Friday, 6 December 2024

Effort Alone Cannot Make a Good Film


Effort is an essential part of filmmaking, but it is not a metric for success. Every movie requires months or even years of hard work from the cast and crew, but that does not guarantee its quality. Audiences pay for the final product, not the process behind it. No matter how much effort went into making a film, if it fails to engage, entertain or resonate, the effort becomes irrelevant.  


Excusing poorly executed films by highlighting the struggles of the team is a flawed argument. Filmmakers and actors are professionals, not volunteers doing charity work. They are paid in crores for their craft, and their job is to deliver a meaningful cinematic experience. While their challenges are valid, the audience is not there to applaud the journey instead they are there for the destination.  


Another common defense is to point out specific performances or the “grand vision” behind a project. But ambition alone does not make a good film. Grand ideas need strong execution to leave an impact. Without an interesting narrative or immersive visuals, even the best intentions fall flat, leaving the audience disconnected and disappointed.  


This culture of glorifying effort also leads to dangerous self satisfaction. By praising flawed films for their “attempts” or “intentions", accountability is thrown away. Filmmakers are not held to the standard of delivering quality content because the focus shifts to their struggles rather than the shortcomings of the final product. This not only harms the industry but also insults the audience’s intelligence.  


At its core, cinema is about what is on the screen, not what went on behind the scenes. The audience’s time and money deserve a complete experience and not a passable one with excuses attached. Hard work is a given in filmmaking, but true success lies in making that hard work invisible, allowing the story and characters to take center stage.  


Effort is admirable, but results are what matter. A good film is not measured by the sweat and tears behind it but by its ability to stay with the audience. Anything less is a failed promise.  

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