Sunday, June 16, 2013

A Few Thoughts On The Roller Blade Seven By Scott Shaw

By Scott Shaw

            It always amazes me that a week virtually never goes by that somebody doesn’t contact me regarding the film, The Roller Blade Seven. Some love it, some hate it, but everybody wants to talk about it.
            As most of you know, I have made well over fifty films. The Roller Blade Seven was made twenty years ago. As I have mentioned in so many interviews, books, and articles, it amazes me how many people are still watching and talking about that movie. I mean books and Master Degree Thesis’ have been written about the film!
            As I have also mentioned many times, everything Don Jackson and I did in that movie, its sequel, Return of the Roller Blade Seven, and its off-shoot, Hawk: Warrior of the Wheelzone, was done very consciously: from the casting, to lighting, to the cinematography, onto the acting. Some people have called it bad-acting. But that too was a choice. For those of you who want to reference the acting style, all you have to do is watch some of the Sci-Fi Republic Series from the 1940s and 1950s. Plus, I mean look at the careers of some of the actors that took part in the film(s): Golden Globe Winner and Academy Award Nominee, Karen Black. Don Stroud who had a phenomenal acting career. And, the list goes on... Even the locations were very consciously chosen. I mean just look at some of those locations in the film. They are spectacular!  This, “Choice,” went onto the editing and the music. 
            We knew what we were doing! We were very consciously pushing the envelope of modern cinema and presenting an expression of abstract art upon film. If someone doesn’t understand Film Art then they may not like the film. For those who are cinematically refined enough to appreciate Film Art, they love it!
            So, whatever we did, I guess we did the right thing. If you ever want to read more about the making of the film, check out my book, Zen Filmmaking. There is a chapter on the film in there.
            But, people, believe me, I have made a lot of other films!!!  Some better, some worse. But, few have been talked about as much.

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