Top 16 phrases you should immediately edit out of your epic fly fishing film.
I just got home from attending this year’s Fly Fishing Film Tour in Salt Lake City. It was a solid event with films, prizes, a raucous vibe, and best of all, it’s for a good cause.
For me it’s fun to see the films. These are adventures I will probably never experience so it stokes the coals under the dream of eternal fish bummery. It’s even better to see all my good friends from the local fly fishing world. Reminds me of how many great people fly fish and how this pastime creates a camaraderie unlike anything else I know. You all are radical.
Now, to the movies. Overall, I’m impressed at how this little genre of film has progressed. I think back to Frank Smethurst’s film, Running Down the Man. It kinda rocked my world. Thumping music, adrenaline, sprinting down Mexican beaches trying to get in front of a scary big fish, the real struggle to catch a Rooster from the beach, what’s not to like about that? This masterpiece, and a few other solid films from that time, are the legacy pieces in a genre that has lead to what we witnessed tonight, the 2014 F3T.
So let’s talk about this year’s film tour. As I said, I enjoy it, but like every other F3T or IF4 I’ve seen, frankly, it left me wanting more. Today’s crop of fly fishing film makers has done a great job of getting to incredible locales, catching really great footage, securing cool music, and even the editing is getting really good. But, and this is a major objection, I find a gaping void in the writing and overall story telling. With a few exceptions, this year’s Alaska – La Frontera Norte amongst them, I’m getting really annoyed by the droning voice-overs spewing forth a runoff-sized river of faux-philosophy, hyperbole, and cliche.
So, to all you future fly fishing filmmakers, go read some Thoreau. Don’t repeat it. And, here’s a helpful list of tired phrases and terms you should definitely leave out of your future fly fishing masterpieces.
- It’s a way of life. Seriously? This phrase is as tired as a Green River boat-ramp brown that has just been caught for the 6th time that day.
- Inevitably… Knock it off. It’s evitable. Just don’t go to the fifth least traveled region on earth without a plan.
- Fly fishing is a religion. Shut up. If you’re slinging 2-hooked hairy streamers with 8 weights, shotgunning PBRs, and bathing irregularly, this is just disrespectful, even to Scientology.
- It’s all about the thrill of the chase. Yawn.
- It was epic. Oh yeah? Did Odysseus show up and defeat a Cyclops?
- This place is special. No duh, it’s earth, the best damn planet in the whole world.
- Yeah baby!!! I hate you.
- Dude (pronounced Du-hu-hu-hood), nice fish. Did you once star in a film about a most excellent adventure? If not, don’t say this.
- Unnecessary voice over recap of events as you show said events. Unless you get Morgan Freeman or James Earl Jones to narrate, this is superfluous. We all saw it happen.
- It was chaos. This is inevitably uttered when a tire goes epically flat. Please study the meaning of chaos. This is a flat tire. You will get it fixed by the nearest podunk tire shop and be on the river in a couple hours. Not chaos.
- Back to back cliches (only to be outdone by the cliche sandwich). This is something of an impressive conversational feat, but not one you want all over your masterwork’s soundtrack.
- Piano music over “plight of the species” story. Don’t get me wrong, I care about species X, but just give me the info and don’t make me cry, that’s just not cool when I’m here with my fishing buds.
- It’s not just a passion, it’s an obsession. This is just awful. I want to slap you hard with a Taimen tail.
- There’s no other place on earth like this. Yes, and we hate you for not having a job and going there and saying this.
- And then it just went…insert “pop,” “snap,” “whack” or any other onomatopoeic word… We know. We all saw and groaned in unison.
- We assumed there were going to be fish there but… What if this phrase were finished off with “…but there weren’t?” Your movie would suck. We’re all pretty sure you found some fish.
Well, this about all I can come up with until I see another one of these. Maybe you can point out more in the comments.
