Subject In Context: Module Evaluation

Module Evaluation:

Since beginning this module, I feel that at this point I have developed my skills not just in film but also in set design.  When we started out in our group, it took some time to get to know everyone and also to think about where to start after we were given the sin of pride. We did initial sketches and brought them together and then made connections between them until we had themes to start drawing ideas from. As the ideas progressed, we also got to understand each other’s point of view about what we wanted to see in the idea for a film.

After much alterations and even restarting the process of finding ideas, we had two ideas to pitch. We structured them using the technique of the three act structure and included a character arc for each main character. At this point, I feel we had connected as a group well enough to confidently communicate with each other.

From this, our idea of a footballer in a wheelchair was chosen and we started to assign ourselves into roles. Initially I wanted to go for the role of director as this is my career path choice; however we agreed as a group to choose someone who could best direct an actor into a wheelchair. Thus I took the role of cinematographer. Looking back now, I’m glad I made this choice as it has allowed me to see the making of films from an angle different to that of a director.

I feel that I have learnt a great deal about cinematography from participation in the workshops and from the research I have carried out on different practitioners such as Conrad Hall and Roger Deakins. The role has also taught me just how precise framing needs to be; how a theory such as the rule of thirds can determine a really clean looking shot from a shot that is unappealing to the eye.

As the idea developed and we had a script draft written out, I as cinematographer communicated with the production design team and the art department in terms of where I could place the camera and what props would be seen in frame. I found that communication is essential when planning out the shots as it can affect what the art department and the production design team need to do just to accommodate things in frame.

It was also imperative that I kept close communication with the director and producers as I was changing the storyboard and shot list to fit their vision. I found that I had the freedom to research and experiment with shot types; which I could then feed back to the director and refine it down to what they wanted to see.

After some alterations, the set was ready to be constructed in the workshop. Based upon the set rigging workshop we did prior to this, I had the knowledge and understanding to input my help in setting up the flats for the layout for our set. The art department set about buying the props for set dressing whilst production management kept close track of the budget. We were then able to paint the flats and have them ready to rig on our last day of construction before our week of filming.

In terms of the workshops we’ve had with Matt and Hollie, I feel that they have helped to further strengthen the communication in our group. I and other students from Film & Animation have had the opportunity to understand set design and how mock ups help to highlight a lot of things before the set is even constructed. This I feel has made us able to communicate with the Design for Theatre Performance and Events students on common ground  for a realistic set rather than asking for a complex design just to accommodate a shot that would look really good when filmed.

In addition, I feel that the Design for Theatre Performance and Events students have benefited from the visual storytelling lectures and the setup of film equipment; as I have been able to talk to them from a visual storytelling point of view regarding certain props, lines and positions of things in frame.

The most beneficial workshops for me were those that focused on the rigging of film equipment and cinematography. Having the opportunity to work the CANNON C300 prior to our filming week has boosted my confidence as a camera operator. It’s also taught me how to work in an almost synchronised pattern with the focus puller so that shots are not only fluid in movement but in focus as well.

In my opinion, I feel that I have been able to undertake my role with a confident outlook in the pre-production phase of making our film. I feel that I have taken inspiration and influence from the context of other practitioners and apply it to my own plans for shots and framing.

That being said, I’ve found that in a group project such as this, my role in the pre-production stage has been a small part of a larger process. I’ve been able to help out practically with set rigging and also prop selection as I was a consultant from cinematography on our visit to The Crescent Theatre.

Overall, I have learnt a great deal on this module; not just new knowledge but the opportunities to put that knowledge into practice.

Being able to understand the dynamics of pre-production, researching how the film will look; whilst simultaneously getting hands on experience building sets, working with the professional equipment and especially working in a group with others towards the same goal based on the vision we decided on in the beginning. What I feel has worked well the most is that we as a group have all understood the idea, what we want to say from it and how we’re going to do it. Therefore I can say that we have worked very well this far in the project.