Monday 10 October 2011

Why do some film trailers mislead?

Is it the classic story of ‘once they have our money they can’t take it back’?! Or does the film director/producer feel that ‘that’ trailer is a true representation of the project?!
Before I begin, I want to say at no point am I putting this film down. I enjoyed it, I really did, yet I feel quite often that trailers lead us to think and feel one way, when it is in fact the film is doing something different.
CATFISH is a documentary about finding love or meeting people on the interest, mainly Facebook and getting to know them and forming an attachment before you meet them.
Here’s the trailer…
SPOILER ALERT –
Maybe it just me, but I felt from this trailer that there would be some kind of bigger twist to this film. The music, the edit, the direction, the quotes, all lead me to believe this was going to be the case, not another “Blair Witch” type film but a “The Last Broadcast”. I stumbled across “The Last Broadcast” late one night whilst I couldn’t sleep and if you haven’t seen it, I would suggest that you watch it, but don’t read the synopsis, or anything about it and especially don’t talk to anyone about it first (some people can give things away without realising it), just experience it for yourself.
All this being said, I felt that the film was beautifully and truthfully put together and has a real moral to it; one that shouldn’t be ignored.  People we meet online (most of us have done it) are not always what they appear to be. Just because YOU may be honest, doesn’t mean they will be. CATFISH brings to the surface our modern Western society and how we focus so much of our time on “social media networks” such as Facebook. I’m as guilty as the next person, but what this film beautifully highlights is the hurt and embarrassment when a person has opened their heart, hopes and dreams, and shown a glimpse of their soul to a stranger thinking they are getting this in return, only to have the carpet, floorboards, and foundations bulldozed from underneath them. I think this is perhaps bullying in the cruellest form, toying with persons’ emotions and twisting their view on reality.
But I go off point (as I so often do). My point or even my question is this: Am I the only person who finds this annoying? Obviously I don’t want the trailer to give everything away (this sometimes happens too), but equally I do not want a trailer to say it will take me down one path only to throw me down a mountain.  
What are YOUR thoughts?

Friday 7 October 2011

Wonderg1rl's Film and TV Ponderings...: EXCLUSIVE: The Return of the Independent Movie

Wonderg1rl's Film and TV Ponderings...: EXCLUSIVE: The Return of the Independent Movie: It's been a long time since a British independent film has really made it big - and I'm not talking independent films 'financed' by Film4 or...

All about me...

Hey all, I'm Diane.
So I'm a writer, director and teacher. I currently teach part time, and this little job gives me the freedom (and 12 weeks holiday a year) to be able follow other pursuits. Pursuits, I'm planning (and a lot of hoping of course) that will give me the freedom to give up teaching. My current project is 'One by One' (www.onebyonethemovie.com) which you'll here me talk about as we're about to finish filming. This is my first feature film that I've written and directed (its actually my first film writing and directing shhh don't tell anyone). But I won't say anymore here or I'll run out of things to blog about... and that is me as you currently find me! But I'm sure you'll find more out about me as we go...