Stop Trying To Make A Great Movie - Joston Ramon Theney

[@filmcourage]

Here is our full interview with Joston - kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqG2hIWgiMdrY80

[@primordialcreative]

I found this about 3 months into abandoning all social media and friends from a previous life. Hearing Joston articulate how he got rid of the social media to focus and grow is what I needed to hear to keep going, finally finish that film, that comic, that book or whatever we obsessive creatives are putting our energy towards. Wonderful talk in this one.

[@AmericanActionReport]

In business classes, I've always told my students, "If everybody says it's a great idea, it may be a good idea, but it won't be a great idea. The great ideas are the ones everybody says are crazy until somebody makes them work." That was the story of Disneyland ("Why should amusement parks have a theme?"), drilling for oil in 1856 ("The guy's crazy. Nobody's ever done it before."), "Stagecoach" ("Who'd want to watch a big budget western?"), "Star Wars" ("Science fiction films are on the way out, and besides, the budget is too big for a sci-fi."), and so on.

[@filmcourage]

We like that quote. Thanks for posting Jerry!

[@BillLaBrie]

Conventional ideas will always bring conventional results, at best.

[@kuramobay2445]

The actor's name he's trying to remember is Ray Winstone who was also in The Departed.

[@dancollier4632]

Of scum fame

[@joba606]

He was in Sexy Beast with Ben Kingsley.

[@JuliaMayn]

This is a good mindset to adopt- Don’t try to be great, just try to be truthful and honest with your characters 🙏🏽💯

[@christophermoonlightproduction]

"Great is the enemy of good." It's an old saying but a wise one. I also think that goes for people's preoccupation with being original. They place so much importance in it before they even know how to be serviceable in their craft. I always tell people, learn to be serviceable and good will come. Strive for greatness and you often won't even accomplish serviceable. If you happen to become great, it's a product of paying attention to the former.

[@christophermoonlightproduction]

@Criss Wolfe Good comparison.

[@miguelfmyers]

I love hearing this guy’s opinion. Thanks film courage for existing.

[@filmcourage]

Cheers Miguel!

[@seanferguson5460]

"Why is it so hard to make a great movie?" If greatness in anything were easy everything would be great. If there were an easy formula or a technique that led to greatness we'd all employ it. So the question is unanswerable but Joston's response to it is pleasing and enlightening. And I have a new movie to watch: 44 Inch Chest. Many thanks, as always.

[@mabusestestament]

I agree with you overall 🍻, but there are some film makers who arguably did know how to make great movies. We can of course disagree on which particular film makers we're talking about (and even they might have lost it at some point), but people like Stanley Kubrick, Akira Kurosawa, Andreij Tarkovsky, perhaps Alfred Hitchcock, Orson Welles and Fritz Lang? I wouldn't say it was 'easy' for them as if they didn't have to put effort into it, but still.

[@StepbyStepPhotographyandVideo]

@@mabusestestament I think with those directors that you mentioned, that they were always working mentally, always pouring coal on the fire, not able to really turn it off. They're imaginations were always on.

[@level_ken5231]

“Focus and grow.” That’s where it’s at.

[@ray-dentertainment]

There's so many unique 80's films that I think are so underrated. Sure, they may not have the best "production value" and they aren't the most realistic stories, but I think that's what makes them so great. They're creative and intuitive, and that's something you can't replace: someones subjective imagination.

[@bacht4799]

Repo Man and Buckaroo Banzai comes to mind

[@hankthepatriot3733]

If you're curious: 44 inch chest: Ray Winstone (Black Widow) Ian Mcshane (John Wick) John Hurt (Alien, Doctor Who) Tom Wilkinson (The Patriot, Batman Begins) Writers: David Scinto, Louis Mellis I'm ABSOLUTELY am curious now!

[@BigOleMatty]

why would black widow be the movie you use to describe ray winstone...the departed...ffs

[@matthewgordonpettipas6773]

Damn, I just commented it was Ray Winstone and here you beat me too it by three hours haha.

[@hankthepatriot3733]

@@matthewgordonpettipas6773 sorry about that! But hey... great minds right!!!

[@AllThingsFilm1]

First, I have queued up "44 Inch Chest" to watch later. Joston Theney convinced me with his review to check it out. Secondly, a great film for me is one that 1) makes me care about the characters, or at least the main character, 2) completely immerses me in the story world 3) Keeps me engaged throughout the film no matter where the ride goes, and 4) never insults my intelligence or has the main character make stupid choices - as we most often find in horror films. There are probably more factors, but, I'll stick with those for now. As a perspiring - er, aspiring writer, I know one of the main keys is to write what you know. Which for me means that my story has a premise that I have some emotional experience in. Whether or not I learned from it, is another story. Thanks again, Film Courage - and Karen - for imparting more invaluable gems for me to absorb and store for future reference.

[@andyserkiz3384]

Paradoxically, if you are truthful and honest you might create something great.

[@joshbryant6366]

the best artists compete only with themselves

[@TeeUrm]

Joston's idea of what a great movie is, is healthy and accessible.

