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Views #675 | Intermediate 5

Pros-Cons of Film Making

Jeff looks back on the film he made and goes over what he liked about it.
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Todd: OK, now Jeff, you were saying that you made a movie. Could you talk about what was the best best thing, or the highlight of making a movie?

Jeff: Todd, documentary. We made a documentary, television documentary. The best thing about making the television documentary, it was independent, so we had total control. We shot what we wanted, when we liked and I think that was the best thing. We were our own bosses so I think when you're working for someone else you lose creativity so we could do anything we liked so that was the best thing.

Todd: Sorry, documentary. So, then what was the worst thing. Like what are some troubles that you had that really drove you nuts?

Jeff: Well, because it was independent, we had nobody helping us, which meant all the technical, the artistic decisions were made by us and we had no idea what were doing, so when you have no idea what you are doing and you're working by yourself it can be very, very difficult, very frustrating, just the lack of knowledge, not knowing what you're doing so yeah, that was the hardest thing.

Todd: So if you were to make a documentary again, now that you've made one, what do you know now that you would do differently?

Jeff: We'd hire some professional help because it's too difficult to do it on your own. We picked up a camera. We bought a camera and we started filming this and we had no idea of what we were doing so it was too difficult. Next time, which we think we will do another one we will hire some professional help, professional cameraman, and maybe someone that has graduated from art school.

Todd: So you say you would like to do another documentary. What would you like to do a documentary on?

Jeff: Well, we have a couple of ideas. We have to main ideas now. One is to canoe from, canoe down the Dawsin River which is in the artic in Northern Canada, which would be very interesting: rugged nature and animals and like the pioneers from years ago, and the other one is to drive a alternative fuel vehicle, from the top, to the tip of South America and that would be fueled by human pooh, so those are two next ideas. Both are difficult so those are the ideas we have.

Todd: OK, Jeff, we'll be checking our TV guide waiting for those great documentaries. Thanks.

Learn Vocabulary from the lesson

the highlight

What was the best thing or the highlight of making a movie?

The 'highlight' of something is the most interesting or exciting part of it. Notice the following:

  1. Getting married was the highlight of their year.
  2. The boat trip was definitely the highlight of the vacation?

total control

The best thing is that it was independent, so we had total control.

When you have 'total control' over something, you have power over all that you are doing. Notice the following:

  1. If you want to have total control over your book, you will need to publish it yourself.
  2. He has his own company, so he's in total control of his situation.

drive you nuts

What are some troubles that you had that really drove you nuts?

Something that 'drives you nuts' irritates you, makes you frustrated or makes you angry. Notice the following:

  1. It drives her nuts when people are late.
  2. Skipping CD's drive me nuts.

lack of knowledge

The hardest thing was the lack of knowledge or not knowing what you're doing.

When you have a 'lack of knowledge,' it means that you don't know or have experience with something. Notice the following:

  1. She's nervous to buy a new car alone because of her lack of knowledge in that area.
  2. His lack of knowledge about technology may be funny for other people, but it's very frustrating for him.

rugged

It would be interesting to see the rugged nature and animals as you canoe down the river.

Something that is 'rugged' is in its natural condition and is rough and unrefined. Notice the following:

  1. There aren't many nice beaches around here. Most of the shore is rugged and full of rocks.
  2. It's important that you wear good shoes, because the walking trail is very rugged.
Answer these questions about the interview.

 

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