Remember, just because you can scrape up the funds to go to the Nether-Arctic, turn on a GoPro, and use Adobe Premier doesn’t make your film great. Put some real thought into the writing, the story telling, and seriously put those editing skills to good use on your voice overs. We will all appreciate it.
It will be epic.
Epic.
I was at the first film fest in like 2006 or 2007 in Denver–Tom Bie had us all crowded into a fire trap of a theatre, and pretty much everyone left blown away by the footage. That was the year of Running Down the Man. The average age in the room was right at 32, and I was the only one in a suit since I’d just come from the Morris banquet.
The next year word had got out and the whole industry was present. I think Bie got warned off of his original venue and the whole thing was much more polished–but a lot less legitimate if you understand me. The underground word-of-mouth vibe was gone, and it had become the go-to event. It was still cool, don’t get me wrong, but I knew something had changed when the first flick began to roll, opening on a wide panning shot of the Henry’s Fork or some place like that.
In the dead silence of the theater, someone to my left orgasmically moaned, “Uuunnnnnh. Gin clear!!!!!” He sounded like a 45 year old insurance salesman or something like that.
It’s still a cool event and everyone involved has done some great work, but it’s hard not to feel like the high water mark was right at the beginning,
Zach,
Thanks for the read and especially for that perspective. I’ve long appreciated your stuff. I didn’t attend the very first year but started to go just after that. For a while the novelty built a certain mystique at these events. I think that is long gone and has given way to bigger expectations. It has to. This genre is no longer new and underground so we’re going to demand real quality. I think we’re seeing quality in some areas of these films, just not in the writing. Of course I’m biased. The theater was packed so maybe I don’t know anything.
Jake
Jake, thanks for the blog post, your humor, the laughs, and your guide to making a good fly-fishing film (or rather a guide to not making a crappy fly-fishing film). I really wish you had published this back in August, as the 16 steps would have been a very useful tool during the editing process. At the very least, it will be helpful for the future (I already printed it out and pinned it on my wall). You nailed all of them and it will be interesting to note any additional ones that readers leave in the comments.
I want to apologize to you and others who left the show unsatisfied. Hopefully you had fun with your fishing buddies, since at the end of the day it is a chance to share good times with like-minded fish enthusiasts amid a boiled-down medley of entertainment, attempted story-telling, and fish porn. The art of fly-fishing video, although gaining popularity at a frenetic pace, is very much in its infancy and it will be exciting to see the path it takes as it continues to mature. What is cool is that there are a number of people committing to this art. There is no money in it (hopefully this will change), and all the filmmakers (including RA – La Frontera Norte) are working other day jobs, but yet there is such a passion that these individuals are willing to moonlight until the wee hours of the morning for months to put these things together. That is pretty darn cool and for me really defines how fishing is a way of life…….sorry, I mean, really defines that fly fishing is a religion…..DAMN! I mean, really defines how much passion and attraction lies within this sport.
I was a creative writing/English major in college (spent way too much time reading Thoreau) and the one thing I can appreciate is how much the story-telling approach and technique changes with mediums, whether it be writing short stories or novels, making films, taking photos, or even crafting blog posts. Blogs are such a great example. The energy going into fly-fishing blogs is awesome. Suddenly we have this new form of expression, full of passion and littered with incomplete sentences, grammar hiccups, and other things that would give most conventional writers heartburn. But I guess my response to any literary critic who gets hung up on any of the above, for example “fly fishing” not getting a hyphen when it is used as an adjective, would be, “Du-hu-hu-hood, chill out and let it go,” because it is a new ‘art form’ that shouldn’t be held back by any rules of the past and will grow and take shape if the creativity is given the room to breathe and take wings. The cream will rise to the top, just give it time.
