Who else is tired of the "Make your own film" defence? Just me? I hope not. If you don't know what I am referring to, you are very lucky. Basically, here is the skinny. If someone doesn't like a certain film, a common retort an unreasonable person will zing back with us "Why don't you make your own film and show us how it's done", or something similar. The insinuation is that anyone who has never made a film shouldn't be able to have a negative opinion on any other film. Okay. It should be noted that this comment is usually made by members of the film viewing public, and not actual filmmakers themselves.

This is an incredibly lazy defence, but it is becoming more and more frequent in the expanding age of the internet. I understand that no one likes a film they adore to be bashed, but we have to grow up and take the civilized route, even if the bashing itself is half baked. If we are experiencing social media as a primary form of communication, we must accept these cinema opinions even if they are unfounded. You can always disagree. There's that option.

Not everyone has the opportunity to become a filmmaker. Many have tried and not been able to pursue their passion. They may go into film reviewing, since they still love the medium. Me? I can openly admit that I didn’t even try to get into filmmaking seriously. I purposefully declined the opportunity to apply for a degree in film production during my undergrad, and avoided that whole process; naturally, I had to go through other leaps and bounds to get into cinema studies, which is technically only available for film production majors, and not for undecided majors. There are many critics like me that have this preference. Not everyone who is a critic has to be a failed filmmaker. Either way, does anyone have to justify their love for cinema if they aren’t actively making films? At all?

Aren’t critics or other cinephiles entitled to the exact same opinions as those that make these claims? Did these same people make their own films? If not, do they dislike any films? I’m sure they do. No one loves every single film ever made, or — more simply — every film they have seen. It’s virtually impossible. Even those that love all genres, eras, styles, and purposes, like myself, have favourites and least favourites. Is it appropriate to sling this response back at these same people if you catch them in another comment section hating on a film? This article is pointing out the immaturity of this response to begin with, so I would argue to not do this altogether, but you get my point.

What I will say, is that any film lover, if given the opportunity and having the means, should take part in some sort of a class, if they don’t feel like taking on cinema as a major. Understanding the craft from the inside is valuable for appreciating your favourite medium. Making your own films, even for fun, is also one way to bond with cinema. Again, I never studied production, but I certainly made my own works in high school (and before). I directed, shot, acted-in, and edited my own works (which are, admittedly, atrocious). These years gave me invaluable exposure to this craft I was discovering from another angle. I was watching films in a different way now: pointing out how cuts were possibly made to myself, noticing line delivery, and other revelations I had at that age.

It isn’t required to do any of this to enjoy film. You enjoy film, because you enjoy film. Everyone has their different reasons. The price to pay when you watch more films, is stumbling upon films you won’t like. That is fine. If we watched one film, and then stopped on the off-chance that we would find something bad, are we actually cinephiles? Part of the adoration is combing through each film through and through, pinpointing what we like and what we don’t. It strengthens our tastes. It reaffirms our favourites. Not having made our own film is an unrealistic, pathetic clap back that needs to stop in 2020. We know better by now. I’d like to think we do. You don’t need to pull off a rare achievement that a small minority of the world have taken part in (even the bad filmmakers) in order to enjoy an entertainment art form that billions of people consume daily. We’re in the digital age of constant opinions, and many of them won’t match yours. As long as these are founded opinions not shaped by hatred, bigotry, or insensitivity, they are valid. Get used to it.

Andreas Babiolakis has a Masters degree in Film and Photography Preservation and Collections management from Ryerson University, as well as a Bachelors degree in Cinema Studies from York University. His favourite times of year are the Criterion Collection flash sales and the annual Toronto International Film Festival.

"Make Your Own Film": The Laziest Retort