Comments on: Get Inspired: Top 5 Movies About Artists

By: simon

simon — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 08:57:24 +0000

If you lifted your ban on films about fictional artists, you could include Jacques Rivette’s “La Belle Noiseuse” - four compelling hours about the creation of just one portrait (which we never get to see).

By: phil

phil — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 06:12:06 +0000

i guess, for legal reasons, i should add:
‘film # 1′ is a conception documentary short. ‘film # 1 is a working title in progress, a title that can, and will be changed in the future. the film was a documentation of a life experiment by Gabe Lueders and those he interacted with during this month long process. the film was written & directed by Gabe Lueders. filming was accomplished by Gabe Lueders, Philip Charles Whiting, with additional filming by Ken Keiran. Editing by Philip Charles Whiting. Pre-production by Gabe Lueders. Post Production by Gabe Lueders and Philip Charles Whiting. Produced by Insight Productions. Copywright of Insight Productions 2005. (Veiwability on this website is copywrighted through the bi-laws of the Descending Ashtray Website. Availability of viewing can and will be restricted by webmaster permissions.) Gabe Lueders and Insight Production hold all rights to this film documentary, its veiwability, and its downloadability

By: phil

phil — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 05:44:16 +0000

very good review. though i have seen all of these movies there are a few i would like to review again. thanks for the memory update, (mine tends to fall off sometimes, and needs a jump start). i would say that ‘i shot andy warhol’ would have been in my top five because i have differences of opinion with andy for his blatant use (or missuse) of other artists’ genius. i also liked ’surviving picasso’ because i think an artist’s life is as important as his works or process. for what is art without life? lastly an addition that was severely overlooked: ‘film # 1′ that was shot, edited, produced, and viewed only here in iowa (except the archive veiwable here on DA courtesy of dave)

By: Gabe

Gabe — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 04:04:00 +0000

What a good review of some great movies! This is probably the longest and most indepth post that we have had so far.

There is a common theme running through these films. And although I have not seen “The Agony and The Ecstacy”, its very title sums up the point I would like to make. The artists these films are about have some how, some way pulled themselves through the struggle of being unmotivated. It has effected them, it effects you and me every day.

The struggle can come with many different faces, whether it is feeling uninspired, or too tired from a long day of work or working on the house, or spending too much time with friends and drinking. Whatever it is, the struggle happens. It happened to them and it happens to us. The question then becomes, is the will to create stronger than the will to avoid the struggle?

Although it feels good to be inspired, sometimes the most important work that can be done as an artist is continuing to work while feeling unmotivated. The brain functions by creating habit patterns in the mind. Meaning the more that we do something the easier it will become. The secret to this is not to want things to be easier but to make the habit patterns in your brain what you want them to be.

The first few days of the Vipassana Meditation for me were some of the hardest days of my life. Especially on the 4th day when we were asked to sit perfectly still without moving for an entire hour! Some how I was able to do it, even though it was very hard. I know for sure I would not have been able to if I had not started developing the habit pattern during the first three days. Now I can sit still without moving for an hour or two without much struggle. I don’t mean to brag about this acomplishment but I do want make a point that this can be done with any struggle in our lives.

I personally have been thinking more about how I can apply this to my art by being able to push through the periods of being uninspired.