[@blackentrepreneur244]

This was great advice. I had writers block for about 3months. This inspired me to pick up the pen again.

[@filmcourage]

Love to hear that! Keep creating!

[@slikdiggy1529]

Great video. Great speech. Great for life

[@leonardoneomokoena623]

Wise words, I’ve always told people everything starts with you, wether on life or business, everything starts with how you see it.

[@matthewgordonpettipas6773]

I try my hardest not to compare myself to other writers I know. Its hard but it keeps me sane. I know for others it motivates them but for me it holds me down and makes me focus more on what I'm NOT doing more than my current projects

[@crucifixgym]

I tried to watch 6 minutes of a movie with spectacular reviews in the trailer, forget leaving the theater, I had to leave the living room. I have to see this 44 inch chest movie, love all those actors.

[@pharoahpharoah2715]

44 inch chest is a classic!! One of my all time favorites.. my favorite scene is how the main character described love to his wife… he said(in my words) “love is like a garden.. we haven’t been doing our part..that’s why we can’t see each other.. we have to cut the weeds etc” or something like that..I still learn from that analogy

[@AironExTv]

Thanks for the film tip. Always looking for good British/Irish films.

[@fiddlersontheramp5417]

This guy has the right attitude to life.

[@JayFingers]

I LOVE “44 Inch Chest!” 🤣🤣🤣 I watched it because it felt like a spiritual sequel to the equally awesome “Sexy Beast.”

[@williambartholmey5946]

Sexy Beast has long been one of my favorites. I'll have to see this now.

[@JayFingers]

They both star Ray Winstone and Ian McShane, and share the same writers.

[@williambartholmey5946]

@@JayFingers Yeah, I'm pretty sure I've been aware of it in the past; my overall movie-watching has fallen off a cliff the past few years.

[@carlharrison6476]

It's one of my favourite films too. Angelo Badalamenti did the score.

[@athuairush235]

I love it, thank you!!!

[@filmcourage]

What do you like about this video?

[@thekeikoprojectdocumentary]

That you should stop comparing yourself to others, leave social media, try to make the best film possible and don't give up.

[@hankthepatriot3733]

What I took from Joston's advice... Know yourself and stay true to yourself! Don't let others influence YOUR story.

[@NickSklias]

"Don't try to be great. Just try to be truthful and honest -- to the story, to your characters. Try that."

[@walterpost9073]

My scripts are not as good as the ones by Christopher Nolan. I gotta stop writing immediately. Jk but I really appreciate what he said in the video. Liking what you do is kinda the key for happiness in life I guess.

[@coutodigital_]

This Channel is so important to me, thank you!

[@rivenmotors7981]

Excellent episode, I've been struggling with my feature editing and this helps to take myself out of the equation. thank you!

[@penhdog2207]

I needed this today. This video is syncronicity for me on this Monday morning when he talks about comparing yourself to others etc having just woken up after a semi sleepless night doing exactly just that. Such great advice. BTW I think its the same guy who wrote Sexy Beast which is also basically a one location gangster movie. This video saved to my ínspiration' list.

[@sethbrundels]

Next Day Air is like that for me...

[@gregoryrea7071]

This guy's great 👍

[@OB-LA]

I LOVE 44 Inch Chest, I thought that it was overlooked and misjudged as well.

[@pixelart0124]

Very inspiring guy...

[@PawasTastic]

I really REALLY needed this! Thank you so much!

[@filmcourage]

Glad it was helpful!

[@acehowell701]

This is gold!

[@que8520]

Ray Winston

[@grantgreyguda]

👍 👍

[@Imagivotion]

Ray Winstone!

[@gudduentertains]

Ray Winston is the name of the actor he wanted to say ❤️❤️❤️

[@vijaygopal101]

@Film Courage I know we ought to be taking notes and all...but it would be so educational if you guys could mention the key movie names, book titles, song/band names, cultural zeitgeist, et cetera, that transpires over the course of the interviews in the description, just so we can easily seek them out! 😅 an appendix of sorts! And thanks a lot for the great work that you guys have been doing for so long. Its very muc h a major part of my free online DIY film school curriculum! 😃 purring....

[@BigOleMatty]

so 44 inch chest is similar to reservoir dogs? but instead of finding a rat they have to determine whether or not to kill the person who left with the lead's wife?

[@E91medi]

Wise words, this is great words

[@grahamcliff4006]

Ray Winstone! :)

[@JohnJordache]

R A Y W I N S T O N E.

[@jean-paulsara6160]

Nails it. How to breathe 101.

[@jerryj.2346]

Great mindset to enjoy film. Rotten Tomatoes has put rotten tomatoes on many movies I fell in love with immediately.

[@sweet_cinema9120]

The Departed, that's what he was talking about with Jack nicholson and Leo

[@memowilliam9889]

Pink Floyd’s _The Wall_ A movie everyone hated ... except the audience. They loved it. I forget who said it; maybe one of the band members; someone involved in the project.

[@ATLANTASOWNSMOOTHTMACK]

Pretty Solid😎

[@matthewgordonpettipas6773]

I think the actor he was trying to remember is Ray Winstone?

