Blog 1: Deren and Brakhage readings

 Maya Deren’s writing is very awe inspiring. She sees the amateur film-maker as having many strengths instead of weaknesses. I learned that it is okay to be an amateur in film. Being an amateur gives you more creative freedoms that may not be as available to professionals. It also appeals to me as a confidence booster with being an amateur.  I always viewed being an amateur as one who produces sloppy results that must be improved upon. I am very timid about what I create fearing it will not be as good compared to what others make. However, after reading Deren’s work I have a different understanding of the word “amateur” and will use my creative and physical freedom to make the best work I can.

Stan Brakhage's writing was interesting to say the least. After reading the first two pages a few times, I came to the understanding that He was explaining what an mm (millimeter) film strip was and ways to alter it to create a story. This aspect of film is new to me, as I am so used to filming with high tech cameras and editing using computers. If there is one thing learned from Brakhage’s work, it’s that I have a lot to learn about using film strips.

Overall I learned today that experimental film making will reject most things I have learned so far about film-making. However, I must embrace them head on to have a more diverse perspective of telling a story in the form of a moving picture.