I’ll get right down to it.

Warren writes about the Scottish director, David MacKenzie, who has submitted his latest script on Gapingvoid for anybody to behold and criticise. He ponders about whether this is a publicity stunt (which it undoubtedly is) and philosophises if this could lead to some kind of democratisation of the medium.

I don’t think that any artistic medium was/is meant to be democratic, but if anyone comes up with a golden idea – that the writer/director can identify with – then it should be okay, I guess?

But I am wary as well. Too many ideas can also ruin your thought process. Limitations, or should we call it “creative boundaries” works better than having a gazillion different views on one subject. So you might miss “the golden idea”, but what the heck, such is life, such is creativity. You’ll just end up waiting forever then… I would opt for improvisation on the set instead. Better chances of good ideas when you’re surrounded by your creative team – especially the actors.

How I know this? Well, I do have some experience with bands and band leading, and I do know that I wouldn’t go sniffing out public criticism on a given melody. Too many notes, too many chords, too many ideas, and you’ll end up with something predictable and unoriginal or plainly confusing. Instead I would trust my fellow musicians in a more “controlled environment” (read: the rehearsal room with people you musically ‘know’). And being in love with Jazz, I know the pros of improvisation… :]

On this day...

... in 2006: Doing da movie thing
... in 2005: Argh!
... in 2003: Old friens, new stuff
... in 2002: Inspired