Summary

I must say, I really enjoyed PV1015. I feel like I matured a lot more this semester than I did the last and I think it’s because of the module. PV1015 really inspired me and made me think hard about why I want to become a filmmaker. The assignments were easier to do because of the experience from last semester so I had no problem completing. I think I did a lot better on this module that the last, just because I tried a lot harder. The highlights of the module were of course receiving the first actuality assignments and then going out and filming the final piece. I have improved so much in terms of camera operation and even directing.

Learning about documentary filmmaking was a great experience. I didn’t know that documentaries would be able to move me and generate different emotions in me that fiction film can sometimes do. I can honestly say I learnt a lot from PV1015 – from how to set up interviews to making fancy titles on Final Cut Pro.

The only downside of the overall process is that my making of did not go according to plan. But even then something positive came out of it in the fact that I didn’t just give up and worked really hard to create a documentary (with the few resources I had) to the best of my ability.

Overall PV1015 has been a great experience which I have learned a lot from and I’m sure those skills learned will be of great help in the second year.

Editing Process

Week 10 - 27/03/2012

Production meeting

We had no meeting this week as I had to go home (London) early, but we did text each other about editing when we get back after Easter.

Easter

Week 9 - 20/03/2012

Class – presentations 

I won’t write much, but this week we had presentations. They went ok although I feel my group might have failed due to it being so short.

Interviews

We filmed our interviews this week. I managed to get a hold of Dom and Sam through facebook  (good old facebook).

Everything went ok apart from the fact that we had to film Sam in a separate room because Wobster had a class in the HQ room after we finished with Dom. We just found an empty classroom instead and interviewed him there. 

I did argue with Luke quite a bit because I didn’t like the way he set up the shots – I can be a bit of a perfectionist sometimes but he kept leaving too much head room and blank space. In the end I had to give up because I didn’t want to look unprofessional in front of the 2nd years. I was happy with the set up of Dom’s interview but Sam’s could have been much better.

I was happy with the turnout of the interviews overall – Sam and Dom sure do talk a lot but they were great to film – gave us lot of footage to work with.

It’s getting harder to find time to sit down and watch a documentary because of work from other modules.

Week 8 - 13/02/2012

Class

Was ill so didn't attend class 

Production meeting

This week we met really briefly just to talk about how we wanted to set up the interviews and where we would film them. Luke suggested the Wraith HQ room and I agreed – it seemed suitable and it also has a lot of interesting looking things in there that would look good on camera.

I told Luke to get the cutaways uploaded and I would create the interviews questions. I feel like I’m the more organised one as I constantly have to tell Luke what to do and not do. I don’t feel like I’m being bossy at all because if I don’t tell him – he won’t do it, which is a tad bit annoying.

The interview questions were:

DOM

1) What lighting equipment did you use?

2) Were there any scenes that required special lighting?

3) What was your favourite scene to light and why?

4) How did you find being a Lighting technician on a feature length film?

5) Was your job demanding?

SAM

1) What camera support/equipment did you use?

2) Which piece of camera equipment was hardest to use and why?

3) What is your favourite piece of camera equipment and why?

4) How did you find trying to fulfil the director’s requests in terms of styles and sizes?

5) How was the overall experience of being the DoP on a feature length film been?

I stuck to five questions each because I didn’t know how long they would talk for and it seemed better to just make them important relevant questions.

Also met up with Luke to create our presentation for next week. We decided to compare our making of to the participatory mode as it seemed to be the mode which was furthest in comparison.   

Thoughts of the week

Week 7 - 06/03/2012

No class – running week 

1st Day – 5 MarchI received an e-mail very early in the morning stating that Luke and I were not needed because of lack of transport. Basically the crew went to Wigan to go and film, so I think they really didn’t want a lot of crew with them as they were taking the train. So I did get to run on the first day, but apparently tomorrow, we will be filming in a house.

2nd Day – 6 March

Received a call sheet early in the morning telling us where to meet and where we would be going. I arrived at the Wraith HQ room on time (yaay me) and was greeting by the First AD, Michael Pettit – who I knew from last year because I ran for his groups pitching film. 

