Rock even... The themes of the film itself are about nostalgia... looking for a love that is no longer there... are further augmented by the gritty, black and white photography.
If more people made films like this... well, maybe the film industry wouldn't quite be so lucrative... but it would certainly be a better place. And, who knows... it's as the man once said: "Give the people what you want and they'll end up wanting what they get."
Overall, a commendable job from Richards and Watson. I look forward to future projects from both.
