Paul Schrader: New Cinema Language Influenced by Video Games, Multitasking and Digital

Here comes infamous Facebook poster Paul Schrader’s weekly rant. This time he’s tackling the ADD-driven filmmaking in today’s movies.

“THERE IS A NEW CINEMA LANGUAGE. After seeing film after film in the international lineup it's clear that multitasking, video games and digital filmmaking have changed the language of cinema. What was once considered experimental in style and narrative has become normative. How is it possible to "teach" directing? You can teach time management, working with actors, lenses and lighting, but there are no longer "directing" rules.“

I’m not entirely sure what he’s going on about. Maybe the impending death of slow cinema? He mentions that he gathered this opinion after watching “film after film in the international lineup,” but those 15 films are not really an example of what he’s talking about. There’s plenty of slow cinema to be found amongst those titles.

I just messaged Schrader to see if he can elaborate further on this. I know he’s not a fan of “Everything Everywhere All At Once” and that would definitely fit in his criteria.

I see no problem in editing styles, composition and photography changing in film. It’s a medium that is only further evolving. Innovation is key to continuing the evolution process. The same complaints were made when “Breathless,” “2001: A Space Odyssey” “Citizen Kane” and “Pulp Fiction” changed the way movies could be told.