Attention Young Filmmakers: Go See These Movies

“Let’s go see Attack the Block,” J said. “Okay, sure,” I replied. I had no clue what this movie was but it was a lazy Sunday afternoon and with the Denver Film Center only 2 blocks from our apartment, I figured why not? Here’s what IMDB says about it: “A teen gang in South London defend their block from an alien invasion.” A very succinct and accurate description, I couldn’t have said it better myself. The next day we decided to watch Box Elder for no reason other than it was on Netlix instant (or are we calling this one ‘quickstant’ now?) and it was shot in my hometown of Columbia, MO. The description on IMDB for this movie is anything but succinct, so I’ll do my best here: a group of unmotivated but witty college students survive their last years of higher education with style. These films are very different. Aliens versus no aliens, lazy white kids versus child gangs in government housing, you get the idea. But one important thing they both highlight is how to make a very successful film without money, or at least very much of it.

Attack the Block is a prime example of how to make an action-packed horror film with very little resources. By choosing 1 location (see: the block) the film locks the viewer in by only revealing information as the characters discover it. There’s no cut to a big government agency that exposes a conspiracy (which would probably be shot in somebody’s uncle’s dentist office or the like) or even to another part of London, much less the world. This was an idea that was always stressed to me at film school: if you know someone who owns a bar, right your movie so it takes place in a bar. Don’t waste your money trying to transform your location into something it’s not, and if you can make it relevant like Attack the Block choose only one location.

With more technological advancements CGI and special effects are getting more affordable. That doesn’t mean you should spend 90% of your budget on a 1998-looking monster. While it’s getting more affordable the quality of CGI used in big-budget films is rapidly improving and the small productions simply can’t compete. Attack the Block avoids the need for mediocre looking CGI by creating ominous villains that lack detail and aren’t used for many close-ups. While the glow-in-the-dark teeth are a little campy at first they’re actually an ingenious way to define the location of the alien without having to make a fully-formed creature. One of the best uses is during the scene when the drug dealer, Hi-Hatz, confronts our protagonist, Moses, in a fit of anger. While Hi-Hatz stands with his back to the window with a gun pointed at Moses, we see dozens of pairs of glowing teeth inching towards him from the darkness outside. It’s not always about having money for the best effects but instead how creative you can be with what you do have.

Box Elder is a dialogue rather than action-driven film and one that young filmmakers are much more likely to attempt: a group of guys sitting around talking. One of the best decisions Todd Skalr, the director and star, makes is to extend the scope to cover a few years of college rather than a particular moment. Much of the comedy comes from the lack of change we see in the characters despite so much time going by. It’s also a great example of a snapshot film, where we don’t have the typical arcs in characters with a nice resolution at the end where everyone’s learned something. You can imagine that this is how these characters acted and interacted before we met them, and that they’re going to keep on going just the same once we stop watching.

Similar to Attack the Block this film cashes in on location: in this case, the sprawling campus at the University of Missouri. At one point a few characters do venture to Mardi Gras but I’d argue what the tangent adds to the movie isn’t enough to justify having to spend a lot of money on a second location. The same comedic devices could have been used at any large public celebration. By taking advantage of a campus with all its highlights (walking through the quad, eating at the same dependable sandwich shop, etc) the viewer is transported back to their own college experience. Although it’s far from government housing the campus is also a way to trap and re-introduce the same characters again and again without feeling forced. We all know the douche bag that kept showing up to every party, even though nobody invited him.

While Attack the Block was an action-driven film, Box Elder relies solely on dialogue. The lack of action is another element of humor: this particular group of guys are all talk. Todd Sklar is a talented writer who knows the genre and has the skill to let his words drive the film. It’s not an easy task and something most young filmmakers struggle with, but Sklar is able to keep the comedy and tone consistent from beginning to end. There are no dips where the viewer is waiting for the next joke as the script is natural and flows remarkably. When describing a film and its characters, “quirky” is almost a bad word in independent cinema today. Since the dawn of Wes Anderson the formula has been repeated tirelessly with fake, overly-conscious characters abound. To watch a character-driven comedy about misfits that feels this honest and legitimate is a welcome change. If you find yourself in the writing phase thinking of a list of random oddities each character can possess… stop. A true group of friends are similar. They talk similarly and they joke similarly because if they didn’t they probably wouldn’t be friends at all.

Dramatic actors are hard to find… especially when your list of resources is limited to your friends and family. Because of this most young filmmakers choose the genres of comedy or horror when making their first movies. By taking stock in what you’re good at and using creative solutions films shot on a tight budget can be just as satisfying or even more so than Hollywood blockbusters. Unless you have a rich uncle and some connection is L.A. In that case, go forth in making Final Destination 15 and enjoy swimming in your money.