Film Craft and Artisans: An Introduction

Through the lens of social media, forums, dating websites and the myriad other ways of interacting, both digital and person to person, you can learn from people their interests — their hobbies — their passions. You see that peoples interests are so varied, diverse and personal that you may think how is it that they came to their love for dance, or gardening, music, sculpture, knitting, video games and everything else that can stir peoples’ creative and desiring minds.

My passion is film. As time passes my admiration and respect for the artisans and craftspeople who create the smallest, most intimate dramas to the greatest spectacles on the big screen hasn’t diminished but only grown. My intention is to celebrate and share the work and accomplishments of these men and women in their collective ambition for artistic expression, entertainment and advancing the art of motion pictures.

Many of the people I will write about have influenced me before I even knew their names or what their titles meant — without realizing it these artists were the foundation of some of my earliest memories. They are the source for my continued love for the film craft to this day. And with my expanding knowledge come new names and new talent; contemporary professionals who were equally inspired by the same names that were the basis of my understanding and passion for filmmaking. I will attempt to recognize the contribution of names both past and present.

As I have absorbed and learned the foundations of filmmaking I have sought to apply their techniques and disciplines to express myself as an artist, photographer and as a writer. Now and again I will share my work, and elaborate how cinematographers, production designers, concept artists and many more professionals in their respective fields have inspired me. Without their contributions and their generosity to share and educate others I wouldn’t have the resources to undertake this writing.

The collaborative experience of filmmaking is an aspiration of mine to grow not only as an artist but as a person. I also hope that people will enjoy what I’m writing.

My aim is to write a new page each week. We’ll see how that goes…

Coming soon: The Work and Inspiration of Dean Cundey, ASC