Latest news with #FrequentlyMadeMistakes
The Hindu
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Watch: How Autobiographical Blind Spots Ruin Stories
When filmmakers get too close to their subject, they often lose the one thing that makes a story resonate: honesty. In this episode of Frequently Made Mistakes, Sudhish Kamath breaks down the dangers of autobiographical blind spots—the storytelling flaw that turns biopics into PR. Using Sanju as a case study, we explore how proximity, nostalgia, and guilt can distort a filmmaker's perspective, softening the truth and sabotaging the story. Why did Rajkumar Hirani choose empathy over investigation? What does the film protect—and what does it hide? We'll also show how other personal narratives like The Social Network avoid this pitfall, and offer practical writing exercises to help you build critical distance in your own scripts. Because bad choices make good stories… only if you're brave enough to tell the truth. SUBSCRIBE for more deep dives into cinematic craft and screenwriting pitfalls. COMMENT your favourite slow indie film—and whether it moved you or lost you. Music: Ivan Avakian
The Hindu
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Frequently Made Mistakes Episode 4
Watch | Why Crying Isn't Always Connection | Pathos Overload | Frequently Made Mistakes Episode 4 Everyone loves a good cry—but when does emotion stop feeling honest and start feeling manipulative? In this episode of Frequently Made Mistakes, filmmaker Sudhish Kamath breaks down the problem of pathos overload — when movies drown in melodrama instead of building meaningful emotional arcs. Case Study: Laal Singh Chaddha — A film with the potential of Forrest Gump, but caught in a loop of trauma without triumph. We explore: • What pathos really means in film • How to evoke emotion without emotional blackmail • Why characters need dignity, not just tragedy • Fixes that could've saved Laal Singh Chaddha Plus: A screenwriting exercise to flip sad scenes with levity Examples of movies that got the balance right: Anand, Iqbal, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Life is Beautiful, and more.
The Hindu
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Watch: Why Indie films feel stuck: Case study
Why do some indie and arthouse films feel like they're going in circles? In this episode of Frequently Made Mistakes, filmmaker, screenwriter and film critic Sudhish Kamath unpacks one of the most common storytelling traps in modern cinema: getting stuck in the problem without ever moving toward a solution. Using Chaitanya Tamhane's The Disciple as our case study, we explore the tension between uncompromising artistic vision and the need for forward momentum in storytelling. From auteur theory to poetic justice, this video dives into why films lose audiences when they loop through the same idea—and how to fix it. We'll also break down two essential tools: 1. Forward Momentum (without sacrificing tone) 2. Poetic Justice (that feels earned, not tacked on) Plus, stick around for this week's Writing 101 challenge: a practical exercise to sharpen your midpoints—because even slow cinema needs a turning point. If you're a filmmaker, screenwriter, or just someone who loves watching stories evolve, this one's for you. SUBSCRIBE for more deep dives into cinematic craft and screenwriting pitfalls. COMMENT your favourite slow indie film—and whether it moved you or lost you. Music: Ivan Avakian
The Hindu
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Frequently Made Mistakes Episode 2: The Verisimilitude Problem in Jigra
Watch | Frequently Made Mistakes Episode 2: The Verisimilitude Problem in Jigra Join Sudhish Kamath as he breaks down how Jigra's opening leap makes audiences stop believing—and what every filmmaker can learn about verisimilitude. In this episode of Frequently Made Mistakes, we cover: • The verisimilitude problem and why it matters • Spotlight on Jigra's first-scene misstep • Defining verisimilitude: cultural vs. formal, and the trust factor • Examples of perfect verisimilitude: Satya, Masaan, Animal, The Usual Suspects, and Superman • Case study: how Jigra breaks its own rules • Fixing the issue: seeding your 'knife' (or skill) in Acts 1 & 2 • Writing 101: verisimilitude vs. realism • A weekly writing exercise to sharpen your scene structure
