UNIT 1B - Implement and Review the Arts Challenge.
In order to implement my arts challenge I first attended the British Film Academy (BFI) network course at Long Road 6th form college during the 21st - 29th Oct 2017 half term break. Here we learnt what goes in to making a short film through master classes given by various industry professionals:
Rick Harvey - Screen Writer
We learnt:
• Film is a visual medium - Show don't tell (words to images)
• Screen writing is rewriting
• Screen writing is a collaborative art form
• The Screen play is structured and formatted to convey all the important information and instructions required, in a compact way.
Here are some of my notes taken during the master class:
Ryd Cook - Writer / Director / Film Maker
We learnt:
• Jack of all Trades, master of none but often better than a master of just one.
• NO EXCUSES!
Ryd Cook has been making films for over 10 years. His first interaction with film was using his Dad's video camera from a young age.
He then progressed to making sort skateboard films which then helped develop a passion for the film. Because of this he went to study it at Long Road six form. Using his talent and skills acquired here he made a film which won the media magazine award. He also met Sean Meadows who inspired him to turn his passion into a career.
He then studied film production technology at University but then quit as he felt that he already knew most of the information that was being taught, so he went his own way about making films with a group of friends who went by the name 'Trident'.
One of their successful films won lots of awards including the Cambridge Film Festival in 2008. In order to create this film he said you need to follow five stages:
Development
Preproduction (planning)
Production(shooting)
Post production (editing)
Distribution
Another thing the Ryd taught us was how a professional crew works together, and what the role of each person is. For example when he explained that my role of director was to oversee the creative aspects of the film and to direct the performance of the actors. Some of the other roles he talked about included: First AD, Clapper, Sound Recordist, Cinematographer, Editor, Producer and Production Sesigner.
Tanya Jones - Sound & Music
Tanya started by teaching us some advanced Sound and Music related terms and phrases.
• We learnt some of the terminology that is used, and that I now understand, for example:
- Aural Motifs
- Sonic Wallpaper
- Cacophony
- Glistening String
- Contrapuntal Sound
Now I understand what these words mean it enables me to analyse film and to understand why and how audio is put with the visual aspects.
We're also learnt about the value of music in film, and that it accounts for 50% of the film, for example some sound is used to create emotional engagement with the audience which can add a new dimension to the film.
This masterclass really helped me to understand the importance of the music and sound within a film.
Stevie Haywood - Sound Engineer
The next masterclass we had was with Steve Haywood who looked at the more practical side of sound and music.
We looked at how sound was recorded in the production stage of Filming. I believe he was a great for our sound recordist and taught them important things about how to operate the boom pole. For example how it should be held close and pointed directly towards the actor's mouth when they are speaking for the clearest sound. It was small things like this that helped our end product (which was dialog heavy) to sounds so good.
David Winstone - Director
David is a young director who went to Long Road 6th Form.
He then took the opportunity at Westminster University and studied Film and Television Production. Whilst at Uni he won a student award which helped him get a scholarship at the National Film and TV School, where he received a Masters qualification. During his time at the NFTS he made a graduation film that was very successful. Now he is directing a TV series called River City.
David was our mentor which I found extremely helpful as I learnt so much about directing from following his lead and taking on board his tips for making a great film.
Michael Collins - Editor
Michael is an editor who talked to us about how editing in film can make a huge difference. One of the most important thing he said was how editing makes the audience feel and interpret the moving image. Another thing that i found really interesting was when he said that editing should be invisible if done right - meaning that the viewer should never feel as if the shot is out of place unless that shot is suppose to disorientate the viewer.
Henri Salonen - Sound
Henri Salonen creates and composes sound for companies. He learnt all of his skills at Anglia Ruskin university. when he makes the sound for customers. We learnt:
- he usually does 6 or 7 drafts to get the best final outcome.
- the quote he used was 'write with your heart, and then write with your mind'.
After this period of intensive learning, we had a chance to put it all into practise by shooting our short film.
