Week 8

The week started off with Andy on cinema movements talking about star power and how the media create a deceptive image. We also found out what keeps us watching the star; The stars on screen character's contradiction of the ordinary and extraordinary. Actor's/Actress's identification to a particular kind of role in the Hollywood system which is based on genre.

In the afternoon with Richard we looked over what is expected in different films with specific genre. I enjoyed the class but my concentration levels were low, so I found it difficult to grasp some things. What I got from the class was helpful in developing and knowing where to go in my stories because each genre has got a template of how, when, where, what and why situations should happen more or less.

Factual programming on Tuesday, we watched two documentaries. the first Evicted was dreary and depressive. About two families who were evicted from their home, through financial problems. It was so sad how people these days are in these circumstances. The documentary cut half way through because of scratches on the disc.

I imagine it would have been hard for the production crew to keep on filming they would have been mentally drained.

The second documentary was about women who buy Fake babies. though fake they look incredibly realistic and they don't just buy them they treat the dolls as humans. It was strange to me that anyone would even consider this. The documentary did it's job, it made me shocked, confused and slightly irritate towards the women.

Thursday was technical, Cammie our sound lecturer went over, in some detail over the sound equipment. The class went on for too long, I would have preferred a break in the middle of a 3hour lecture. The first hour or so I was taking useful notes but after my concentration hit it's limit I switched off.

Editing in the afternoon with Gavin. I believe I am improving my editing skills. though will need a one to one tutorial to familiarise myself with preparing to capture etc.

Friday Adam discussed our proposals for Life On Mars and how we could improve them, Later that afternoon we had a screening of Rome Open City, It was a phenomenal achievement by Roberto Rosselini to use the ends of old film reel's fix them together and film Open City not to mention in the middle of the 2ND world war.

Week 7

Monday, I had a tutorial with Richard, my idea had been done before many at times and I hadn't brought any originality to it.

Tuesday, we watched a slow and pondering documentary about bible sales men trying to make a living. The documentary to start gave the view of pushy arrogant sales men but in the end showed them how they needed to be these things to survive and make money.

Thursday was practical with Ray. We looked at the tools used in the follow focus kit and the elements that are essential to know that effect focus on a shoot. I got lost in this session when Ray was talking about measurements, lenses and focal plains etc. I may need to research this area more. In general I took a lot from this class, it was incredibly informative maybe too much so. I love the hands on effect.

On Friday morning was T.V Content Origination. Adam went over our television review sheets for Life On Mars. Again we were focusing on themes, so vitally important, also something I need to get a better grasp of. The class was about telling the difference between themes and plot devices in this particular drama. I struggled to tell the difference between our listed themes. What I got from the class is that themes are what continues with and throughout the character arc and devices are basically something that drives the story on, rather than the character. I loved the interaction in this class with lecturer to students because in a sense it is pulling all the class up to the same level of understanding.

In the afternoon we watched a very documentary-like film, a true story of the Algerian revolution from both sides of the battle, 'Battle of Algiers'. The film lasted what seemed a long time, it was more like a history lesson rather than a form of entertainment. Some of the scenes were extremely realistic and were huge in terms of scale and extras.

Week 6

This has been quicker than last. It seems like I have not been in Uni at all, due to some mid week class alterations.

Monday was with Andy, he was talking about film genre. Film genre helps us to study film closer, comparing like with like and how they are understood and what the meaning behind them is. We also looked at the repertoire of elements in different genres which was interesting, e.g Tommy guns (gangster films), Horses (westerns). Also films cross genres, Die Hard could arguably be a western rather than just an action film. Genre helps us to define films and what should be involved.



Tuesday, Factual Programming. The class took a visit to the Mitchell Library. We were give an induction on how to access historic archives and general house keeping rules. I have never been to Mitchel Library before but it seems a good source for research.



Wednesday. Our class with Zam had been altered.



Thursday, TV content origination. Adam who is still ill, assigned us to watch Being Human. A comedy drama which follows the lives of a werewolf, a vampire and a ghost. The drama has a very different perspective view of the norm, which makes it worth to watch. Our homework is to submit a T.V programme review sheet which is bringing us closer to what should be involved in today's T.V dramas.



Friday was the uni open day, stretching my communication skills. I spoke to several applicants, most of them seemed to be interested. I met a previous applicant from last year who is applying again this year. He seemed eager so I wish him well.

Week 5, Day 4 & 5

Thursday, I was totally oblivious that I had a lighting lecture in the morning. I presumed, for some reason we had an editing class, we all received an email stating that Gavin our Editing lecturer was ill. Through misinterpretation I did not attend the lighting session. There was information posted on moodle about when the class which I didn't read hence my absence.

Later that day, we had an afternoon with Zam Salim, sharing his basics on storyboarding, we also properly structured and finished our strange short story ideas which we came up with in Zam's previous class. This exercise was more a refreshment (which I needed) of what we had learned in screenwriting last year, but with a directors point of view.

Friday morning was a continuation of Zam's class on Thursday. We storyboarded the famous plane chase sequence from North by Northwest. After we were drawing some more, storyboards up for short 20 second sequences. I love the fact Zam physically increases our skills by making us do what he teaches us about. I must state that all my lecturers tend to do this, which makes this course what it is. For me it's a brilliant way of understanding on a whole new level. I can't stress enough how grateful I am, being a participant in this course.

That afternoon, was a screening of The Searchers. On a previous blog I predicted what I thought happened but it turned out very different from what I expected. I will review The Searchers on the other connecting blog, The Luke Reviews.