Just a few years a go I went to the cinema on a regular basis but now I find nothing interesting enough to entice me to hand over nearly seven pounds to the cinema so as a film lover sick of rubbish films here are my top tips for film makers.
Be Original
Just because one animated animal movie did well doesn't mean we need ten more of them, unless you have a new take (and I mean new take not just a new setting) on it don't even bother save your time and try to think of something different that hasn't been done yet or at least hasn't been done that recently.
Know Your Audience
Too many films today don't know who there audience are and try to do something that appeals to everyone but while this may make you some money on release you'll find it in the bargain bin by next year. By knowing your audience you can tune your film to them making it more likely to join the classics such as Dirty Dancing, IT, Grease and Halloween that are still loved decades after their release. These film knew who they were aimed and didn't pretend to be more than they were that's what makes them great!
No Remakes
Ok enough with the remakes already I'm tired of watching films and tv shows I loved as a child be butchered by remakes that can never capture the film way that the original did, especially those that change vital parts like the characters nationality! (wickerman)
Make Sequels Relevant
Make sequels relevant to the film they are following while continuing to have their own plot. My reason for saying this is I watched the sequel to House On Haunted Hill the other night as I had loved the first one and it went off 'the statue is possessed and causes evil' theme which ruined it. I can think of much better plots for a sequel.
Get Back To Basics
While CGI is great in the right places you don't need to go overboard with it to show what a big budget your film has. I've seen some good horrors that would have been better had the monsters not been so obviously done by computer (I am Legend). Classics like Nightmare on Elm Street, IT and King Kong didn't need it so why do we now?
Know Your History
If your film is part of a series or based on a tv show or book make sure you stick to its history and everything that has come before it especially if your film is likely to appeal to a particular audience. Some big names film brands could get away with trying something new but recently I heard about the "new Star Trek" if it can be called that. I don't think a single one of them has watched an episode of the show and it shows in the plot, unfortunately for them the way I see it, the fact that it deviates so wildly from everything Trek is about will put the Trekkies off and everyone else is put off my the fact its Star Trek so it will bomb! Think your ideas through!
Think things through
As I said above thing things through especially thinking about your most likely audience, annoy them are your in trouble. Also check your films for plot holes or inconsistencies, in Return to House on Haunted Hill there seemed to be a lot of light coming from supposedly locked down windows shut off by metal covers. Also the those who saw the first one will remember that at the remaining characters found the checks for five million so can you explain to me why in the second one the character is living in a cramped dingy house.
