The world of cinema occasionally offers a rare gem that pulls back the curtain to reveal the artistry and effort behind filmmaking. Such is the case with the new behind-the-scenes documentary of 12th Fail, which provides an insightful glimpse into the making of the movie. Spanning 88 minutes, this documentary serves as an educational and inspirational experience for anyone interested in the nuances of filmmaking.
A Unique Perspective on Filmmaking
For a movie where the actual shooting of the film has already taken place, this documentary appears to be more of a supplementary feature. It is like a whole course in cinema including the scope of the work on the film. It explains the level of dedication that goes into the entire spectrum, as in, developing the idea—narrative, character and actor choice, location selection, props and costumes, etc. This single detail makes the entire film a colossal undertaking.
One scene that stuck out was after they filmed parts of the movie at a whole real locations like a railway canteen and a flour mill instead of sets which were all fabricated. In enhancing the film’s effectiveness, one visible level of effort showed in the detail of aimed construction to make every frame feel convincing
The Magic of the First Scene
In the documentary, it’s particularly interesting to watch the film’s initial scene which is addressed to be a 35 minutes single shot. It is then easy to appreciate the effort that went into not only the creation of the scene but also the planning stage, as the sequence was in reality, filmed using 24 takes. Such moments simply state how much attention to detail in terms of timing, ideas and creativity is essential in cinematography.
A Learning Experience for Aspiring Filmmakers
Vystaros’ purpose in crafting this docu-series was not just to provide entertainment, but to depict something meaningful. Portrayed at different places, the documentary depicts significant elements of film such as how the camera and the shots are framed, the script, background, and most importantly the efforts and time that are put in the pre-production phase. For the beginners in this field, it is almost like a lecture on the dos and don’ts of making a film.
A Niche but Valuable Offering
While the documentary is quite informative, it clearly seems to be aiming at a rather specific group of individuals – those who appreciate and understand the art of film making. This is confirmed by the small number of people in theatres (10 or 15 in numbers). Considering its niche, the documentary would have been more appropriate for an exclusively online media outlet such as OTT or YouTube where the targeted audience could have been more easily located.
Conclusion
Should one have already seen 12th Fail, this documentary is an absolute must because it adds on to the appreciation of the film by showing the effort and creativity which went into making the film. Although it is not a popular commercial success, it bears witness to the work that goes into the creation of art in cinema.