Ron Williams Studios President, Ron Williams stated today that:

"My style? I love Dogme95 films. The camera roaming deep within the true context of the scene, the actors inner self. I love that! At the end of the day, it's the actors¡¯ film. I can take a non-actor, and make them into a natural actor."

"Wanna act? Then check out Brando' in the uncut version of "Streetcar named desire". Can you get that loose?"

"My favorite directors are Shirley Clarke, 1961's "The Connection", Scorsese "Mean Streets", Joe Carnahan's "Blood,Guts,Bullets and Octane", Coppola, Tarantino, Cassavetes, Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg. I love "The Celebration".

Whats my Game? My actors get their sides emailed on a Monday. The only rehearsal I have is the day of filming, when they show up at the location. They rehearse 1-2 hours, then I shoot. All natural, I want it real. Done. I don't give them a chance to overplay. None of that stagey dramarama. Makes me and them look bad. It's me, their raw emotions, and my camera. I tell my actors to study "The Godfather", "Mean Streets", "Good Fellas" "Raging Bull". I tell them to watch the pacing of the those films, learn to take-their-time, relax."

"Want to see some real natural actors? Watch the scene in "Training Day", where Denzel and Ethan Hawke are at the card table with REAL GANG MEMBERS/ACTORS. Watch that scene. Those are not actors, but look at how natural they are. Watch Macy Gray also in that movie. All n-a-t-u-r-a-l. You can study for 30 years and not get that loose, relaxed."

"Want to see the ultimate filmmakers? Watch "The Celebration" by Thomas Vinterberg, or any of Lars von Trier's films. In my book, they are the ultimate filmmakers. And on top of that, they must limit themselves by Dogme95 rules. They are Dogme95."

What is Dogme95?

Formed in 1995 by Denmark filmmakers Lars von Trier, Thomas Vinterberg, Kristian Levring, and S©ªren Kragh-Jacobsen, the goal of Dogme95 is to combat predictable plots, superficial action and cosmetic technological trickery, in other words all the illusionary razzmatazz that is so dominant in film today.

Dogme95 also has its own set of "Ten Commandments", to show us the way to an alternative film art by promoting certain technical/aesthetic procedures, thus guaranteeing suitable resistance to conventional production processes in a number of fundamental areas.

So, you call yourself a real filmmaker - eh? Then here are the rules to making a Dogme95 film. You must first accept a "VOW OF CHASTITY", which means that you agree to only make your film under the following conditions:

"I swear to submit to the following set of rules drawn up and confirmed by DOGME 95:

1. Shooting must be done on location. Props and sets must not be brought in (if a particular prop is necessary for the story, a location must be chosen where this prop is to be found).

2. The sound must never be produced apart from the images or vice versa. (Music must not be used unless it occurs where the scene is being shot).

3. The camera must be hand-held. Any movement or immobility attainable in the hand is permitted. (The film must not take place where the camera is standing; shooting must take place where the film takes place).

4. The film must be in colour. Special lighting is not acceptable. (If there is too little light for exposure the scene must be cut or a single lamp be attached to the camera).

5. Optical work and filters are forbidden.

6. The film must not contain superficial action. (Murders, weapons, etc. must not occur.)

7. Temporal and geographical alienation are forbidden. (That is to say that the film takes place here and now.)

8. Genre movies are not acceptable.

9. The film format must be Academy 35 mm.

10. The director must not be credited. Furthermore I swear as a director to refrain from personal taste! I am no longer an artist. I swear to refrain from creating a "work", as I regard the instant as more important than the whole. My supreme goal is to force the truth out of my characters and settings. I swear to do so by all the means available and at the cost of any good taste and any aesthetic considerations.

Thus I make my VOW OF CHASTITY." Copenhagen, Monday 13 March 1995

On behalf of DOGME 95
http://www.dogme95.dk



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