Masters of Sincerity

Masters of Sincerity

Robert Zemeckis

Born in 1951, Zemeckis studied filmmaking at the University of Southern California. There he meet longtime screening partner Robert Gale. He also caught the eye of Steven Spielberg before he graduated. Spielberg, Gale and Zemeckis then collaborated on many films together and began earning reputation for visual innovation with the time traveling teen comedy 'Back to the Future'. Zemeckis reputation was cemented with filming 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' which combined onscreen action of life actors and cartoon characters. Also, 'Forrest Gump' used grafted footage of actor Tom Hanks with archival news clips of Historical figures rather than hiring look alike. Zemeckis earned an Oscar for Best Director.

Here are some films he has made

• Back to the Future (1985)
• Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
• Forest Gump (1994)
• Castaway (2000)
• The Polar Express (2004)
• Welcome to Marwen (2018)

Frank Capra

Immigrated from Sicily to Americe with his family in 1903 and defied his family by attending and graduation from university. He then started out as an extra in films in 1919. Moved on to write, produce and direct for a variety of studios but constantly fired through 1920s. Finally hired as a director, and nearly fired again, by Columbia Pictures in 1927 for 'That Certain Thing'. He insisted on shooting all long shots one day one, all medium shots day two, all close ups on day three. This working method shaved 1-2 days off filming.

In collaboration with actress Barbara Stanwyck (1930), Capra boosted his craftsmanship over the level of other Hollywood directors. His philosophy for the crew was, "You guys are working for the actors, they're not working for you.". He then went on to become the most prominent filmmaker of the 1930s and won three Oscars for Best Director.

While serving as a major in the Signal Crops (1942-45), Capra made the documentaries 'Why We Fight' to increase support for the American war effort. His political progressivism of the 1930s led to a subtle blacklist pressures during the 1950s and he didn't direct another film for eight years. He retired in 1961 rather than adapt to the new post-studio-system filmmaking.

• It Happened One Night (1934)
• Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1934)
• You Can't Take it With You (1936)
• Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
• Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)
• It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

What if a film that gives me a warm feeling?

I get warm, fuzzy, happy feeling when watching either beautiful animation that takes my breath away (also a good chill) or watching a happy, cheerful, cute or romantic story.

I'm always learning more about myself everyday, and this year I have learned that I like the genes, comedy, romance, hero, beautiful, or just great stories. I also know that I would, if I get a say, avoid watching any heavy magic and fantasy, dark/black magic, scary, horror, and horrible stories that are just bad.