Re: Hollywood Formula

216.244.0.87

Posted by Bambi B on December 13, 2002 at 15:58:55

In Reply to: Hollywood Formula posted by TA on December 13, 2002 at 13:45:03:

TA,

Some good points. There is often a parallel public and private story that resolve togther, and this is used to enrich the overall "task" the main charcter undertakes, but it is really part of that task/ desire/ need of the main character, not essential to the basic structure.

You're right that Lucas' consultation with Campbell did add Campbell's brand of Jungian collective unconscious and enliven the first Star Wars set. Possibly the lack of Campbell in the current set may have dropped Star Wars back in depth. The current series to me are broken, epsisodic, and more driven by jargon, hardware, and action sequences than say Luke's fulfilment of his destiny through self-knowledge.

And again, you're correct that this kind of formula works relative to the skill in using it. I would suggest though that Vertigo was made somewhat before the formula was so codified (I think about 1970) and, of course, Hitchcock is debatable classed as a regular US studio director. He was often looking to break studio patterns- such as "Rope." "The Sting" is a case where the formula was set and everything worked together well. "Raiders of the Lost Ark" worked too on it's chosen level.

As for operas, I'm a medium fan of "The Ring" because it is largely not written idiomatically for the human voice, but the story is great and music is brilliant. I wonder if those with the Tolkien craze realize the great number of 'similarities' to Wagner- magic gold ring with powers, historic swords, races/species with special powers, etc? I particularily like "Goetterdaemerung" because it begins with giants who are building contractors- any epic opera that tries that is admirable. The first Harry Potter is full of discount Wagnerisms. I do like "The Magic Flute," which is mythology laden as well as humourous, but I would say Britten's "Billy Budd" has it all.

I'm fairly neutral as to formula for the reasons you mention. If it's well done and given interesting characters and situations, something mysterious or intriguing, it's fine, but cliches are tiresome. I'm so on guard- jaded- I didn't enjoy "The Sixth Sense" because it's obvious in the first 30 minutes the 'trick' that the Bruce Willis character had already died. It becomes a one-liner when everthing works off of one concept.

And sorry, I didn't mean to preach something that everyone already knows- that's why "secret" is in quotes. I imagined that there are many who recognize the pattern but don't know the rigidity of it in detail today and it's relationship to getting a movie financed and distributed.

Cheers,

Bambi B

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - The 8-step "Secret" Hollywood Formula - Bambi B 12:24:29 12/13/02 (22)

...is why I like non-Hollywood movies... - SmokeTest 19:09:36 12/15/02 (1)

Re: ...is why I like non-Hollywood movies... - TA 18:03:55 12/16/02 (0)

Is it any different than the strict formats of classic poetry? - cfraser 14:53:36 12/14/02 (4)

Formulas are necessary - Bambi B 20:07:06 12/14/02 (3)

Good response, and the movie "Adaptation" - cfraser 09:43:48 12/15/02 (2)

Re: Good response, and the movie "Adaptation" - Bambi B 11:43:28 12/15/02 (1)

Re: Good response, and the movie "Adaptation" - cfraser 12:20:00 12/15/02 (0)

Don't forget : self basting . . . - Pjay 11:35:37 12/14/02 (0)

GREAT DISCUSSION, all you guys... nt - clarkjohnsen 06:57:43 12/14/02 (1)

GREAT COMMENT, Clark. nt - BS 10:27:34 12/14/02 (0)

Hollywood Formula - TA 13:45:03 12/13/02 (3)

Re: Hollywood Formula - Bambi B 15:58:55 12/13/02 (2)

Bruce Willis dead in Sixth sense - SmoKeTest 19:12:16 12/15/02 (0)

Re: Hollywood Formula - TA 16:31:22 12/13/02 (0)

Re: The 8-step "Secret" Hollywood Formula - Victor Khomenko 12:46:20 12/13/02 (7)

Re: The 8-step "Secret" Hollywood Formula - Bambi B 16:46:33 12/13/02 (4)

"Clooney's Ocean Did Not Have Any believable inner...... - AudioHead 11:49:15 12/17/02 (0)

Re: The 8-step "Secret" Hollywood Formula - Victor Khomenko 17:55:09 12/13/02 (2)

Re: The 8-step "Secret" Hollywood Formula - Bambi B 20:03:13 12/13/02 (1)

Re: The 8-step "Secret" Hollywood Formula - Victor Khomenko 05:43:59 12/14/02 (0)

I blame it on the public's lack of monocles! (nt) - mvwine 13:42:08 12/13/02 (1)

You nailed it 50% - Victor Khomenko 15:02:17 12/13/02 (0)

Follow Ups

Re: Hollywood Formula - Bambi B 15:58:55 12/13/02 (2)

Bruce Willis dead in Sixth sense - SmoKeTest 19:12:16 12/15/02 (0)

Re: Hollywood Formula - TA 16:31:22 12/13/02 (0)

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