- Zen Filmmaking
Zen Filmmaking is a formalized style of
filmmaking that was developed in1991 byScott Shaw in association withDonald G. Jackson . The primary premise behind "Zen Filmmaking" is that noscreenplay should be used in the creation of a film.Definition
According to Scott Shaw, in "Zen Filmmakng", "The spontaneous creative energy of the filmmaker is the only defining factor. This allows for a spiritually pure source of immediate inspiration to be the only guide in the filmmaking process." [ "Scott Shaw at T.V. com [http://www.tv.com/scott-shaw/person/354930/summary.html] ] In his published article, "The Saga of Guns of El Chupacabra and the Art of Zen Filmmaking" he details there are six tenets that lay the foundation for "Zen Filmmaking." [ "Zen Filmmaking Article" [http://www.scottshaw.com/theartofzenfilmmaking.html] ]
1. Make all unpredicted situations work to your advantage.
2. Don't waste time, money, and energy attempting to create your sets when you don't have to. Instead, travel to them and allow their natural aesthetics to become a part of your film.
3. Just do it. 99% of the time you can get away with it.
4. Never let your storyline dominate your artistic vision. Too many would be filmmakers attempt to write what they believe is a "Good" script and then try to film it. Without an unlimited budget it is virtually impossible to get what is on the page upon the stage.
5. Zen Filmmaking is a spontaneous process. Just as the
Zen understanding of enlightenment teaches that though you may meditate for years it is not until the moment when you step beyond your thinking mind and realize that you are already enlightened that you achieveSatori . Thus, if you acutely plan your productions, with screenplays, storyboards, and locations, there is no room for the instantaneousness of filmmaking enlightenment to occur and you will always be lost between the way your mind desired the scene to be and the way it actually turns out.6. Ultimately, in Zen Filmmaking nothing is desired and, thus, all outcomes are perfect.
Comparison and Contrast
"Zen Filmmaking" is often compared to
Direct Cinema orCinéma vérité . This is primarily based upon the fact that all of these styles of filmmaking employ the use of impovisational acting and are filmed with techniques similar to those used in the creation of adocumentary film .The concept of improvisational acting is not new to cinema. Directors such as
John Cassavetes andWong Kar-wai are well known for creating their films with an intentional lack of formalized structure. In "Zen Filmmaking," however, this lack of structure is a formality as opposed to an artistic decision.Similar to both
Direct Cinema andCinéma vérité , "Zen Filmmaking" relies heavily upon the edit of the film to create the final product. This is because as there are no screenplays used in the creation of these films, the edit is what is ultimately used to define the story and present what the audience will view.The first film created in this style of filmmaking was the 1991 feature "
The Roller Blade Seven ". In this film, such well known actors as two timeGolden Globe winner and Academy Award nomineeKaren Black appear.The
documentary film "" details the process of creating this first Zen Film.Books
Zen Filmmaking (ISBN 1-877792-47-0)
References
Zen Films:
*"
The Roller Blade Seven " (1991)
*"Samurai Vampire Bikers From Hell " (1992)
*"The Legend of the Rollerblade Seven " (1992)
*"Return of the Roller Blade Seven " (1993)
*"Samurai Johnny Frankenstein " (1993)
*"Car Jack" (1993)
*"Samurai Ballet" (1994)
*"The Queen of Lost Island" (1995)
*"Toad Warrior" (1996)
*"Shotgun Boulevard" (1996)
*"Guns of El Chupacabra " (1997)
*"Armageddon Boulevard" (1998)
*"Vampire Child" (2000)
*"Ride with the Devil" (1999)
*"Ghost Taxi" (1999)
*"Quest of the Invisible Ninja" (2000)
*"Undercover X " (2001)
*"Hollywood P.D. Undercover" (2002)
*"Max Hell Frog Warrior " (2002)
*"Hitman City " (2003)
*"Imelda" (2003)
*"The Rock n' Roll Cops " (2003)
*"Vampire Blvd. " (2004)
*"Super Hero Central " (2004)
*"" (2005)
*"The Final Kiss " (2005)
*"" (2006)
*"Aimee Semple McPherson" (2006)
*"9mm Sunrise " (2006)
*"Vampire Noir" (2007)
*"Yin Yang Insane" (2007)
*"Witch's Brew" (2007)Sources
Variety (magazine) May 4, 1992Independent Video Magazine Issue Number 7, 1993
Who's Who in Entertainment 3rd Edition, 1997Draculina Magazine Issue Number 32, 1997
Femme Fatales Magazine Volume 7, Number 2, July 1998
Thunder Magazine Issue Number 4, 1998
Variety (magazine) February 23, 1998Hollywood Reporter February 24, 1998Psychotronic Video Magazine Issue Number 36, 2000External links
* [http://www.filmmaking.net/articles/show_article.asp?id=34 The Art of Zen Filmmaking at Filmmaking.net]
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