Notes are Beneficial

Have you ever heard a quote in a movie and absolutely loved it? This happens to me quite frequently and the only times I've captured and remembered them was at Sundance. I filled a regular sized notebook about 2/3 full with notes while watching films in Park City. While they were messy and sometimes going off the page due to lack of light, it really helped me identify what parts of the movie I connected with the most. Not that I didn't connect with more than what I wrote, but it had to be something important for me to write down. For one movie, I took 6 full pages of notes. This is partly because it was just a ridiculous movie and there were so many moments I wanted to remember. There was one moment in the film when a friend and I had an incredibly difficult time keeping our laughter to a minimum. Naturally I took notes on it.

I have found notes help me register what is happening and forces me to step back from the movie for a second to write down what I saw. I once read an article about reviewing movies and the author said something to the effect of 'let yourself get wrapped up in the movie.' I have tried to apply this principle to the movies I watch. At the same time, it's helpful for me to get a partial sense of reality instead of being completely immersed in the world of cinema. I have heard some people say this happens when they watch Harry Potter and after they finish the movie or reading the books, they remember magic doesn't really exist and neither does Harry Potter. This has never happened to me, of course. Ever. I have never forgotten that Harry Potter is a fictional character concocted by the famous J.K. Rowling. (This may or may not be sarcasm).

I watched the movie The September Issue tonight and I took 3 pages of notes. It felt natural for me to do and made me think I was back at Sundance, but then I realized I was still at my desk and very far away from Park City. It was so interesting seeing the process Vogue goes through for their annual issue. The year they filmed, the magazine contained 840 pages of fashion! How do they even have enough information and material to cover that much? Apparently they found some things to include. I discovered this movie was actually at Sundance last year, which of course makes me happy. (I have quite an attachment to anything that was ever at Sundance nowadays). There were a couple good quotes throughout the film and you could really get a sense of what the environment is like while working there. It's stressful, filled with pressure, but also fun to see the outcome.

The editor, Anna Wintour, is quite similar to the character Meryl Streep plays in Devil Wears Prada. Wintour is not quite so harsh or strict, but she has that feeling of she knows she's good and her opinion matters. One major difference between her and Miranda Priestly is that Wintour gives compliments where they are deserved, which is something I appreciated about her. Overall, very good movie and never boring. It was a movie I found extremely captivating and interesting.