CMT - The Graduate

At first it was amusing, then it was outrageously funny, but it didn't stop there. It was shocking, unnerving and unbelievably disturbing. I saw the end coming before it happened, and I hoped that I was wrong, but I wasn't. The film lead me by the nose, right to a place I didn't want to go and it did so without mercy. In the end, I believe I was just as divided, as the opening audience must have been.

Classic Movie Trailers – The Graduate (1967)

I recognize, that there are two sides to this story. I see a young man, being swept along by the situation. I see a childlike innocence, ignorance and selfishness. I can also see the desire to follow your heart, whatever the cost.

In the end however, I think part of growing up is thinking about others, instead of yourself. At some point, common decency should stand, even in the face of amorous love. As firm as my moral position on the film is, I'm sure others are just as firm against it. Though I'll never agree, that the ending of “The Graduate” is a pleasing one, I have to concede that it is a good film.

Entertainment is at its best, when it illuminates life. It should teach us about other people in an honest way, even if we don't want the lesson. I've never thought, that stories should bend over backwards, to show us what we want to see. They should show us a proper resolution of the events, even if it's challenging, and even if it's debatably inappropriate.

If you've taken the time to watch “The Graduate”, all the way to the end, I'm confident that you felt something. You might have been smiling ear to ear when the credits rolled, or you might have wanted to throw your shoe at the screen. Ultimately though, if you had a significant emotional reaction, the film did its job. If it made you think about right and wrong, or if it made you start a conversation with your neighbor, then it left you with something substantial and in my opinion, that's all it had to do.

The cinema, shouldn't always affirm our positions. If we constantly see our own views on screen, we risk losing sight of the others, and we're not given the chance to stop and think. I'd rather leave my theater seat incredibly angry, than to leave it bored any day of the week. For that reason, I'm glad I saw “The Graduate”, even though I never want to see it again.

Earlier, I was of the opinion that as time has gone on, entertainment has gotten bolder. The number of things you can show on screen, or put in a book and talk about, may have increased over the years. With this movie however, I've found that even if that's true, a film from 1967 can still shock you. I didn't applaud “The Graduate” itself, but I have to applaud its courage.

Trailer Here

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See "The Graduate" on Netflix!

B. A. Seals -Memorial Day 2015

CMT - Rain Man

As intriguing to me, as the story of the “Rain Man”, is the story behind the movie. Do you know what that is? If not, I'll give you a hint; it involves characters you never see onscreen. Specifically, it's the tale of Charlie and Raymond's parents, among many others.

The father that was never shown, had a profound effect on his children, which shaped the behavior we see. The mother had passed, many years before the beginning of the picture, but her journey as a character and the void she left in her stead, is a crucial support beam for the screenplay. The supporting characters we do see on camera, make decisions that affect the film's final cut. Those people have their own unique identities, lives and motivations; they're not interchangeable. There's the girlfriend, with a story all her own, the doctor and the prostitute and the business partner, Vern “the main man” and more.

What you may not have realized before, is the fact that these stories have been talked about and written in detail. They are essential parts of the narrative, though they are in the background. Even if they are skipped over entirely, they are cogs in the wheel of the machine. Sometimes you don't notice them, but they do their part to keep the motor running,

Classic Movie Trailers - “Rain Man” (1988)

“Fiction is life with the dull bits left out.”

That's a quote from Clive James. It's simple, direct and truthful. However, I feel I should add a few things. The most important suggestion I have to offer, is that the dull bits, are what makes the story work.

Do you know the difference, between a character that seems to live and breathe, and a two-dimensional one? I've written more than my share of the latter, so I know this for certain. The difference is, well realized characters aren't just written well, they are written in their entirety.

One of the books, that has shaped me as an author, is Syd Field's “Screenplay”. I refer to that book before any other, in regards to the proper way to build character. The easiest way to approach it, is to simply write a character's life from birth, up to the beginning of the movie.

Imagine that you're the writer behind “Rain Man”. You have a great idea, about an “Autistic Savant” and some other plot points. What do you do next? Well, I'd suggest that you consider a character arc, either for that specific character, or someone in close contact with them. Make a decision regarding who will change, how they will change and above all, how they were before.

This is the time, to appreciate all of the hard work, that goes into every movie, every TV show, every novel and cartoon you've every experienced. If you'll take a moment with me, to reflect on the pages upon pages of history, and interactions and plot points you never see, you'll appreciate the ones you do, so much more. For just the main character, to be a fully conceptualized idea, he or she needs a mother and father, grandparents, friends, enemies, and others you may not be aware of.

The dull bits are left out. What you need to see is in the movie, or the book, or the comic. You only need to know what they're showing you, but they need to know much, much more. What's relevant will spill over, into the main body of the work. Something as simple and as small, as a father's love for his vehicle, can permeate the story, depending upon how other characters reacted to him and his behavior.

If you're a writer, you have to know it, otherwise you can't show it; that's the truth of the matter. In order for a movie like this to entertain you, there has to be some things that are left out. Still, you'll able to see the depth of the product by what is suggested, what is hinted at and what is spoken of, in passing. Those foundations are there, they are strong, and the quality of the movie would suffer in their absence.

Trailer Here

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@ChannelSeals

CMT - Hook

People often ask about, how authors come up with their crazy ideas. The answer is imagination, but to most that word is a synonym, for magic. It seems like we pull things out of thin air, but I know that's far from the truth. You should think of the creative part of your brain, as an engine, and the fuel it uses, is simply information.

