Kick-off: Let’s Praise the Act of Writing

In a world of sights and sound, we, filmmakers, the great artists, might neglect introspection if we overlook the power of words. You know, human thought doesn’t develop only through audio-visual elements, it actually finds its wings in written expressions. Reading invites us to contemplate thoughts and engage in dialogues to absorb wisdom. It allows us to connect with authors, explore the depths of their minds, interact with ideas, and create personal reflections. Surely, there are filmmakers who desire to create cinematic experiences similar to this. Some audiences too, seek a similar connection.

However, films have the capacity to achieve this only to a small extent. The cinema has a different rhythm. Most of the time, it distracts us from deep contemplation by leading us into the lives of others and granting us a slice of their existence. Of course, films can boost our creativity, and give us enough space to think to fill in the gaps and make personal interpretations. But they can’t really drive us to an intellectual experience the way a book does.

Here is my experience: Over time, I’ve gathered many thoughts and insights that deserve expression, and I have noticed that not all of them could find a home in my films. Think of Van Gogh’s letters to his brother Teo, they’ve brought us closer to his inner world. Could diving into Van Gogh’s mind taint how we perceive his art? I believe, revealing thoughts of an artist gives rise to remarkable literary works, much like the confessional thoughts of great authors. Gratitude fills me for filmmakers such as Cassavetes, Kiarostami, Bunuel, Bergman, Bresson, Tarkovsky, Godard, and Rohmer for leaving written pieces beside cinematic ones.

And, I always recall a simple but overlooked point from Umberto Eco who claimed that we can’t escape the act of writing and reading: Screens, from computers to phones, connect us visually and auditorily to the world, yet reading and writing remain, again through them. So, if these acts are inescapable, if we can’t shake them, then let’s master them.

In this corner, I will do my part. I aim to share a stream of thoughts on the subjects that caught my interest. Think of this as a personal archive, a self-promotion, a persona, and a space where I gather thoughts both for myself and anyone who cares to join.