20 tips from Martin Scorsese

Martin Scorsese is an acclaimed Italian-American director and screenwriter whose films like ‘Mean Streets’ and ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ have shaped the history of American cinema. This legendary director is known for his steely, often violent and painstaking filmmaking style and is widely considered one of the most prominent directors of all time. Having spent more than half a century behind the camera, Martin Scorsese has made a string of breathtaking films, such as ‘Goodfellas,’ ‘The Last Waltz,’ ‘The King of Comedy,’ ‘Taxi Driver,’ ‘Raging Bull,’ and Academy Award-winning 'The Departed.' He has also written screenplays for a number of movies. Martin Scorsese has been honored with a host of nominations and awards, including the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ by ‘The American Film Institute,’ ‘Academy Award,’ ‘Palme d'Or,’ ‘Silver Lion,’ ‘Grammy Award,’ ‘Emmys,’ ‘Golden Globes,’ ‘BAFTAs,’ and ‘DGA Awards.’
1. Use film to express emotions you find hard to talk about.
2. In cinema, we’re working with subtleties.
3. Always push your boundaries further.
4. Two images placed together will always create a specific sensation or “phantom image” in the viewer’s mind. Be deliberate about what kind of images you’re placing next to each other.
5. Find humanity in your anti-heroes.
6. Learn visual literacy.
7. Promote yourself shamelessly.
8. Make your own industry.
9. Write your screenplay in a way that the reader will always have an emotional connection to the protagonist.
10. Write what you know.
11. Limitation can be good for creating.
12. You have to make sacrifices.
13. The story and character is what people will always come back for. Plot won’t be enough to hold up a film.
14. You can’t do it by yourself. Work with like-minded people who like to explore similar interests as you.
15. Write with music in mind.
16. Study other films.
17. Write empathetic characters.
18. Characters must reap what they sow.
19. Use the people around you when starting out.
20. Use projects to learn more about yourself and the important life questions.
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