In order to implement my arts challenge I first attended the British Film Academy (BFI) network course at Long Road 6th form college during the 21st - 29th Oct 2017 half term break. Here we learnt what goes in to making a short film through master classes given by various industry professionals:
Rick Harvey - Screen Writer
We learnt:
• Film is a visual medium - Show don't tell (words to images)
• Screen writing is rewriting
• Screen writing is a collaborative art form
• The Screen play is structured and formatted to convey all the important information and instructions required, in a compact way.
Here are some of my notes taken during the master class:
Ryd Cook - Writer / Director / Film Maker
We learnt:
• Jack of all Trades, master of none but often better than a master of just one.
• NO EXCUSES!
Ryd Cook has been making films for over 10 years. His first interaction with film was using his Dad's video camera from a young age.
He then progressed to making sort skateboard films which then helped develop a passion for the film. Because of this he went to study it at Long Road six form. Using his talent and skills acquired here he made a film which won the media magazine award. He also met Sean Meadows who inspired him to turn his passion into a career.
He then studied film production technology at University but then quit as he felt that he already knew most of the information that was being taught, so he went his own way about making films with a group of friends who went by the name 'Trident'.
One of their successful films won lots of awards including the Cambridge Film Festival in 2008. In order to create this film he said you need to follow five stages:
Development
Preproduction (planning)
Production(shooting)
Post production (editing)
Distribution
Another thing the Ryd taught us was how a professional crew works together, and what the role of each person is. For example when he explained that my role of director was to oversee the creative aspects of the film and to direct the performance of the actors. Some of the other roles he talked about included: First AD, Clapper, Sound Recordist, Cinematographer, Editor, Producer and Production Sesigner.
Tanya Jones - Sound & Music
Tanya started by teaching us some advanced Sound and Music related terms and phrases.
• We learnt some of the terminology that is used, and that I now understand, for example:
- Aural Motifs
- Sonic Wallpaper
- Cacophony
- Glistening String
- Contrapuntal Sound
Now I understand what these words mean it enables me to analyse film and to understand why and how audio is put with the visual aspects.
We're also learnt about the value of music in film, and that it accounts for 50% of the film, for example some sound is used to create emotional engagement with the audience which can add a new dimension to the film.
This masterclass really helped me to understand the importance of the music and sound within a film.
Stevie Haywood - Sound Engineer
The next masterclass we had was with Steve Haywood who looked at the more practical side of sound and music.
We looked at how sound was recorded in the production stage of Filming. I believe he was a great for our sound recordist and taught them important things about how to operate the boom pole. For example how it should be held close and pointed directly towards the actor's mouth when they are speaking for the clearest sound. It was small things like this that helped our end product (which was dialog heavy) to sounds so good.
David Winstone - Director
David is a young director who went to Long Road 6th Form.
He then took the opportunity at Westminster University and studied Film and Television Production. Whilst at Uni he won a student award which helped him get a scholarship at the National Film and TV School, where he received a Masters qualification. During his time at the NFTS he made a graduation film that was very successful. Now he is directing a TV series called River City.
David was our mentor which I found extremely helpful as I learnt so much about directing from following his lead and taking on board his tips for making a great film.
Michael Collins - Editor
Michael is an editor who talked to us about how editing in film can make a huge difference. One of the most important thing he said was how editing makes the audience feel and interpret the moving image. Another thing that i found really interesting was when he said that editing should be invisible if done right - meaning that the viewer should never feel as if the shot is out of place unless that shot is suppose to disorientate the viewer.
Henri Salonen - Sound
Henri Salonen creates and composes sound for companies. He learnt all of his skills at Anglia Ruskin university. when he makes the sound for customers. We learnt:
- he usually does 6 or 7 drafts to get the best final outcome.
- the quote he used was 'write with your heart, and then write with your mind'.
After this period of intensive learning, we had a chance to put it all into practise by shooting our short film.
Well done for achieving your challenge, you've learnt a lot from the industry professionals who visited for the masterclasses, and put what you've learnt to practise in the making of a short film.
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