What genre works best in indie?

TheNoob said:
I used to think the same way when I was 10 years old. But now I rather watch a good movie; genre is irrelevant. I think your argument is bad movies vs good movies, and not genre vs genre. I understand people have preferences, but it only clouds judgment.
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I think his point was that a genre like comedy, when done right, can transcend low production values, bad acting, and cheap sets. It would be harder to convince the audience to take something seriously (which is necessary for a drama) when the sound is crappy, the camera quality is dirty and the back drops are dull and static. None of things matter if a comedy is written correctly.

Stand-up comics make people laugh for hours with nothing but an empty stage and a microphone. Could you go up on a stage in front of 10,000 people with nothing but a microphone and engage them in a dramatic tale for over an hour? I know the mediums are different but both are essentially story tellers.
 
drc said:
Could you go up on a stage in front of 10,000 people with nothing but a microphone and engage them in a dramatic tale for over an hour? I know the mediums are different but both are essentially story tellers.
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I think thats what an insurance seminar is.
 
drc said:
I think his point was that a genre like comedy, when done right, can transcend low production values, bad acting, and cheap sets. It would be harder to convince the audience to take something seriously (which is necessary for a drama) when the sound is crappy, the camera quality is dirty and the back drops are dull and static. None of things matter if a comedy is written correctly.

Stand-up comics make people laugh for hours with nothing but an empty stage and a microphone. Could you go up on a stage in front of 10,000 people with nothing but a microphone and engage them in a dramatic tale for over an hour? I know the mediums are different but both are essentially story tellers.
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So it's not possible for a drama to "transcend low production values", or is this unique to comedies?

Assuming a bad comedy is better than a bad drama. Which to me it doesn't matter, if they're both bad, then they are un-watchable.

EDIT: On a side note a lot of movies aren't static. A drama without it's up moments is not very interesting, it's more dynamic than you think. They need a contrast.
 
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TheNoob said:
I used to think the same way when I was 10 years old. But now I rather watch a good movie; genre is irrelevant. I think your argument is bad movies vs good movies, and not genre vs genre. I understand people have preferences, but it only clouds judgment.
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Nope, actually I'm not even arguing. I think everyone has a genre default. Like with me, if I'm bored and want to watch something, and I have no idea what I want to watch, I put a comedy on. I dated a girl who for some reason hated comedy and preferred documentaries about how sick and disgusting everything in the world is and why we should all feel guilty about everything ever. She was clinically insane. That breakup went really well, super happy for her and her girlfriend.
 
It's all a matter of personal preference, really. I'd rather watch a bad horror movie, a mediocre sci-fi/fantasy film or a halfway decent drama than a really really good comedy.

I think the most important thing is to make the film you want to watch. Do something that you personally connect to. Your movie, regardless of genre will be the better for it.

That said, us horror fans are pretty tolerant of very low-budget productions if there is at least SOMETHING interesting in the film :-)
 
DangerDigital said:
Nope, actually I'm not even arguing. I think everyone has a genre default. Like with me, if I'm bored and want to watch something, and I have no idea what I want to watch, I put a comedy on. I dated a girl who for some reason hated comedy and preferred documentaries about how sick and disgusting everything in the world is and why we should all feel guilty about everything ever. She was clinically insane. That breakup went really well, super happy for her and her girlfriend.
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TheNoob said:
I used to think the same way when I was 10 years old. But now I rather watch a good movie; genre is irrelevant. I think your argument is bad movies vs good movies, and not genre vs genre. I understand people have preferences, but it only clouds judgment.
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I know what you mean. I remember watching horrible zombie movies when better comedies where present. Though I watched them both, I regret watching the horrible zombie movie. My preference clouded my judgment, and made me choose a bad film, over a high rated comedy. I understand. << in my early teens, then I just started watching good movies regardless of genre, even if the topic seems uninteresting, if the film is high rated, then chances are it's going to be good.

EDIT: How many times has the "genre default" made you regret watching something?
EDIT: What I'm trying to get at is I rather watch a good movie, than something based on personal preference (genre).
 
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I’ll take horror any day of the week. Realistically, us horror fans don’t care about a good story, good acting, good cinematography, high production values… If we get these things in a film, it’s a bonus! As Josh has stated, we just need something entertaining in there. You’d probably find most micro-budget horror’s are funnier than any “Hollywood” comedy (of course, it’s unintentional, but that’s irrelevant). You wouldn’t believe how many terrible horror films I’ve watched, thought to myself “that was the biggest pile of crap ever”, and then watched it again!
 
yeah, I have to agree with you there.

Jason X was one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. When Jason goes into the simulation room and the campers are there and he beats one of them with the other in a sleeping bag..... I really did almost pee my pants.

