[OC] Zack Snyder and Michael Bay were classmates at a film program that put focus on visual art over storytelling : movies

It’s enjoyable to look at the mirror careers of Zack Snyder and Michael Bay. Both are identified for making visually spectacular spectacles that persistently obtain poor evaluations for lack of character growth, storytelling and narrative depth. Zack has by no means directed a film that has scored over 59/100 on metacritic. Similar case with Michael Bay with “Transformers” (61/100) being his most critically accepted film.

And but, they’ve each efficiently made careers milking the in-built fanbases of current IP. DC Comics for Snyder. Transformers for Bay.

Bay’s movies have raked in 9.6 billion. Snyder’s have introduced in 6.5.

Notably, each really realized filmmaking as classmates at the identical college, Art Center College of Design in Pasedena. Snyder obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film from the College in 1989. Michael Bay graduated in 1988.

I appeared into that college years in the past. While it is seen as a high quality art college, it wasn’t rating as one of many high 100 film faculties. The evaluations I learn at the time were fascinating. They prompt that the college put an emphasis on visual art over storytelling. I noticed a remark about how the scholar reels all appeared unbelievable, however utterly lacked in character/narrative. One individual prompt it was a nice college in case your purpose was to make attractive automotive commercials with explosions.

Checking Reddit, I discovered a thread from simply earlier this 12 months that backed up the identical factor. An alumni with an BFA in filmmaking named /u/themanwithoutaplan11 commented:

“The film department is honestly not as prestigious as the other majors at the school like transportation design or other film schools. Some people feel that it has more of a focus on commercial appeal and there are lots of classes on making commercials, music videos, branding and a big focus on practical career pathing. Other schools may have more of a focus on narrative and there was a lack of really creative writing focus.”

Only two weeks after graduating, Bay bought his begin making music movies and commercials. Some of his early work were Coca-Cola and “Got Milk?” adverts in addition to music movies like “I Touch Myself”.

Meanwhile, Snyder was making music movies like “Love is a Crime”

Michael Bay appeared to have a extra numerous instructional background, attending a prestigious art preparatory college, interning for George Lucas at the age 15, and additionally gradulating from Wesleyan Unversity majoring in English and film earlier than doing his graduate work at Art Center College of Design. That may partially clarify why he appears to have higher character/writing instincts in his work like “Bad Boys” and “The Rock”. Whereas, Snyder’s major focus had initially been portray, which may clarify why his most celebrated work is basically simply faithfully bringing well-liked comicbook panel art to life. There is a few humor and character in Bay’s movies that is totally missing in Snyder’s work that principally performs off as prolonged online game lower scenes.

TL;DR: Zack Snyder and Michael Bay’s shared film schooling may clarify why each have made careers with visual art over character/narrative-driven work