Sorry, I digressed a little there. To reel it back in (terrible pun, sorry), I guess my main objective of this ‘comment’ is to thank you for your interest, engagement and attention to detail when it comes to fly-fishing video. Your post made me laugh and I really enjoyed it. Your critique (and others) will continue to fuel the growth of fly-fishing video as a form of story-telling within the industry. Criticism is never a bad thing, unless of course it suffocates creativity. I hope more people aren’t afraid to try making fly-fishing videos, attempt new things, take chances, make mistakes, go too far, and redefine the rules, because that is how an art form grows. We are lucky to have Felt Soul Media (Running Down the Man) and others who are masters at telling a story on the screen. They help pave the way for the next filmmaker who can write his or her own chapter.
Thanks, Simon
Simon,
I appreciate the comment. I feel a little bad, like I might have offended just a bit. The fly fishing world is small and we all need to be on the same team. In fact, I think we actually met briefly at the OGR last year.
Anyway, I wouldn’t write this if it hadn’t been brewing for almost all the years I’ve attended these things. All humor has some basis in truth so if people are finding my critique funny there’s probably a reason. I’m just trying to point out what I’m seeing. Hopefully it pushes people toward better art. Or film makers can say screw the critics and keep filling up theaters, what do I know?
I work in content and online marketing and I see a lot of this kind of stuff so my standards may be askew.
Anyway, thanks again for the read and the response. Hopefully we’ll get a chance to talk more on the subject.
Jake
Jake – Don’t feel bad! You didn’t offend me whatsoever. No worries there. Trust me, I’ve heard plenty of criticism. The sport and industry is full of opinions, energy and enthusiasm (and each exists in its own little bubble within the greater world of fly fishing). I love to listen, as it always adds perspective. My favorite part about being a guide for 12 years (working in Montana during the season and traveling with a fly rod in hand during the off-season) was being on the front line and hearing everything that everyone had to say. Now I realize how much time and energy it really takes to be dialed in to what is going on not only around the country, but the world as well.
The F3T event isn’t for everyone. And honestly, the current and future mainstream of the sport isn’t for everyone either, and that’s a good thing. All I know is that in an industry where so many numbers have plateaued (overall sales, licenses, etc.), these film events are seeing 30-40% growth, which is awesome because any culture that is going to thrive needs energy. Yeah, we don’t want anyone crowding our favorite fishing spots, but we definitely need more people caring and advocating for fisheries and conservation. We also need a market that pushes and supports innovation. But these are just my opinions.
Again, thanks for the response, your post, and the blog. I hope you can make it out to OGR again. There will be another film event. Your choice as to whether or not you want to go (I should warn you, A Kinetic Loop will be shown, but the rest will be new stuff). Regardless, I hope I get a chance to buy you a beer in town afterwards. It would be fun to hang out.
Thanks Simon. I’ll see you in Missoula. BTW, I’ll be at the Wilma for sure. I do like these things. Also, I’ll be glad to see Kinetic Loop again. It was another film I liked this year. Great mix of old and new. The old timey footage was cool and it told a nice story.
Looking forward to more.
Yes! Felt the same way after every film tour except the first one. Dude, epic review!
Thanks Ty!
I think I am getting tired of these events. I liked the first couple of times these were put on, but this one rubbed me wrong.
The thing that did to me was the Kinetic Loop. I love history, like hanging out with old timers, and love going to places that have been popular for generations.
I hate hipsters, privileged, wealthy, well dressed, gonna do it my way fisherman. I get it, every snow flake is special, especially all the ones who are dressing the same, talking the same, drinking all the same beer, fishing in all the same locations…does this demographic represent the sport and I am just missing it living in a rural state?
Dunno something is a miss here.
Ben,
I think those are valid questions and great observations. I’d have to agree that these films do a poor job in representing the fly fishing community as a whole. Although, I’m not sure that has ever been the point of any fly fishing media, not successful media anyway. This is a microcosm of our larger media environment. It has to be extreme to make it. Also, I do think these films represent the demo of those creating them and that seems to be the future to some degree. I’m not entirely opposed, kids aren’t coming into fly fishing because they want to be old men waving bamboo sticks. At the same time, you’re right fly fishing isn’t ever going to be an X Games sport. Maybe we need more traditionalists to make films that show what we see each day in real fly fishing.