Its very rare that a horror movie has been too bad to watch. I love me some zombie movies, but back in 2005 I picked up a set of all 5 zombie movies. I think the first 2 were directed by Lucio Fulci, who was awesome, and those ones were pretty good and had cult status... then I watched the third on, that was ok, I mean it was terrible, but good enough for a zombie movie. But then I started watching the fourth on, and it was so incredibly bad that I had to stop half way through. It hurt by brain to watch it.


Also I think the low budget movies on the Sci Fi channel are just great. I remember watching a few in a row, then another one started and I realized that the barn they were starting the movie in was the same barn from the last movie. I couldn't help but wonder if having both radio active extra terrestrials with super powers, AND a nest of Pterradactyles on your property would effect the resale value.
 
I wonder if you could do a mash-up of BURIED with a zombie flick? Even 'better' :rolleyes: bury several immortals in boxes: bury a zombie between a vampire AND a werewolf three separate boxes. The whole movie they bitch and fight, become friends before tragedy ensues.
 
rayw said:
I wonder if you could do a mash-up of BURIED with a zombie flick? Even 'better' :rolleyes: bury several immortals in boxes: bury a zombie between a vampire AND a werewolf three separate boxes. The whole movie they bitch and fight, become friends before tragedy ensues.
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or better yet, bury a pale teenage girl between a vampire and a werewolf.... then just leave them there... forever.
 
DangerDigital said:
yeah, I have to agree with you there.

Jason X was one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. When Jason goes into the simulation room and the campers are there and he beats one of them with the other in a sleeping bag..... I really did almost pee my pants.

Its very rare that a horror movie has been too bad to watch. I love me some zombie movies, but back in 2005 I picked up a set of all 5 zombie movies. I think the first 2 were directed by Lucio Fulci, who was awesome, and those ones were pretty good and had cult status... then I watched the third on, that was ok, I mean it was terrible, but good enough for a zombie movie. But then I started watching the fourth on, and it was so incredibly bad that I had to stop half way through. It hurt by brain to watch it.


Also I think the low budget movies on the Sci Fi channel are just great. I remember watching a few in a row, then another one started and I realized that the barn they were starting the movie in was the same barn from the last movie. I couldn't help but wonder if having both radio active extra terrestrials with super powers, AND a nest of Pterradactyles on your property would effect the resale value.
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I don't know how you can tolerate bad movies.

That's funny that you mention Jason X; I was re-watching it recently and I took it off because it was so terrible. I did the same thing with Avatar the last Airbender. And I walked out of the theater on Garfield (2004).

This should be an M. Night thread. As a community we need to discuss his future.
 
When I looked through a good couple of hundred demo reels of DPs a few months ago, I can tell you that 95% are serious dramas with a lot of emotion and dialogue. And, it is being shot with RED cameras.

I only found 3 DPs who shoot action and only one shot fantasy like Elf Quest. Comedy is rare because a sense of humor depends on your demographics.
 
TheNoob said:
I don't know how you can tolerate bad movies.

That's funny that you mention Jason X; I was re-watching it recently and I took it off because it was so terrible. I did the same thing with Avatar the last Airbender. And I walked out of the theater on Garfield (2004).

This should be an M. Night thread. As a community we need to discuss his future.
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well most bad movies I cant. but there are some that are bad in a good way.

airbender was a huge dissapointment. I sat through it, but in the first 30 seconds I was like... oh no...
 
Modern Day Myth Prod. LLC said:
When I looked through a good couple of hundred demo reels of DPs a few months ago, I can tell you that 95% are serious dramas with a lot of emotion and dialogue. And, it is being shot with RED cameras.

I only found 3 DPs who shoot action and only one shot fantasy like Elf Quest. Comedy is rare because a sense of humor depends on your demographics.
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yeah, thats true. Comedy is complicated. There is no universal comedy. But I guess thats true for everything though. There is no universal action or sci fi or documentary.
 
DangerDigital said:
yeah, thats true. Comedy is complicated. There is no universal comedy. But I guess thats true for everything though. There is no universal action or sci fi or documentary.
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:huh:

I know 2 filmmakers who argue that action transends all languages and use Asian martial arts movies as an example where people look at them for action and fight scenes and don't follow the dialogue.
 
kinglis said:
Sorry, but, both of you don't know what drama is all about...
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I plead the fifth.
I'm not sure what an appropriate response is to this challenge.

??

Maybe it's GOOD I don't know what dysfunctional drama is all about?

I've never been shot, but I've observed enough people who have been shot to pick up on the idea that it's "a bad thing".
Likewise, I've observed enough dysfunctional people to kindly not swim in their cesspool. :yes::no::P
 
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