ചേതസ്സ് സത്യമേവ ജയതേ നാനൃതം
The manner in which content is presented is form. In cinema, to have a coherent and provocative outlook of life that it shows, the story needs to be revealed in a particular and purposeful way. The filmmaker must find a form unique to the story’s purpose and nature. Designing a film’s form involves more than figuring out the angle and lens for shoot. It means articulating a clear and provocative purpose for telling a story visually.
Style is often and confusingly interchanged with form. Jean-Luc-Godard says about form: “To me, style is just the outside of content, and content the inside of style, like the outside and inside of the human body- both go together, they can’t be separated.”
The style of a film is the visible influence of it’s maker’s identity. When the audience recognizes a filmmaker, its because the filmmaker has a characteristic form, a mark of individual personality, virtually uncontrollable element that is style.
Setting out to develop a style leads to superficiality and attention-demanding gimmickry. The best way is to develop your deepest interests and to make the best movie you can out of the imprint left by your formative experience.
Work sincerely and intelligently, as it truly connects your work to the audience. In film-making, you must expect a long evolution while you internalize all the technical and conceptual skills.
