SOME RULES FOR MAKING BETTER FILMS
Maximise new world-building in each scene. Even if we’re in The Real World Today, there are so many opportunities to show character and novelty in each environment. What are the bits of the world that the character holds close. What are the things they crerate and use. Even if we’re going in on a single vibe, eg. gothic, take us on a tour of all of the settings appropriate to that genre (see: Guillermo Del Toro’s work from Pacific Rim onward.
Show us how people live. Give us that slice of life to help establish a setting. Having a few different everyday interactions is good because it gives a sense of the neighbourhood, and a sense of normalcy. Also, more novelty is more satisfying and builds up the foundation of the world. The foundation is what is normal and if that happens to be both very familiar but in some way exceptional, you win. Consider filming your fantasy (and every film is a fantasy) like it’s a documentary in those moments between the drama.
Let us hang out with the characters. Talk is cheap, so once you created a space, let us luxuriate in it, and discover new details from shot to shot.
Use as few shots as possible. Be economical. Fewer setups, means more time, means more budget. And more deliberate framing means that art dept can focus there efforts on the places we’re actually going to see. This applies especially to the drama. Do not be stingy. The first two points rely on you showing more of the world than most do.
Univisium by default. 16:9, or even DCI is out. Univisium is in. It’s the baseline. Go for wider ratio if you want, but no taller than Univisium for films.
Non-breathing spherical lenses by default. If you’ve got a good reason to use messy glass, by all means. Sometimes it’s easier to bury digital set extension in the mix. Sometimes it helps sell the fantasy. Maybe our perspective involves seeing the world through glass and distortions. If you’re not going to wear pants, though, have a good reason.
The poor tend toward cool; the super rich tend toward depravity. This is just a way to do some fun politics through film, and avoid material status as a character trait/virtue.
On set, best idea wins.
It’s gotta be a tight ninety. If you want more, you’ve gotta earn it.