By Jonathan Jackson
Three movies of contrasting style and (in my opinion) value took my attention recently: Shutter Island, Alice in Wonderland and Clash of the Titans. It’s amazing how much good or bad film making can reflect an individual’s majesty of vision or a person‘s cynical attempt to cash in on a new technology and make a quick buck with a half hearted effort.
No matter whether the pursuit is film making, cooking, retail or even journalism, a lack of heart, energy and dedication is duly noted by the customer and reputations tarnished.
The three films mentioned above are proof positive of the value of dedication and the cynicism of ‘cashing in’. Director Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island is not a patch on Raging Bull or The Departed, however it is still a piece of fine film making with great attention to detail and excellent performances. Utilising the new 3D technology, Tim Burton again brought colour, design and madness to the screen, this time in the retelling of Alice in Wonderland. While reviews of this film have been mixed, there is no doubt that when Burton brings his vision to the screen, magical moments happen.
The third film, Clash of the Titans, is the result of poor vision, poor business management, audience (customer manipulation) and financial cynicism.
Whether it was director Louis Leterrier’s decision to add 3D technology into the film in post production, or whether it was the studio’s grab for cash, marketing this film as a 3D experience misleads the audience.
It is clear Clash of the Titans was not originally made in 3D and that the technological elements were an afterthought. In any other industry, this type of behaviour would be seen as unacceptable and disrespectful to the consumer. The business owner’s motivations would be called into question and through word of mouth, business may eventually suffer.
The point here is that anything you do – no matter the field of expertise – should be done with love and with the best outcome in mind: half-hearted efforts will always be found wanting.
So don’t treat your consumers with contempt, don’t go for the easy cash grab, if it’s a personal goal you pursue, chase it with all the effort you can muster and know that in the end you gave everything you had to give.
When people notice that you are someone who produces the best outcomes, the money and success will come no matter what the venture is you have pursued. And you will win critical acclaim.
Perhaps Clash of the Titans might have been a better film had it stuck to its 2D vision rather than cashing in, but Leterrier will never be a Scorsese or Burton if he continues to take the cynical approach towards his audiences.
In the end, the message is clear: be true to your vision and approach it with all the heart you can muster.
