First of all, we would like to thank those who came and contributed to last night’s discussion on film! Below are some of the main points brought up during the session:

– Technical elements are not the only things that make a film appealing – the unseen ingredients are equally important (the personal touch and “the soul” of the director)
– Music can be the nostalgic element of a film. In other words, it is one of the strongest elements that remind viewers of a movie they had already seen.
– Music can change the perception that viewers have towards a particular movie.
– However, it is not only music that matters. In fact, a participant argued that it is the absence or presence of certain sounds that make or break the ambience of a film.
– There are many different “standards” that determine the quality of films. What is important is not the standard, but the coherence of a movie – that is, the ability of the director to communicate with the
– The number of teasers, trailers available prior to the release of a film exists to give viewers visual expectations (as opposed to text, which allows viewers to draw their own “visual” expectations).
– On adaptations: The best way to go about them is to perceive and accept books and movies as completely different formats.
– While the “mood” of a film can be at the core of a film, one of the participants emphasized on the crucial role of a certain form of structure that can accommodate that mood (so that viewers will not be lost).
– The strength of a director’s concept is important.  Ideally, she or he ought to have a strong connection with her or his work. This connection can be cultural or emotional.
– The editing process of a film – deciding on which scenes to extend, shorten, include or discard – can determine the final outcome, which would then determine the reaction of the audience.
– Towards the end of the discussion, participants briefly exchange thoughts on the state of film censorship, including the recent ban of Noah has caused quite a stir among Indonesia movie-enthusiasts.

Your feedback would be greatly appreciated, so please feel free to tweet us @wjournal or send us an e-mail to contact@whiteboardjournal.com with the subject title “We Discuss #9.”