Seth Paradox

A Creole filmmaker, internationally trained, with a background in world cinema and cinema theory, Seth creates work that embraces the spiritual, while it entertains -- as a host with beloved guests. Interested in the works of others, he is as keen on supporting a diverse community of artists, as he is on crafting his own works. He is, at present, developing features, television series, and running a writers' room.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

Notes on the Cinematographer [https://davenold.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Notes-on-Cinematography.pdf]

This slim volume has traveled with me for more than a decade, often in an oversized pocket. A smörgåsbord of pithy insights from the master of sound and sight, Robert Bresson, this book is a treasure for the filmmaker interested in the art of "writing with motion." While not all his ideas will apply to your art, the dialog between you will bear beautiful fruit.

The Films of Akira Kurosawa [https://archive.org/details/filmsofakirakuro0000rich]

Perhaps the greatest director in history, Kurosawa made masterpieces in many genres, changing the face of film more than once, inspiring famous westerns and science-fiction epics, as well as directors like Scorsese and Coppola. This deep dive into his works, by Donald Richie, is one of the greatest portraits of an artist and their art. Kursowa's films were my introduction, as a teenager, to the majesty films could create. His films, and this exploration of his life, are one of the best gifts I can recommend for a serious filmmaker to experience.

In the Blink of an Eye: A Perspective on Film Editing [https://idoc.pub/documents/walter-murch-in-the-blink-of-an-eyepdf-klzzddzp0elg]

Famed editor, Walter Murch, wrote this book on editing, and even if you do not think you will be editing -- just writing or directing -- knowing what goes into creating the most effective transitions in film, joining pictures and sounds through the cut, will make you a better creator. For, in the end, all film is montage, the enjambment of sights and sounds, pieces woven into a flowing stream of experience.

True and False: Heresy and Common Sense for the Actor [https://booksjar.com/pdf-epub-true-and-false-heresy-and-common-sense-for-the-actor-download/]

This is my favorite book on acting. It is so bare-bones, and in one's face, as David Mamet tends to be. While not everything might jive with you in this volume, it is another book that will be in dialog with you, as you shape and explore your craft, whether you are an actor, a writer, or a director. It is valuable for all three of these artists to have experience in each other's shoes, as it will inform their working relationships and the depth of their artistic interstanding [sic].

The Heroine's Journey: Woman's Quest for Greatness [https://www.shambhala.com/the-heroine-s-journey.html]

Being turned onto this book was like finding the other half of a world. A parallel to Campbell's ubiquitous monomyth, Maureen Murdock's book brings the all-important feminine journey to the table. Whether one is crafting stories of women, on journey's that relate to essential aspects eschewed by much of masculine-dominated media, or of men, in touch with the feminine, this book is a goddess-send. We need more stories by, for, and of women, and the material in this book can help writers open many doors for these stories to come through.

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft [https://www.fcusd.org/cms/lib/CA01001934/Centricity/Domain/3762/Stephen%20King%20On%20Writing.pdf]

Stephen King's book, which is often as much about writing "as a cat is about the house," provides some insights into how to write. More so, it shows the relationship of artist to craft, and serves as a guide and a reminder of our own paths, as we wrestle and dance with our daimons [Ancient Greek: attendant spirits; genius] or muses. This book can be a friend to any writer on the path of creating stories for the people.

Film Directing: Cinematic Motion [https://b-ok.lat/book/2732174/487b30]

An excellent visual cornerstone, this book, by Steven Katz, shows one how to guide the camera and the misc-en-scene, together, in the pas de deux every director must make to bring forth their greatest vision. The ideas and visuals in this book can help a director lift the film off the page and begin to see it walking through the set and the world. An essential step, that can often be a challenge, envisioning all the shots of one's film -- or at least preparing to find them on set or location -- is given a leg-up here, so that one can create the movie that the 'see' and 'hear'.

Baraka [https://archive.org/details/baraka.-1992.1080p.-blu-ray.x-264-yts.-am]

Still my all-time favorite film. I remember seeing the box in the video store as a kid and wondering what it could be. Years later, when I finally saw it, I was moved beyond words. I have seen it many times since, including as a 70mm theatrical print, and am always grateful to sit and exprience it. There is no dialog, nor characters, nor plot, and yet it is one of the greatest stories -- a movement of emotion on a unique journey -- that one could ever experience on-screen. This vibrant movie is also a lesson in bringing emotional richness to every frame of a film, which is a worthy endeavor for any filmmaker.

The Internet Archive [https://archive.org/]

A sandbox full of gems, this website has music, movies, stories, sounds, images, and more, all of which are copyright/royalty free. One can see great classic films here, find stories that can be adapted to the screen, uncover music and sound for soundtracks, and can encounter all kinds of inspiration. It is even possible to look at the 'ancient' internet, saved on the Wayback Machine. You might be surprised at the gems you find, sifting through these sands. Have at it!