Mumblecore: Films About Nothing (And Everything)

[@huda2379]

I’m not a film student,but I thought these type of films were called slice of life like some anime .

[@EvanKiddFilms]

Some of them could certainly be considered in that genre I think. Mumblecore is just one of many names that ended up sticking to them over the years.

[@its_me-nikki]

Me too!!

[@thebasedgodmax1163]

slice of life isn't really a genre, it's a type of movie. something like mid90s is a slice of life movie, but stylistically it's nothing like a mumblecore movie.

[@UncleDutchFilms]

This video is the best explanation for mumblecore films I couldn't find anywhere else. I'd personally relate Manchester By The Sea, A Ghost Story and Inside Llewyn Davis having similar themes to mumblecore. I am currently in the process of creating a film pertaining themes of mumblecore for my college final project, this video definitely helped me out with pinpointing what mumble films are.

[@DeetasDiary]

Mumblecore films are my current obsession. My staples are: Before Sunrise, Before We Go, The Sleepless, Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong, Dinner With Andre, Stay the Night... I liked scrolling down this comment section to discover other titles. Thank you for talking about mumblecore in this video!

[@Erasureeraser]

If there's a movie attached the Duplass Brothers as writers, they're easily some of my favourites

[@oliversmith797]

I so appreciate mumblecore! In Search of a Midnight Kiss is a favourite. Funny Ha ha and Mutual Appreciation also classic examples. I always thought the directionless form of mumblecore perfectly reflected the lives of the young adults that made them, and the lack of structure and the general malaise is a statement in itself. They're certainly films about a certain generation, understood best by a certain generation.

[@Erasureeraser]

I love mumblecore movies, I recently watched a lot of them and I didn't realized that most of my favourite mumblecore movies were from Greta Gerwig and The Duplass Brothers

[@saeedrashed2493]

Everything Joe Swanberg. I just got around watching his Netflix series Easy. The show is the title, easy to watch. And that’s what mumblecore is to me. By easy I don’t mean a passive-viewing, it was just as easy and simple as a hangout. He very much expounded upon the genre. Anyway yeah Mumblecore has become my recent fascination/obsession and I’d love to exploit that genre by making something in Arabic.

[@estebansteverincon7117]

3:06 if throwing plastic at a wall is 'action' now you know you're in trouble ;)

[@EvanKiddFilms]

Action packed stuff! ;) You got the joke haha.

[@TimGreig]

Wow. I had never heard of the term and came across your video in a search. I find it extraordinary that Americans could give a disparaging term to a film with no "action.". I know you're not that shallow. There's a vast array of French films for example, with their entire film is one room and three people talking. And they're absolutely fascinating: they're about life, about emotions and about family etc. Do you think this is about nothing? I'm not being critical, but it gave me such an amazing insight into the way your culture thinks.

[@EvanKiddFilms]

Hey Tim thanks so much for watching the video! I agree with you that those films in one room are super fascinating! I think that is about everything as I mentioned in the video not nothing personally and my owns films take many of these themes and conversations. I was attempting to address the way the broader culture where Mumblecore originated views these types of films for better or worse. I like Mumblecore personally and make movies as well that focus on simple conversations a lot of the times and there is certainly a taste for this that varies from person to person. As an American I do tend to notice when I make films that skew more mumblecore fellow Americans are usually less interested in those projects (than my more action driven films) and that my international audience connects with my conversational projects more. I guess there is somewhat of a culture shift here in America but there are also pockets of Americans that do love conversationally driven films/mumblecore... you just have to find them. Oddly enough the action I do put into my films (like the clip I added in this video where he throws the record player in my indie TV show Home Remedy) is still a direct result of a conversation that bubbles to a breaking point... from people in one location to get to that tension. I dunno. I love people talking! I do wish more of that was in mainstream American cinema these days. (Thats just me haha.)

[@preetiraviprakash]

I think you made a lot of really good points! And I think you have great delivery. Tx

[@EvanKiddFilms]

I appreciate that! Glad you got something out of the video. Gonna make some more soon on similar topics and genres.

[@lugubriousnate8014]

The Puffy Chair and Quiet City were the two films that introduced me to the genre in the early 2010s. Only very recently remembered this genre existed and, whilst searching for related vids on the topic, came across this one. Thank you for the great essay.

[@EvanKiddFilms]

Thank you for watching! It's an interesting time capsule of a film genre, that has elements that are still used to this day in cool ways in new films. Cheers!

[@davidmaestas2915]

Mine was also The Puffy Chair. But, also, check out The Dish And The Spoon.

