Every filmmaker has a list of their favorite movies. For many, these are not the same movies that a critic would have in their list. For filmmakers, it’s usually something different. It’s something specific. Maybe this particular film has great writing, or this film has one great dolly move and rest of the film is junk. Or, overall this movie was OK, but the behind the scenes extra was one of the greatest I’ve ever seen.
This is the point of this new series on EricHansen.tv. We’re going to look at movies that I believe every filmmaker should own not because they are the greatest movies ever made, but because of the specific things filmmakers and students can learn from them.
Why didn’t I title this “Movies Every Filmmaker Should See”? Well, for me and my quest to learn everything I can about filmmaking, I’ve found that the greatest resources are the commentary tracks and DVD Extras. As great as streaming/download outlets like Hulu, Netflix and iTunes are, they don’t include any of the extra features of the DVD or Blu-Ray. Also, in many cases, the superior Special Edition versions of the films may not be available for streaming or rental. So buying, or otherwise getting your hands on a physical copy of the DVD or Blu-Ray is your only option.
Expect to see a few movies added to the list every month.