While there have been many great speakers throughout the semester, I found Benny to be the most inspiration for a rather simple reason. Of course there are the big names like Morgan Spurlock or those that are on the rise such as Bradley Beasley, but Benny stuck out in my mind the most because he felt very real and relatable. I liked not knowing anything about him, versus the other speakers for I felt like he was more "one of us." His goals were the same as everyone in the room. I like hearing from a filmmaker who was just as much "going through the process." It was quite refreshing. I thought it was great as well, that he allowed us to write down input about his film. While many speakers just talk about their own films and about themselves, Benny really wanted US to "talk about him." He very much treated the situation as if were peers and our imput mattered just as much. Becoming a success in film, is made out to be impossible by so many people, but just having heard from Benny, I got the feeling that you just have to do what you love doing.
I also thoroughly enjoyed his creativity. His film about Colombus day and the implications regarding it was very fascinating. It was a unique approach to look at certain social issues. Whether one agrees or not with the either stance, the film was very well shot and executed and flowed with a wonderful story, and I admire all those qualities. All of the characterstics in a young filmmakers that I highly think of, I seemed to find in Benny, and that is why I found him as one of the most inspirational and influential speakers this semester.
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I also really enjoyed Benny's visit. I think it was really inspiring that he was looking to us for input on his documentary, because I felt like we were just the 'intro to doc class'. But whether or not we're as experienced as he is, a filmmaker ought to always consult others and seek advice.
ReplyDeleteAs the director of a film you often get caught up in the work you've done and sometimes forget that the people who will watch the final product weren't there with you all along. There were a couple things we suggested to Benny that it was apparent he hadn't thought of, or he realized we needed clarification or extra footage, and I thought it was awesome that we could contribute to his process.
I enjoyed all of our speakers, but I think you're right, there was a big difference in
Benny sharing his work with us the way he did, and the others who simply screened their works and talked about them and themselves. He definitely made the filmmaking process feel more welcoming and accessible, and showed that if ever you need help you can just come back to UT, show you work to a class that you took, and everyone learns and benefits.