There are a lot of bad reasons to get tattoos, as well. What follows are a whole lot of reasons people give for getting inked. Some of these reasons are very cool. Some of them are incredibly lame. Sometimes there is a very fine line separating the two.
Is your tattoo story totally cool or ice cold? We've all seen the heart-shaped tattoos with the word "mom" inscribed across them. As far as reasons to get a tattoo "because I love my mom" isn't too shabby. On the other hand, getting a tattoo because you hate your mom is not quite as cool. There aren't a whole lot of more rebellious ways to get back at your parents than to get inked. Still, this excuse gets a thumb's down.
Likewise, getting a tattoo to show your heritage is pretty cool. There's a reason those Celtic knot tattoos are so popular, after all. Getting a tattoo to show off the heritage you wish you had? Totally not cool.
Getting a tattoo as part of a group can be pretty cool, depending on the group. A bunch of war buddies getting UMC tattoos together is cool. A group of high school cheerleaders getting pom-pom tattoos is not. And, what about celebrating your religion? It isn't totally clear whether or not that portrait of Jesus on your chest really says "good Catholic boy" but most should leave the judgment on that one to a higher authority.
Some solid reasons to get a tattoo would be truly being interested in using your body as a canvas. This is the coolest reason to get a tattoo. Getting a unique piece of art on your skin is definitely the best reason to go for it. On the other hand, getting the same thing that everyone else gets is pretty lame.
Another good reason to get a tattoo: Because you realized you were stupid to get your ex's name tattooed on your body, so you're now incorporating it into some new design (that doesn't include your new flame's name).
There are also a few heinous reasons people have given for their tattoos, but they're not necessarily the worst. How about the guy who had his address tattooed on his chest so he could always get home no matter how drunk he was? In fact, pretty much any time there's a lot of alcohol involved, it might be best to just walk away from the tattoo shop and think about it in a day or two.
Getting a tattoo just to fit in with the crowd is totally un-cool. On the other hand, getting a tattoo to show everyone how unique you are is pretty lame, too. Other ridiculous reasons: to prove you're an adult or to prove you're not old and boring, because you were forbidden to get one, or because you're a biker, a soldier, a co-ed, etc.
No matter what your reason for choosing a tattoo, it is bound to be something very special to you. Make sure that you follow all of the artist's directions to protect your new artwork so that it will last a lifetime. This might include caring for it as it heals, keeping it out of direct sunlight, and possibly even getting occasional touch-ups as time goes by.
By following a few simple instructions, you can make sure that you'll have a beautiful tattoo and a good story behind it.
If you have a good story to tell there is no reason why you should not make it into an independent film. With the right film production techniques, the right script, the right people working with you and a relatively small amount of money you can make a low budget movie that can compete with the best of them on the festival circuit at places like Cannes, Toronto, Telluride and the Sundance Film Festival. If your story is compelling enough people will forget that the production value is a bit challenged.
There are people all over this world who never gave up on their dreams to make films, despite the difficulties that came with working outside of the mainstream film industry. They are passionate filmmakers who believe that anyone with a compelling story to tell has a right to make a movie. Through their struggles these diehard filmmakers have created cheaper ways to make movies. This revolution was born out of frustration due to decades of having their creative voices shunned by the big film studios who favored commercialism over creativity.
The commercialism associated with the films that are being released by the major Hollywood film studios these days is very frustrating for any filmmaker who considers their work to be art. Nowadays movies are tested extensively beforehand to ensure that the studio committing hundreds of millions of dollars to it will not lose money. This kind of testing tends to narrow the field down to only a few kinds of movies that they will invest in which means there is no room for new ideas. True artists can never be happy when there are constraints imposed on their methods and subject matter.
Although the film industry is a merging of story telling and commerce, the story telling part has always been the most important half of the equation for the audience. The big movie studio executives seem to have forgotten this fact as they continue to produce movies that have more style than substance. People would much rather see a good movie with a low production value than they would a bad movie with a high production value.
Talent and a good storyline are generally worth more to movie audiences than an expensive look. If you can just get a good story committed to film and submitted to film festivals, then people will take notice. If a buzz is created about your movie, it can lead to a distribution deal that is worth many times more than the money you invested.
After you have finished with all phases of the film production process you need to find places that will show your film to the public. There is a thing called the film festival circuit and it is the last bastion of hope for people who want to make independent films. Sure, the celebrities and big studios have recently invaded the larger events like Toronto, Cannes and the Sundance Film Festival, but they still make room for the little guys. Independent filmmakers are still the focus of film festivals no matter how much publicity they receive.
Films like The Blair Witch Project are a perfect example of how a film with a very small budget but a very clever story can make it to the big time. This very independent film was a big hit at The Sundance Film Festival in the late nineties and it was all because of the storyline. The Film was shot and edited on video and transferred to 16mm film only for the print that was needed for screenings at the festival. The independent filmmakers that made this film only spent about 40,000 dollars to make it and get it ready for Sundance. The production value was very poor but people could not stop talking about how the story ended. It received a lot of publicity and was subsequently sold to a major film studio for one and a half million dollars. The studio made 150 million dollars on the film when they blew it up to 35 millimeter and distributed it to theaters nationwide.
Film festivals are places where the playing field is leveled for all the players in the film industry. It is a strange nexus between people who are hungry to get into the film industry and people who have had too much of it and just want to be a little less full of it. They long for the days when filmmaking was more of an art form and less commercialized. The result is that they embrace independent filmmakers in their raw form. When this happens there is always a chance that one of the little guys could be suddenly held up to the spotlight by the big players and glorified. If this does occur it is always because the storyline of the film created a buzz, not the production value.
Both Andy West & Michael Connelly are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Andy West has sinced written about articles on various topics from Hypnotherapy, College Education and Bail Bonds. Andy West is a freelance writer for bullseyetattoos.com. Bullseye offers an extensive collection of and original tattoo designs by some of the world's top a. Andy West's top article generates over 1830000 views. to your Favourites.
Michael Connelly has sinced written about articles on various topics from Mortgage, Hair Care and Finances. Michael P. Connelly is an Author, Artist and award-winning Filmmaker who writes on a variety of topics that effect people in their every day lives.