WES ANDERSON — an incredibly successful, popular auteur. Who has one of the most distinct styles in contemporary cinema. But, with popularity, and originality comes knock-offs.
Inspiration: the fuel for creativity, and the match for productivity. Every artist has been inspired by another. Everything that makes you, YOU, is a product of inspiration. Whether, it’s from your family, or your favorite culture icon, you have been shaped by inspiration. Inspiration is a great thing, and as we talk an entire generation of filmmakers are being inspired by Wes Anderson.
It jumps out at you. The colors, the movements, the whim. Anderson’s style is just as much in frame as the actors. And on top of that, it’s become a selling point. He’s popularized auteurship, and it has spawned a nightmare. Remember that period in the late 90s when every student film was a knock-off of Quentin Tarantino? Well, it’s happening again. Young students everywhere are losing their style, and becoming a Wes Anderson carbon copy.
Every young filmmaker is a fan of Wes Anderson, and every young filmmaker wants to be Wes Anderson. In turn, the Wes Anderson inspired movie has become a joke. The student-made short film: Adderall, for example. This is not a “Wes Anderson inspired movie”, it is a Wes Anderson movie. Wes Anderson has created a trap for students to fall into. His style is so quantifiable that it becomes easy to copy, and copy it they do.
Beware the Wes snare, and learn to live your style, because it’s out there somewhere, and you won’t find it in a Wes Anderson film.
JFA
