“I only want to do the kind of work that I would like to go and see, that's going to teach me something new, that involves working with people I can learn something from and I can give something to.” - Jude Law
I do believe that actors, directors, screenwriters, composers, etc. should experience some level of growth with each film that they make. So, I agree with Jude Law’s views on working on projects where he’ll learn something new. It’s also worth noting how great it is that he chooses movie roles that he would support himself, as a moviegoer. Like giving rave reviews for a product that I either don’t like or wouldn’t use, writing a script that I wouldn’t want to watch play out on screen defeats the whole purpose of trying to make films that are seen by more people than my parents.
If I’m going to go as far as producing a screenplay, then I might as well write one that I would go check out, if it were written by someone else. I’ve done this often when deciding on whether to support certain charities and figuring out if I should pursue certain documentary subjects -- If the answer is no, it’s because I often thought “I wouldn’t watch this if it was on TV and I wouldn’t care about what the people featured in it had to say, so I’m not making a documentary about....” -- so, the same should apply at the script stage.
Check out Part 3, the final installment in a line of Jude Law quotes that have me thinking about how to approach this short screenplay that I’ve been trying to complete. Or, read Part 1 of my recent script writing notes, if you missed it.
What is the most important aspect of a movie that makes YOU like it or hate it? Is the Plot a factor? Actors? Relational aspects to your life/beliefs/experiences? Production Value? Subject matter (heroes; crime; love; war; underdogs; fantasy; babies, etc.)? or something else?