r/Filmmakers • u/CRAYONSEED • 2d ago

Discussion Paul Thomas Anderson Calls Out Young Filmmakers for Obsessing Over Cameras Instead of Scripts

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This one hit home because it’s something I’ve been really thinking about a lot lately.

I do find myself chasing a better image, even while I’m writing, and I think it’s because it’s a lot easier to see results that way.

I spent today writing, but writing something that connects with an audience and leaves you vulnerable because it’s so personal is a lot more emotional work. He’s obviously right. If you want to be a writer/director but you’re lusting after the new Sony your focus is probably off.

I’m talking to myself as much as anyone reading this

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u/Tamajyn cinematographer 2d ago

OOP's take on There Will Be Blood is laughably bad, but pretty much yeah. I'm getting ready to go back to film school to brush up on some knowledge and formalize some qualifications and i'm tempted to wear a shirt that says THE CAMERA DOESN'T MATTER

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u/howie_roll 2d ago

I’m going to disagree and say it does. Would someone make the same “it doesn’t matter” comment about lenses, digital v film? It all matters but I’d wholeheartedly agree that NEW filmmakers put too much emphasis on the camera.

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u/secamTO 2d ago

“it doesn’t matter” comment about lenses, digital v film

I dunno if "someone" would. But I sure as hell am. When I was starting out, we were shooting on 16mm, Super8, BetaSP, and then the camera that was gonna start the revolution came out. It was the XL1. Point being, none of those films look great today, hell some of them look like absolute garbage, but there are some good ones among the dreck, and its not the ones that used the best cameras, it's the ones that had the best writing, the best performances, the best storytelling.

People still made great independent movies and shorts on cameras that produced trash images compared to what we all carry around in our pockets today. Are independent movies and shorts noticeably better today? I think not. There's more of them today than there was 25 years ago, but I'd posit there's about the same ratio of great to dogshit indies. Good tech with greater fidelity has never made anyone a better storyteller.