Jake
Recipe:
Place
Hard Core Angler
Fish Montage
Introspective
Fish Montage
Ha,
Nice formula. Nailed it.
Jake
I agree with what has already been said, in a shorter version.
There is not enough money in fly fishing film just as there is no money in blogging.
Therefore you get what you pay for most of the time.
Haha, I’ll have to start charging for the blog to make it better.
Thanks for this. Like Simon, I’m posting this to my wall on the next go around. Our small niche of cinema is young and we all have alot to learn about how we communicate with the community and, more importantly, the rest of the world. Again, thanks for helping to keep it fresh.
RC,
Thanks for the read. BTW I liked what you did w your film. Cool concept. Dug the split screen stuff. One of the high points this year.
Jake
My opinion is a biased by fishing predominately salt water but the issues as I see it are people are trying way to hard. Let the fish, scenery play the predominant role. For the people fishing clear water show the damn fish eating and don’t be afraid to slow it down. Watching a gigantic poon eat the fly is the best.
I find myself going back to pictures because everybody’s videos are trying to feed you their story. Pictures let you remember the times when you were there.
Yes, trying too hard always feels worse than coming up a little short. Kinda like lining a fish vs. just missing. I think every medium has it’s strengths and weaknesses for story telling. I like them all myself, but words happen to be my favorite.
More time fishing, less time hating.
Amen. Let’s all get out on the water.
The F3T got so douche baggy with all the blatant product placement, stupid dialogue (see above), predictable stories and over the top production that I walked out about 1/3 the way through 2 years ago and haven’t watched one since.
Haha. Yeah I wouldn’t go all DB in my description of the F3T myself but I get it.
David P, what exactly displeased you so much and what did you expect from the show? I mean douche baggy is pretty broad.
BTW I don’t think anyone has missed you the last two years.
No mention of scene after scene after scene of “the fishing car” going down the road?
Haha, or the back of the boots as they walk to the river. Maybe next post I’ll depart from the dialogue commentary and talk about the requisite shots for an epic film.
I think that with popularity of gopros and action cameras there are WAY too many people putting out videos. These gopro heroes all end up using the same old tired imagery that you see in every other video. I think that was the of the point of the article and I think that’s what most of the people who are complaining about the perceived lack of quality in later iterations of these festivals are complaining about. How many times have you seen a shot of a guy walking down the trail to the river? Or putting on his wading boots? Or heard that XX song in the sound track. Outside of exotic locations, how many interesting shots can you make on the river, drift boat, or center console?
As mentioned above, we can’t all be RA, Smetherst ,or even those like Yukon Goes Fishing, or Lofi Fly. Not everyone who can make a video necessarily should. But it’s also a shame that there is no money in it. To make a good film you need to devote a lot of resources. Very few can actually make a “good” film without a trust fund and/or a total love for the sport. I’m sure every one of those “film makers” has a real love for the sport but maybe they lack the creativity needed to make something new and interesting. Very few have the gift. I think there is a lower barrier to entry (thanks to cheap action cameras) to making a video than shooting a really good photograph that is worthy of being published. Film making is typically a narrative endeavor. It is very hard to tell a new story when were all chasing the same trout, steelhead, tarpon or striper.
This niche sport isn’t really all that broad or that interesting and it’s certainly not all that underground. It’s neither skateboard extreme sports culture nor is it old guys in tweed jackets fishing drys up stream on bamboo but at the same time it is those things and everything in between. There are a lot of us with similar voices, passion and experience which means the two ends of the sport really aren’t that far apart in the end.
I guess all of these aggrievances speak to our current relationship with media in general. Here I am a rabid consumer of media complaining on a social media platform about people creating more and expecting it all to awesome and free.
Well said Nick.