[@danield9488]

I wasnt aware this was a genre at all, really happy i found Mutual Appreciation again id forgotten what it was called for 15 years until yesterday

[@its_me-nikki]

I’m just learning this term “mumblecore”, always considered it “slice of life”. Now that I know, I must see every-single-film in this sub genre.

[@jonathanszeligowski8363]

Francis Ha is one of my favorite films. What other movies are there that are similar?

[@EvanKiddFilms]

There are movie kinda similar to Francis Ha, but there is truly only one Francis Ha. That film is magical and I love it.

[@jonathanszeligowski8363]

Evan Kidd would you have a recommended viewing list for similar films to Francis Ha?

[@EvanKiddFilms]

​@@jonathanszeligowski8363 Not a list and not exactly super similar. However I think that The Puffy Chair, Bored In The USA, and Kicking and Screaming all touch sooooooort of similar areas. And are worth a watch.

[@IvyWolk]

Claudia Weill's GIRLFRIENDS is basically frances ha but from the 70s. it's great

[@rumundutu7533]

*Frances

[@hootu]

Didn't come across this term until today. Cos my friend said the film we made is a form of mumblecore

[@diulikadikaday]

Ok, I get it now. I started watching the latest season of "Master of None" featuring Lena Thwaite and that feels like mumblecore. Lingering on scenes for 15 seconds with nothing happening, snippets of everyday life. Many times it feels like nothing is happening until later and then you start to see the significance. Or sometimes there is no significance.

[@moxyblackfiddler]

Medicine for Meloncholy and The Exploding Girl are my favorites.

[@MatheusC1729]

Doing my homework for Seth Meyers

[@therichkenyon]

Awesome video! Love me some mumblecore.

[@EvanKiddFilms]

Me too! Quality varies no doubt and there are a few duds. However I think there is a general spirit in all the movies that I can appreciate of the slice of life no matter how simple. Cheers!

[@rohaansahu2924]

Thanks for all the work and knowledge u put into this video

[@jordanmichaelsutton7696]

this is good man. thanks for making this

[@EvanKiddFilms]

Glad you enjoyed the video. More like this on the way!

[@djmips]

Mumblecore video

[@vildexoksnes]

Great video dude, thanks! I do wonder if mumblecore is only for filmmakers, as they tend to be about creative people, relying on a heavy curiosity of what the style yields more than the more obvious hero’s journey?

[@MimiMortmain]

Thank you for introducing me to this! :) I wonder why so many were making these types of films in the 2000s

[@toothpickvideos94]

I think it would be a fun challenge to try and make something utilizing mumblecore themes and techniques.

[@EvanKiddFilms]

Agreed. Especially right now as a one person cast/crew type challenge. Would fit mumblecore pretty well I think.

[@sadafsedighzadeh8945]

thank you, this was gr8!

[@EvanKiddFilms]

Glad you liked it!

[@storskegg]

I think the concept goes back a while. I'm thinking "Coffee & Cigarettes," which if I remember right Jarmusch started back in the 80's?

[@EvanKiddFilms]

Indeed. I would agree with you that it has roots going before the early 2000's. I think it just became more widespread in the early 2000's because camera technology became so much cheaper and more accessible. Thus more folks started doing it. And it got its "official name" as Mumblecore then too. Thanks for watching Liam!

[@averylegendre8709]

Great video (and nice Louisiana memorabilia)

[@EvanKiddFilms]

Glad you enjoyed it. (And thanks Avery!)

[@filmkid4]

Love mumblecore films!

[@chrisriggi1885]

Really liked this video. Thanks for making!

[@EvanKiddFilms]

My pleasure!

[@tonic777]

Good explanation. Thanks!

[@EvanKiddFilms]

Thanks for watching!

[@RyanVoorhies]

Wonderful explanation.

[@DRmrTG]

I'm here because of Seth

[@car_carrie]

Thanks for the infor Evan :)

[@WillhiteStephen]

Would The Comedy be considered mumblecore?

[@cestladope]

Eric Rohmer is the father of them all.

[@EnterTranscend]

3:59 - That's a false dichotomy. Films aren't just mumblecore and movies with big set pieces. The audience just wants something to happen and something needs to happen for it to be a story. A perfect example of this is 'Little Miss Sunshine'. It has no big set pieces but it's dynamic and you can feel that change. Story is about change. SHAMELESS PLUG: My video about Character Arcs covers how to implement change in story CHARACTER ARC 101: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJmckmpofdx4hacsi=OylRTq7VhQyloPww Hope you like it!

[@alphalax7747]

Studio Ghibli movies is like mumblecore mixed with fantasy