Final Reflection Media 1

Fabiana Weiner S3550495

Over the last 4 months I have been overwhelmed by the possibilities and opportunities available for us as media makers. One of the many reasons I enrolled at RMIT was to explore opportunities working with outside companies with the support and guidance of RMIT. The work attachment visits from Paul Ritchard have opened my eyes to the possibilities of applying what I am learning in the Media degree directly to supervised work experience throughout the entirety of my degree.

For someone with no editing experience but a lot of creative ideas, the first 3 Project Briefs were a perfect starting point. They allowed me to experiment with creating my own audio material, shooting my own footage, editing this material using basic editing software and then structure the material in an evocative, thought provoking way. Very quickly I learned what works and doesn’t work, issues of continuity, narrative, character, audio as a tool for story telling and that’s just assembling 2 to 3 minutes of media portrait material. What this has taught me is that you must DO IT to LEARN IT. The theory supports and expands the mind, but I have to be the one to generate my own material and learn the technical skills needed to do this using the resources on hand. With technology evolving so quickly, I cannot sit back and wait for someone to show me the ropes because even if someone’s kind enough to do that, another version of software or model of camera will be available and I will be again, waiting for someone to show me what to do. I can therefore learn best and with the most long-lasting effects by jumping in and getting involved. Some areas of production I have to force myself because it doesn’t come naturally to me but I’m always glad once I get my head around something. It’s rarely as hard as I told myself it would be. I believe this is where my confidence comes from, by taking initiative and making my ideas a practical reality.

The most challenging aspect of the course has been keeping on top of the ideas and concepts presented in the lectures towards the end of the semester. Another reason I came to RMIT was to learn how to produce my own material and allow the theoretical material to inform and inspire my own projects. Over the last three weeks I have struggled to feel on top of some of the ideas as well as stay on top of the PB4. Working in a group has proved to be challenging as well. The contract written at the start of the process was helpful but I think fundamentally I have to learn independence and self-reliance in these circumstances no matter what, especially with projects and deadlines. I have learned from the experience of PB4 to establish a clear idea and process early on rather than rely on the group to all work on the same level as project supposed to develop and get stronger. People inevitably have other priorities and commitments and won’t always share your own– it’s therefore important for next time to have a clear strong goal from the very start.

Fabiana