Week 1

On Monday we started our new term off with Screenwriting. We handed in our 7 minute premises, I wasn't impressed with my ideas. They did not come naturally, i had to force them out me. I was only happy with two of my ideas.  We finished our story exercises, (where we pass them round and add a sentence to the story) I didn't like this because it is extremely hard for me to come up with a sentence that would fit in with the structure and make sense if i don't get the idea from the persons sentence before, it knocks me off then causes a chain reaction.  We only completed three stories out of twelve which was really bad.  Even the three completed stories were incredibly silly and didn't make sense. For the stories to make sense I think it would have been better if we communicated and explained what we have written. This is the last class this year we will have with Richard, we are all now going to have individual tutorials instead of whole classes.   In away I'm glad because it will be easier for us to grow i think, hopefully Richard will shape us and help us to grow in our own strengths. We will be going at our individual pace. Looking forward to it.

In the afternoon, it was the first  we have had with Kim. We were learning about soaps and how this area of the industry works from a storylining perspective. Although my goal is not to work in soaps, the subject is interesting. We have been split into groups to come up with a story ideas for Coronation street. Our group hasn't thinking of the story yet, i think we are all trying to get updated on whats happening in the Coronation Street world. 

Coronation street for me is incredibly and repeatably depressing, there is no WOW factor. There is something about soaps that makes me turn off, what it is exactly, I am not to sure.  I have respect that the soap is the most powerful thing on TV and it is not dying anytime soon.  

On Tuesday, our editing classes were cancelled. In the afternoon had Andy for the history of cinema.We learned that James Stuart changed Actors contracts to studios  by working for nothing but taking a share of the profit which totally changed the Hollywood system. Also how film started getting a new audience because of the creation of television. I find this class really interesting. The best years of our lives was an associated screening 

On Wednesday we had a screening of The Best Years of Our Lives directed by William Wyler a realistic and intimate film. It was a story about three veteran service man who return after WWII and their struggles and adjusting of their life back home.  The Film covered classic human topics like unemployment, adultery and alcoholism. The ironic title refers to the troubling fact that many servicemen had 'the best years of their lives' in wartime, not in their experiences afterwards.

On Thursday there were no classes, but some independant study time.

On Friday, we had Abigail for production. She was covering and explaining the essential Script Breakdown. Afterwards we had to go through each scene of the script and break it down in terms of props, characters, sound, set etc, everything that required to film the scene. I was having difficulties at first but near scene 7, I started to pick it up. I have exercised my skills on Script Breakdown before on a three day Production course hosted by Fluid Eye productions but it refreshed my memory and the importance of it.

Love, Mugs and Stickmen

I was the camera operator on the production  Love, Mugs and Stickmen written and directed by Ross Williamson.

Ross was an extremely good first time director, he knew what he was doing most of the time. There were only a few time where I was confused. 

I was confused and slightly stressed in some sections of the shoot especially when our Lecturer came to visit the set. I think this is because the whole crew was focusing hard not to make a mistake. Our lecturer said some shots looked student like which lowered our moral a little. Looking back on the comment, I agree completely because at that moment in time the production was rushing to finish for a 12 o clock palette class who were moving in to our location. We couldn't take the time to be creative or even frame the shots that were scripted on the storyboards.

A major mistake I made, was accidently pressing regen on the 570 instead of the zoom control and later when capturing,  the time-code was a little problem. The thing was I pressed regen again. Next time I will look on where I am putting my fingers.  After some help from the AD, I was back on track. 

Also another problem was that light stands and some kit was in frame on some shots. Even though kit was at easy access in the room, we should have moved them into a different room. In the future, I should walk through my shot and pay close attention to any unwanted items in shot.

Although there was a crew of six working on the production, it would have ran more smoothly if there was a couple more people. Two of our crew had to continually step in as extras.

 

The shoot was tiring for me this is because the day before I was filming another production Lord of the Rings in sixty seconds. This took all my energy and away. The professional industry I could imagine is extremely worse but I'm glad I was physically pressurized because it has given me preparation and a little taste of the 'real world.'

We used tracks in the shoot. I asked Adam to use them he said possibly, but referred me to Ray who gave the 'green light.' Before the shoot we were trained how to use them.  I was really excited because i have never used them before. The shots that we used them for looked fantastic although it wasn't as smooth as using steel tracks, It made me feel more professional.  

On the production I was directed on how to frame and execute each shot. Looking back, I should  of put more of my own suggestions and input for shot ideas. This production had no major mistakes or major difficulties. Overall, I was not satisfied with the footage. I loved the whole experience, this was the first time I had been working on a film set. I am eager to learn and gain more experience in this area.