*cross-posted with broadhumor.blogspot.com
I was talking to a filmmaker, a good one, about beginnings. I was
trying to figure out a way to convince her to consider cutting the top
of her film, but she loved it and so did her circle of beloveds. So I
used the movie-as-baby analogy and took it a step further. Your movie
may be an amazing baby, but if you introduce me to it by showing me the
delivery or, God forbid, the act of conception, I am so outta there you
have to work doubly hard to capture my heart. TMI, folks, too much
information.Seeing act of birth can be beautiful and amazing to family. The lovemaking that leads to conception is also beautiful, but not really something I want to watch if I'm not one of the parties in bed - and even then, probably not. Keep all that in your heart, and possibly in the extra value content on the DVD, but take it out of the film. Show me the shining, luminous new being already washed and swaddled in its blanket. All that other stuff you are so sure needs to be in there so I know what's happening probably is covered again later. And even if it's not, I can figure stuff out. I know where babies come from. I know that you had to do the deed and nine months later push it out. Not necessary to explain. Start with the baby, not the birth.
