By Scott Shaw
As I frequently
discuss, hardly a week goes by that someone does not contact me about The
Roller Blade Seven and wants to discuss some aspect of that Zen Film. Which is
great! That’s fine! I get it… It’s a bizarre film. And, that is exactly what we
had in mind when we created it. Though, in all honesty, that was never the
vision I had for my film career when I first entered the industry. But, I’ve
said all this before…
The thing about
Roller Blade Seven and all the turmoil that surrounded its creation is, so many
people see that film and believe that is where Zen Filmmaking ended. They think
that somehow RB7 is the end-all culmination of Zen Filmmaking. It is not. In fact,
due to all of the craziness during the Production, the Post Production, and the
initial Distribution of RB7, one can conclude that RB7 is anything but true Zen
Filmmaking. Yes, it is crazy. Yes, it is weird. Yes, we had a lot of fun making
it. Yes, it has etched a place for itself in Cult Film History but did Zen
Filmmaking begin and end with that film? No.
As each
production possesses its own set of criteria and definitions, RB7 had its own,
as well. And, that is what defines that film. But again, was what took place
and what was presented on the screen in that film the end-all of Zen
Filmmaking? No, not at all. That film just was what that film was. Nothing
more, nothing less.
As I always tell
everybody, Zen Filmmaking is never about the story. …The stories have all been
told… Zen Filmmaking is about a visual cinematic experience. It is about
invoking emotions and thoughts in the mind of the viewer. As each person brings
their own set of standards and ideologies to every/any film that they watch,
anyone who ever sees a Zen Film will come away with something different. …As
they should…
FYI: I haven't
made a narrative-driven Zen Film since 2009 so what most people who discuss Zen
Filmmaking are talking about is actually ancient history.
The fact is, Zen
Filmmaking is more about philosophy that about actual cinema. And, this is
where so many critics and movie watchers get it wrong. It is about embracing a
philosophic vision on the screen. As such, even if you project one never-ending
single image on the screen, that can be Zen Filmmaking, if Zen Filmmaking is
what you hope to invoke with that single image.
I know there are
a couple of film schools that teach courses on Zen Filmmaking. Of course, none
of them, (at least not yet), have invited me to come and give a seminar or be
the actual instructor… But, that’s okay. I get it. They want to control the
message—even though I am the one invented the message. Yeah sure, I own the
Trademark. Yeah sure, I instigated and formalized the understanding. But, like
I always say, “Make it your own…” You don’t have to do what I do to make a Zen
Film. You simply have to do what you do.
Zen Filmmaking is
about the freedom of naturalness. It is not about following any film formula
that I may have used in the past. From this very definition it gives rise to
the understanding that there are no definitions. …Not even the definition of no
definition. …As isn’t that the ultimate understanding of Zen?
So, for all you
people out there writing and talking about RB7, remember that was the beginning
of Zen Filmmaking, it was not the end. It keeps changing. It keeps evolving. So
please, don’t hold myself, my filmmaking, or other Zen Filmmakers locked into
that place in time. That was there. That was then. Now, I am here. Where are
you?
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