[@Xavier_Sc]

Merci !

[@filmcourage]

Hi Xavier, thank you so much! We appreciate you supporting this channel. We love our interview with Joston. Look forward to sharing more with you.

[@MelbourneShorts11]

Watch sexy beast, Another great UK gangster film.

[@debrapeebles1]

I saw this movie years ago and thought it was tight too. I saw it on Acorn TV, or the like. It was a bit dark visually, which made it a bit irritating. Ray Winstone. Loved JoAnna Whaley!

[@joba606]

Ray Winstone.

[@JCResDoc94]

i dont even need to try. -JC

[@BraveStars]

Ray Winstone

[@ThePharaohsCat]

Americans.😏Ray Winstone.

[@matthewdisbrow507]

The measure in which he is talking about is actually two fold. It is the G.O.AT. (greatest of all time) status that is why people compare instead of asking are they great? or in this context is this movie great. An example of this is Disney's animated Aladdin against Lord of the Rings against The Departed. They are different films and should not be compared but are all great for their contributions. The second thing he was talking about is leaching, by which someone associates their film with another film and they start to emulate or copy trying to get a successful formula to commercial success. An example of this would be Marvel movies.

[@Upploadz]

Okay. I'm watching "44 Inch Chest" tonight.

[@filmcourage]

Let us know if you enjoyed it

[@ruukaoz]

my favorite movie is Inherent Vice, and its not even the best PAul Thomas Anderson movie. There will be blood and Phantom Thread are better objectively, but i still prefer Inheret Vice, because its not trying to be as polished or great as the other two i mentioned. It has elements that some people would call faults but for me it just works, not despite all of them, but more because of them. I resonate with that movie and i think it was deliberatly made for certain people. i want more risky movies, that aren't trying to be great for everyone. Those movies for me are good ones at best, not great for me.

[@UsurpersAndAssassins]

44 inch chest was amazing.

[@bluenoirpics]

It’s the double-edged sword thing, though…isn’t it? If Joston means that any true artist should try to “express” rather than “impress”, he’s certainly right. But over-insulation, if you will, can also be not the best choice. Shielding oneself from random and not necessarily very helpful FB comments is one thing, but there’s nothing wrong about comparing yourself to your peers. Any professional is supposed to know the theory of their craft, its history, and pay some attention to what’s happening around at the moment. Kubrick - arguably the best director ever (despite the intrinsic idiocy of any such statement, I could make a case why this specific one might actually make some sense) - was always very aware of everything of significance going on in the world of cinema in particular and arts in general. And how can you not be? Also, honesty isn’t quite a category of art. Or, to be more precise, it’s a necessary condition but not a sufficient one, right? Clearly, an artist should strive for as accurate depiction of reality as possible - otherwise it’d be propaganda, not art (especially, if one chooses to deliver deliberate lies). But there are also other aspects - a meaning, its value, how adequately it is conveyed using the language of an art form etc. In other words, you better be sure that you are not inventing the wheel or just indulging in some merry graphomania :)

[@cristina7317]

Man, your max might just not be enough for the most. They want higher ;) When you see a hundred Oscar movies you only want that, nothing lower!

[@matthawkins123]

RAY WINSTONE

[@Jay-ru3hx]

"the definition of great is subjective." That's all you need to know. I recently watched a movie that I thought was garbage, and I mean that I wish I could go back and time and get that time back. I went to check IMDb reviews and it had a 7.0. it was a lot of 9s and 10s and a lot of 1-3s. As often is the case, the 9-10 star reviews of movies that have, what probably has a proper term, but... what I call "cultural/societal lecturing," in their reviews, they say that the people that don't like the film are just disappointed because it's not the next Marvel movie. I don't know when this became sage wisdom instead of common knowledge, but people are different. Opinions vary. What is great to me may be garbage to you.

[@grungyasscinema]

*obsessively searches for 44 Inch Chest*

[@redringofdeathgamer]

I could turn off Bleed 4 Me. I did.

[@JermaineWV]

Now I have to watch 44 inch chest 😆

[@jamieholmes801]

Someone tag Roy Cockburn, he needs to see this

[@drjmapple5510]

Spoiler ALERT!

[@corporaterobotslave400]

All he describes in the first minute and fifteen is narcissism. Unfortunately, that is what too many ppl consist of these days: only themselves. A REAL ARTIST doesn't give a damn what others do. A REAL ARTIST will only focus on their art and how they present it. Nothing else should matter. You don't have a voice or a vision if you constantly have to compare yourself to others. No, that person is nothing more than a fraud, a hollow person, someone who can only reflect what others have, but can never have it themselves.

[@thisismagacountry1318]

Hollywood only knows how to do bad remakes (Charlie's Angels) and woke trash that's DOA (Eternals) so I think you're safe,...unless I win the lottery,...then I'm remaking Blazing Saddles with Leroy McClain and Bill Hader.

[@readMEinkbooks]

Made in the UK is a 'foreign' film? bwahahahahaha

[@bhotaling1]

Ray Winstone

[@CameronJamesPhillips]

Ray Winstone

[@peka1887]

Ray Winstone