Summer Plans

Alright! It's summa time (and the livin's easy). I need more things to do! Sure, a few hours a day are set aside for work, but is that enough (rhetorical question)? No, it's not enough (answer to rhetorical question)! I need a hobby, like watchin’ movies. Watching movies though, isn't gonna do it. I need to study movies, not just watch 'em. With that being said, I've decided to study film directors. Sound interesting? You bet it is! I've decided that every week I'm gonna watch the films of a particular director (I have yet to compile the list of directors, but I can assure you, it'll be quite the list).

However, I can't enter into such a project half-cocked (no quarter cockin' neither. It's fully cocked or nothin'. I can't overstate the importance of a good cock). A project of this magnitude demands order. So, here are the plans:

1. Every week I'll assign myself a director
2. I'll watch 5 of his/her films
3. I'll post a mini review of each film in my Journal (my online journal. Not my private journal where I draw kittens with big eyes and curly Q tails. They're so cute!)
4. During the week I’ll absorb all I can about each director. I’ll peruse critical essays, biographies, and personal essays. I’ll expose myself to their personal philosophies and soak in their work.

That's it. Those are the only rules. Not to extensive, but it'll provide me with the guidance I need (I need some goals. I'm tired of being aimless). Now, you may be wondering why I'm so gung ho about directors and their respective works (and yes, that is how you spell “gung ho.” The alternative spelling is "gung-ho." Notice the subtle use of the hyphen). Well, I’m a big believer in auteur theory. What can I say? I think the Frenchies who wrote for Cahiers du Cinema in the 1950’s were right. If film is an art, the director is artist. He organizes the scene, approves camera placement, and encourages actors. The film is the result of his ceaseless tinkering. Crucial to the creative process, the director is worthy of study.

That was a mouthful. Now, who should I study? Having time to investigate mearly 12 directors, whom should make the list? I have some ideas. In no particular order: Andrei Tarkovsky, John Cassavetes, Jean Renoir, Jean-Luc Godard, Wong Kar Wai, Abbas Kiarostami, Tsia Ming-Liang, and Jim Jarsmusch. If you’re good at counting, and I’m sure you are, you’ll notice I’ve listed only eight directors. I need FOUR more directors to study! Any suggestions? I know my list may look elitist, but I assure you, I’ll consider anything. No suggestion will be disregarded. Thanks for your help! Once I have a list of 12, I’ll start selecting films, and I’ll post the selections in this journal. Feel free to join me on this directorial exploration. We can post reviews, and share opinions. If we become close friends, I’ll show you those kittens with the curly Q tails. Oh, the possibilities!