Classic Movie Trailers – Hook (1991)

Information is the clay that writers use, to sculpt fiction. The practice of expanding upon prior knowledge, is essential for the research, that serves as a foundation for what you create; it's also just as important, to your own general creativity. Throughout our lives, we are bombarded with a wealth of facts to choose from; the only difference between us, as human beings, is the various ways our brains react and respond to them.

I don't know, what J.M. Barrie's influences were. I haven't found the books, that shaped his sense of fantasy, or adventure, or comedy. I imagine that his decision to use pirates, might have been in response, to Robert Louis Stevenson's, “Treasure Island”. His take on the character of children, might have been similarly lifted from other stories, or from his own life. I only know one thing for certain: artists can't create in a vacuum.

Imagine for a moment, that your best friend is an English professor. As a favor, you agree to act as a substitute for a few days, and lead the Creative Writing class. On the first day, you give the students a list of words, which they need to use in their creation, of a new intellectual property. Those words are: firearms, spirituality, flying, racing and swords.

Personally, I'd be anxiously anticipating the results. While grading the homework, you might become privy to the beginning, of a billion dollar franchise. However, if one of your students pitches a world like “Star Wars”, you'll know that you have a cheater. The stories we create, are an extension of our individuality; given the same ingredients, the meals we prepare, are going to be wildly different.

I can't write what you can write. Similarly, you won't be able to provide, what I can provide as a storyteller, and neither of us, could have created Peter Pan. That's the most amazing thing, about fiction. Every time we experience the work of a new author, we get to see the world through very different eyes.

So, if we wish to create art, we need to experience art, and plenty of it. Read as much as you can. Watch as many movies, as you have time for. Try things you may have never considered, like comic books or manga, animated films, or genres you're not familiar with.

After all of that material is digested by your brain, it will subconsciously combine and rearrange things, in ways that no one else in the world can duplicate. Just remember, that your imagination engine needs oil, and that oil is your own belief. When you create, you have to put yourself in a state of mind, to where you nearly believe that your creation is real. Actors do this, all of the time.

As comical as “Hook” is, it's dependent on Robin Williams' belief in his character. Dustin Hoffman, Julia Roberts and the rest of the cast, had to act out lives they've never lived, and remember events that didn't actually happen. Without belief, and an almost childish ability to pretend, the magic doesn't work.

@ChannelSeals

Trailer Here

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Watch “Hook” on Netflix!

Rest in Peace, Robin Williams (1951-2014)

CMT - Marathon Man

Sometimes, it seems like everyone has an ulterior motive. There are so many things left unsaid, and so many secrets, cold sweats and restless nights might be commonplace. The truth is, there's difficulty in knowing, if any single person is candid, at any time. They say, “don't trust anyone”, but of course, that's impossible,

Classic Movie Trailers – Marathon Man (1976)

Do you want to know what's wrong, with the criminal justice system? Would you like to know why there are white collar criminals, that scam victims out of hundreds, of millions of dollars? Is there someway to ensure, that the money given to charity, goes to its intended purpose? Well, the answer to all of those questions is the same; if we eliminate the human element, all of the problems go away.

You could spin the wheel and land your finger, on any organization imaginable; all of them have the same faults, the same people, as any other. We've come to expect ideal behavior, from our political and religious leaders. We also expect, that those assigned to protect and serve the public, will do so in good faith. In fact however, any group of people is inherently self-interested; without proper checks and balances, corruption is as sure, as death and taxes.

Often, when we meet someone we're fond of, we're inclined to trust them. That actually reveals, a lot more about us and where we are in our lives, than it does about the other party. Don't get me wrong, there are some trustworthy, and truly selfless people out there; it's just that, they might decide to help someone else, at our expense. It would be an error to assume, that we ever truly know anyone, and if we have them pegged correctly, they can change at any time. So, with that being the case, so must we.

I don't believe in uniforms, or titles, or stations. I don't put my faith in pretty faces, honest smiles, or firm handshakes. I understand that each person has their own, best interests in mind. At the exact moment, when there are conflicting interests, I expect conflict or change; that has yet to disappoint me.

This may surprise you, but I wouldn't be the one to suggest, that we separate ourselves from other people. Nor would I lead you down a path, towards anarchy or paranoia. If anything, I'd like you to be aware and accepting of red flags, when you see them. We still have instinct to rely on, and there is such a thing, as healthy skepticism.

So go ahead and greet others, with an extended hand of friendship. Go ahead and give your spouse the keys, to everything that you own. Life is too short, to wait and worry about, being stabbed in the back. Just be open to the warning signs, and take them very seriously.

Trailer Here

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@ChannelSeals

See “Marathon Man” on Netflix !

CMT - ANNOUNCEMENT #1

May I officially announce, that May is the CMT Month of Dustin Hoffman! Over the next four weeks, Classic Movie Trailers will take a look at four different movies, starring the famous actor. Those films are: "Hook", "The Graduate", "Rain Man" and "Marathon Man", all of which are available on Netflix!

Speaking of Netflix, with the release of CMT - RoboCop (1987), Classic Movie Trailers has indefinitely switched over, to cover films on the service exclusively. If you've enjoyed the blog so far, why not watch the films, before they're written about? You can check my Twitter page (@ChannelSeals ) every Tuesday, to get the scoop on what picture will be featured next.

See you on May 4th, with my thoughts on "Marathon Man". 

And May the future bring many more.

B.A.S.