Is Film Too Easy?

As many who know me know, I'm becoming a DVD junkie. This is not necessarily because the picture quality is better (though I love that most are in widescreen format) but rather because of the numerous director's commentaries running through the movies. I have learned more through listening to directors talk about their craft then I could have imagined, and it's much cheaper than film school!

However, I am beginning to wonder if all the new CGI/digital technologies might drastically alter the creative process of filmaking. For example, last night we watched "Shanghai Knights" (yes, I now this is not an Oscar winner, but we were in the mood for something light). Throughout the director's commentary, he'd explain how this building or that building was real while the rest would be CGI, extrapolated from plans, still photographs, and virtual models. And it seemed that it made everything very easy - all he'd have to do is say, oh, "put Jackie Chan on top of Big Ben" and boom, some CGI firm had it ready for him (yes, I'm simplifying the CGI tech's skill, but stay with me). Contrast this with a recent E! documentary on the making of "Jaws," one of my favorite films. Now when making Jaws, the mechanical shark kept breaking down. This kept forcing Spielberg and his crew to rearrange filming schedules and rethink their storytelling. One of the great things that arose from the faulty fish is underwater-fish-point-of-view shots, accompanied by the great Jon Williams bass line. Now I can't imagine "Jaws" without these shots - they really up the suspense and create anticipation for when you actually see the title character in the last third of the movie. Now today, I can imagine them saying, "Well, let's just add the fish later with CGI" and moved on, never being forced to rethink their assumptions and come up with alternatives.

Now, I love having obstacles when i'm crating - they often force me to find new, creative solutions, my own version of the shark POV shots. Such "resistance" helps take me out of my ego-driven first ideas and expose me to new possibilities. Yet, this resistance seems to be ebbing out of film as the computer makes more and more effects possible. My worry is that this will limit the creativity of the filmmaker accordingly