By Scott Shaw
As
I often detail, life is lived in the moment. Our life is made up of days, weeks,
years, decades, but it is the precise occurrences that take place within
specific moments of our life that we live to the utmost and truly remember.
From
a filmmaking perspective, when a movie is moving being filmed, we shoot all
kinds of footage to bring together and create a feature film. For those of us
who are cinematographers we try to capture images in the best and most artistic
manner possible. For those of us who have edited movies, there is no doubt, we
have seen specific moments within the entirety of the filmed footage that are
truly interesting; presenting a visually stimulating image and possibly even
giving birth to cinematic satori. As the editor of the film, perhaps that image
is beautiful or thought-provoking but as it contributes nothing to the greater
whole of the film being constructed, that scene is left behind and probably
lost forever.
Zen
Filmmaking is ultimately about forging a pathway to cinematic enlightenment. It
is about taking the art form of filmmaking and creating something artistic,
interesting, and mentally stimulating, while removing as many preconceived
notions and obstacles as possible.
Zen
filmmaking is not a stagnate entity. It is forever evolving.
More
recently, the evolution of Zen Filmmaking involved the Non-Narrative Zen Film. Now,
the next evolution of Zen Filmmaking is, “Movies in the Moment.” What is a Zen Film: Movie in the Moment? It is capturing a moving image, whether
intentionally or not, and allowing it to find its own perfection on the screen.
Whether this moving image exists in its own perfection for a few seconds or a
couple of minutes it is allowed to be whole and complete onto itself; seeking
no definition other than letting it be what it is.
In
traditional filmmaking you conceive, stage, light, and then film your subject.
This is not the case with a Zen Film: Movie in the Moment. For a Movie in the
Moment exists in its own perfection. It is simply you, as the witness, seeing
the art and capturing it.
In
today’s world, capturing moving images has become as immediate as those transient
images themselves. As such, a Zen Film: Movie in the Moment is the perfect art
form for today. It is free, it is easy, it
holds no rules, no definitions, and it is perfect onto itself. It it simply the
artistic vision of the individual who notices, realizes, and then films what is
taking place.
Let
your creative mind wander and when you a witness a moment that should be
captured, do it. Create art.
At
the Zen
Film Movies in the Moment Playlist on the Scott Shaw Zen Filmmaking
page on YouTube you can see some of the images I have grabbed and cast to
eternity.
No
rules. No definition. No Judgment. Just art.
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