Everyone else in the room was really relaxed and friendly towards us which in turn made me less nervous.

Luke and I were the runners for today, so we had to carry a few pieces of equipment to the first location which turned out to be a house in Plungington.

One thing I remember when we arrived at the location was that it was very busy – there was equipment lying around everywhere (which we had to move) and the kitchen was a mess (But I was later told that it was purposely done for one of the scenes).

We didn’t do much in terms of running, at that location. Liam and Anthony (the other half of our group) were pretty busy getting cutaway shots for their making of, but Luke and I were just hanging around with nothing to do.

The next location was Moor Park where we stayed for a few hours – but in terms of running – we still didn’t do much.

Overall I felt the day was a bit slow, the only thing that kept me going was the thought that something interesting might happen (but it didn’t). As runners we were not actually needed on set which was a bit frustrating because I really wanted to live the full experience. Getting to know the cast and crew was the highlight of the day. Those second years sure are funny and the acting from the cast was amazing (especially one of the leads – Lucy). I can’t wait to see what the following days hold, so I’m still pretty excited.

Day 3 - 7th March 

I was extremely ill when I woke up this morning, which meant I couldn't go on set. But I thought it was better to stay at home and recover, rather than go out and somehow disturb the shoot because I end up passing out in a corner somewhere. I told Luke to make sure he captured some good cutaways so hopefully he’s done that.

Day 4 – 8th March

Today was my last day on set and probably the best day, just because it was now my turn to film cutaways and such.

I must say I got really good shots of Dom setting up Kino’s and Arri’s and Sam using a steadycam WHICH I HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE. Luke and I took it turns filming, but I was really on the ball because as soon as I saw something happening, I would grab the camera and start recording.

I remember recording an amaaaazing birds eye view shot of Sam filming from the top of the stairs. 

Overall I thought this day was great mainly because of how confident I was with the camera, I got some really good shots (and I’m not one to brag about my work). I must say I was super proud of myself - I gave myself a pat on the back 

Week 6 - 28/02/2012

No class this week

Production meeting 

I met up with Luke once again this week just to deciding exactly what we are going to film next week when we run and get footage for ‘Wraith’. We decided that we would definitely use the fly on the wall technique when filming the cutaways for our making of. 

I found out Dan that the head Lighting Technician was a guy called Dominic Lamb (who also happens to be younger than me) and that the camera man is Sam Cronin. Apparently using the word ‘cameraman’ is unprofessional so I have to refer to Sam as the Director of Photography (DoP). Of course I stalked them on facebook after learning their names - just to see what they look like, so that we can start recording cutaways really quickly as soon as we see them fiddling with equipment or doing something interesting.

We also decided to interview the two (and possibly the director) after the running week in a quiet room with possible lighting set-ups. 

I am very excited about next week, although still a bit nervous. I’m wondering if the 2nd years will be stuck up or chilled (who knows) I just want to know what it’s like to be on a feature film set – professional or not.

Documentary of the week

Channel 4 ‘Witch Child’ Documentary

This made me angry. Very angry – to the point where I won’t even get into it. I’ll let you watch it yourself. It’s exactly the kind of documentary I hate which causes people in the west to see ‘Africans’ in a bad light.

The ‘doctor’ they got is a joke and how can they have the nerve to say he is an expert in ‘African belief’ when he has not visited every single country in Africa. My family in Ghana is Catholic and go to a Catholic Church every Sunday. Just because he lived in the Congo for a few years, all of a sudden he is an expert on the African continent. 

The fact that they are making generalizations about Africa is just ignorant. Something seriously needs to be. Africa is a continent with many countries that have different cultures.

It also looks down and makes generalisations about Christianity. 

Can you please watch it in tell me what you think?

Now that I’ve cooled down a bit, technically it is a really good documentary. Sound is good, music is good. Interviews are well set up with good lighting. Also has good use of archive footage.

Thoughts of the week