AKCHOTI IN “ACTION!”
In the forum entitled 'Writing for Film' organised by the Dubai International Film Festival, French director and screenwriter, Jacques Akchoti tapped into the fundamentals of script-writing and the challenges involved.
Best known for his work in Don't Look Back (2009), Akchoti defined film making as “Tapping into a reservoir of knowledge; the ingredients are simple, you as audience need to feel what the character is feeling.”
He distinguished between the kind of writing involved in novels and the screen, elaborating on how novels are founded on words and sentences, whereas film factors in the actors, images and sounds. This led to a much greater emphasis in the most significant aspect of screen-writing: Action.
He suggested that “..through the actions of the actors you judge them. It’s about what he does and not what he says.”
Where a novel allows it's author to express what they thought, film's relationship is not limited to its writer but also the dependent on the audiences' perceptions. Views that differ on preference and background, as such 'action' is more universal and is considered the utmost when writing for film.
Akchoti then concluded the session by summing at the art form as a process "[...]when there is nothing on the screen, that’s when the film is happening. For the audience to take in what they just saw"
As part of our coverage for the 10th Dubai International Film Festival this week (6th December-14th December), we’ll be bringing you the latest updates on the red carpet, film reviews, Q&A with filmmakers, industry panels and workshops. Read other DIFF posts here and watch out for more!
Written by Karthik Menon