Week 5

From Saturday through to Tuesday we were budying professionals at BBC Scotland, filming an event called Show Light; Industry professionals and students meeting together to explore lighting in film, television, architecture etc. The experience was helpful,I have always wanted to know what happens behind the cube of metal and glass.

On Wednesday, there was a screening of Easy Riders and Raging Bulls. Which gave us an insight of the 1970s crazy film culture. I found this class incredibly interesting, so much so I bought the book. I love this revolutionary time in film history.

On Thursday it was time to find out which one of our short films were commissioned. There was a strange twist and only one film was nominated Charlotte Carden's Little Clown. It seems to me a very artsy film and will be an interesting to work on. I'm looking forward to the end product. The rest of the day we were situated into different departments and roles. My role in this production is the 2ND Camera Assistant.

On Friday we finished the TV module with Andy looking at future of television, specifically its role as a force for social cohesion.

In Abigail's class on Friday afternoon, we watched Floating is Easy, the film we took a long time to breakdown and schedule. The film was slightly different how I pictured when I was breaking down the script but the film was enjoyable but as most of Scottish films are, DEPRESSING. I suppose it's our job to change this.

Week 4

On Monday, we had Kim we splitting our story outline into episodes and stuck them to the wall arranging each of our beats into A, B and C stories. It was very interesting to see how the story lining process works. Even though it was simplified, i think i got an incite on how the soap business works.

Tuesday Ray gave us a brief on the up and coming project, 'Black Cats and Blue Angels.' He also talked about our end of term 7 minute shorts which i was excited to find out. I knew my script would not be nominated because my short didn't have a clear goal, The whole script didn't follow the proper structure. I understand structure but every premise I was coming up with didn't have a clear goal.

On Wednesday morning I was shooting a few scenes. The starting scene we shoot ran smoothly because we had a lot of time, but on the finishing scene we were pushed, the lighting was not all that good, the shots were also rushed. I suggested to Murdo we should shoot the scene again.

In the afternoon we had a late screening of' 'Bonnie and Clyde.' The film was enjoyable but it seemed very different for that time because of the film's violence glorifying the main characters armed robbers. This film was part of the evolution of the new Hollywood and different attitude of the up and coming generation.

On Friday we had a tutorial from a special guest John Yorke who is the head of many Major British soaps and series, East Enders, Skins and many more. John gave us a tutorial on story structure. He is a skilled teacher, it made me understand the 3 act and 5 act structure more clearly. I loved the session 10 out of 10.

Week 3

Monday was a bank holiday there were no classes, though I missed a screenwriting tutorial the Monday before so it seems like I have not seen Richard in a while. 

Tuesday was assessment day on editing. Gavin wanted us to edit a sequence from Mellisa's Mail or Love, Mugs... Since I was part of Love, Mugs... production I edited some footage from the other groups production, I wasn't happy with the end result. I didn't turn up until 2 in the afternoon, hence the not so good edit. Editing is not one of my strong points, I need to practice and improve I might consider a tutorial on the actual skill and craft of editing. Disappointing day for me.

Wednesday,  we had an asociated screening of representation Paradise Now, which gave us a different view of suicide bombers. The film gave me a whole different perception on why some suicide bombers would kill themselves and other people. Paradise Now did not stereotype Muslims as the representation of ruthless bombers. 

At 1230  to 1345, I was filming on Murdo's abstract production, Dust. The shoot went well, no problems. I'm so grateful to be the camera Op on another production, even though Love, Mugs... was a small dissapointment for me, I have a chance to improve my skills. 

In the afternoon, our class amalgamated with DFTV3, and were informed by a representative of Film G; a Gaelic  short film competition organisation. 

It didn't attract me, simply because I don't know the Gaelic language, though I would be happy to learn.

Andy was focusing on the representation of muslims on Thursday.  Most of Hollywood films that consist of muslims are shown from an outsiders eye and society's atitude to at that period, so therefore it usually is not a true representation and vice versa.

Later on in the day, the class were analysing web-series and how we could adapt our own ideas into this up and coming format.  

Friday we started with watching a intresting documentary called, Left of Frame exploring the rise and fall of tv as a political force. Then finished with a documentary on the unique channel 4, I percieved it as a rebel channel breaking all the rule books. 

Week 2

Tuesday afternoon I had an assessment with Gavin on editing. I had to show that I could log in to edit share then log and capture some shots. Since it was an open book assessment, i had no real problems, I just need to quicken my pace but that will come with practice. 

Wednesday a screening of In the Heat of the Night released in 1967, an enjoyable watch, murder thriller bringing up issues of racism and prejudice. The film was filmed in Chicago despite being set in the south, this was because the leading character was African-American, and the south were still struggling with race at that time. Despite the film only been released in the cinemas in the North, it was in the box office top 10.    

Thursday morning we were taking an interesting and enjoyable look at the representation of gender and race. "No matter how lifelike anything we see on the cinema screen may be, it is not real"  Andy Dougan. Many films give a stereotypical representation of women,  especially today in Hollywood, some are simply used as plot devices, eye candy with no real character development, just helpless victims.  

In the afternoon we had television and had a screening of a pilot episode of Boys from the Blackstuff a politically challenging series, which tackled the depressing subject of poverty and unemployment. It was a human, heart-felt episode, I enjoyed the performances.

Friday we had Adam for mobile and web based content. We looked over some terminology and the development of  online series and where it will go in the future. 

In the afternoon we had Abigail. We were learning the basics of Strip boards and scheduling. Again another essential for Production.