Cigarette Girl Review

I wrote this review a long time ago on a different web page.

Cigarette girl leaved something to be desired. actually, let me rip it to shreds. First and foremost, let me remind all that it's easier to criticize something than it is to create.

The Acting. One helpful hint about acting, is you've got to pretend you're not acting. Peope often say wearing another character's skin and what not. That is true. People often say pretending is acting. That is not true. Anyone can pretend to be someone else, but you gotta pretend you're not pretending. it's complicated, but watching it was like watching people on stage. people on stage can preten because they're on stage. The audience knows they're actors and the actors know they're not really these characters. what actors have to do with movies and television though is lose that part where the audience knows. We don't know. We need to believe we're not watching a movie. We need to be shown what we are seeing is a peek into someone else's life. that's not what i got out of this.
Originiality - Probably the most important thing of an independent film. That's the beauty of it! It's not about money or who and who isn't staring in it. The formula or cliche does not have to apply. You risk losing the attention of the audience but you gain a beautiful artform and style. I didn't see that here. The plot was a good idea but what could've been amazing turned out being overcooked.

Writing/Dialogue: It could've been awesome. He was aiming for minimalistic, dystopian, but really it came off as emulating tarantino poorly. actually, the attempt was ridiculous. I felt like i was reading fanfiction where someone didn't know what kind of world they were in. Like a secretary dictating gun ammo. Saying the words as if she hadn't used them before in her life. I wanted to shoot someone because no one had a clue what they were talking about. research and a little life experience may have greatly improved this. actors may also be partly to blame here.

so in other words, dissappointed. there is a such thing as a good independent film. Makeout with violence was pretty good. One I saw over at Watkins Art School was pretty well put together.