Day 3

Day 3 of the BFI included initial meetings within our group after we had been given the script – ‘ the front lines ‘ our group analysed and broke down the script in order to fully understand it.

Initially reading the script was a part of the day where I felt I learnt the most, through fully understanding what was written and trying to visualize this for a film. Labeling the script as a group allowed me to understand the script more along with  helping with my arts challenge – adding initial notes on the pace of the editing and places where colour correction can help – e.g darker, greener settings for forest scenes, faced past cutting in times of paintballing action etc.

As there were professionals from the industry coming in to speak to our group, we had collaboratively come up with questions. This was a perfect opportunity to ask those experienced in the industry and learn more. These included questions for the director, director of photography, editor, scriptwriter etc. For my future, I had wanted to ask some questions for the DOP such as – what was your breakthrough into the industry, do you have a filming style.? To develop my arts challenge as the role of an editor, I could ask the professional editor questions such as:

  • What software do you edit on?
  • What training did you have?
  • What type of editing takes the longest?

Day 2

BFI day 2 –

Day 2 included activities of understanding a timeline in a film after shown a clip as an example. This included the beginning setup,the middle conflict and end resolution. We analysed the sound, camera shots and action within this timeline. This helped apply my understanding to an actual example of a film.

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When put into groups, we were given a scenario to act out in 3 separate freeze frames. Meeting the professional, Alex, was insightful and I learnt about moving the camera to fit the action, not moving the action to fit the camera. Also with the professional, we learnt how to pitch ideas using PITCH as an abbreviation for:

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We read short scripts and wrote down initial feelings straight after each one. Our group had to collaboratively decide which one we liked most and pitched this to base our short film around. We chose a script which explores LGBT messages and had ideas of making the scene quite humorous in certain settings and heartwarming in others. One weakness in our pitch however included the idea that  we did not consider location or shot types we would use. This would have helped convince our audience that we have a clear idea as to what we are going to film and technically how we would show this. 

 

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Day 1

On the first day of the BFI, many teamwork activities occurred and were hands on. This involved using the Canon C100 camera and doing freeze frames to demonstrate our understanding of certain information, given by the professionals we had met.  After experimenting with and understanding some technical things on the canon camera, such as the setup of connecting cIMG_9395ables and ensuring that the shot is not too over exposed, again in groups we filmed a short scene in relation to a short script. The scene explored what the group knew about shot types and new media terminology learnt earlier in the morning. Our video included the 180 degree rule, a medium 2 shot, a wide and long shot. Things I would improve in the group for next time would be time management, as we wanted to experiment with using over the shoulder shots but did not have time. We also could have made the audio clearer or positioned the camera shot so that a microphone was closer to their dialogue. Our storyline had some clarity and was clear to the audience as to what was happening, however this did not last throughout the duration of the scene and was not as clear towa

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rds the ending line of the script.

Another aspect I feel our group did well in was the adaptation to the script, though we were confused at times and were unsure, we worked collaboratively and managed to put all our ideas together.

Working with the camera allowed me to apply & develop my knowledge of previous canon camera tech. Though finding the setup difficult, I also found it interesting and crucial to know how to use no matter what role I acquire as I could always help the DOP.

 

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Arts Challenge

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As part of producing our short film, in groups of 6 we have each been allocated a role. This is from an director, producer, production designer, camera operator, sound operator and editor.  My allocated role, as the editor, therefore means my input comes in post production, however it has been an amazing learning experience watching and helping other roles when on set. Considering post production including added music, sound effects, visual effects, cutting pace on beat etc. whilst on set has allowed me to experience how an editor would take notes, ( if on location ) consider how scenes would be cut together and which go together, etc, with planning to overall figure out how the end product will turn out.  My challenge within this role is therefore to learn how to professionally edit, by experimenting with layers and visual effects in Premiere Pro overall improving some skills I have within the software, and possibly motion and moving image skills in After Effects. After becoming confident in these software’s, a further challenge I would set myself would be to experiment with other softwares such as Sony Vegas Pro or Illustrator, to explore more and gain knowledge. As my interest is within camera operation, I would also like to learn and know more about camera settings and explore with shot types whilst on set.

Skills I already hold within doing this challenge is how to use Premiere Pro, Photoshop, iMovie and initially After Effects. These skills have been developed and I have learnt faster ways and shortcuts in things such as Premiere Pro through editing masterclasses. This may save time and help with time management on any future projects that do not have a long amount of time to film & edit.

Creative skills in which I would like to carry out include using  more of Premiere Pro to an extent where I am fully comfortable and know my way around it. I would like to try find and editing style through things such as colour correction and  experiment with having a signature look. After becoming familiar within the software, a further challenge I would set myself would be to experiment with other softwares such as Sony Vegas Pro or Illustrator, to explore more and gain knowledge. As my interest is within camera operation, I would also like to learn and know more about camera settings and explore with shot types whilst on set.

Challenges I would like to set myself include transitioning professionally and coming up with ideas when on set and working this out. I would like to further experience using clapper boards and understanding scenes and rolls. This would be on the set filming & helps with the overall learning process. As my final goal is to expand in Premiere Pro, I would also like to include visual effects and play around with layering these and adjusting motion or opacity controls.

I would also like to challenge myself by editing and experimenting with volume and sound levels when editing and adding Foley sound and possible background music to make the scene or film to sound professional and cinematic.

My arts challenge role in Post production is therefore to extend a skill I hold, by expanding my knowledge in Premiere Pro with using shortcuts, adding colour correction and attempting to start a signature look. I would also like to edit a scene or add an aspect of the short film in after effects so I have tried a software I had not used fully before. I have chosen this as a challenge because I would like to see how and I can push myself in terms of editing and how much I could learn. The outcome of the challenge will be the short film.

Steps I have undertaken so far for the challenge include editing own cinematic videos in Premiere Pro to practise with the software before editing the final film. This has allowed me to get comfortable with the software more than before and will save some time for the 3 days of editing. Other steps I  have taken to achieve the best possible outcome for editing the film was taking notes on set from what scene and role the scenes belong in and what order, as we did not always film in chronological order. This material / these notes will help me in terms of figuring out which scenes go where and will help with timing.

Targets I had for the second filming day after the first were to make sure that all notes that would help me for editing were taken and any notes which would help match the footage together were made. ( photo attached )

I am hoping that the feedback from the art challenge will come from feedback from our mentor and the director of the group.