Focusing on a single idea, frame, movement or element about a person/character and attempting to capture whatever the essence of that is on film is a really wonderful experience. If I focus too much on creating something interesting I’m really only contriving something. If I haven’t learned how to observe and try to capture some of the beautiful little moments that could never be scripted, then I’m missing the essence of something. The way the light falls on someone, the way they make a funny movement while waiting for something. All moments I would miss if I wasn’t open to observing something as it is.

Going out with a focus on capturing something organic and as it is, you are automatically aware of the little things about whatever it is that you hadn’t thought about before. My shots for this week were focused on depth of field, I wanted to make sure my ability to do this technically an efficiently were okay. It did take a while for me to set up my shot using two of my group mates as the subjects. I had to adjust their positions numerous times because I ended up needing them to be really far apart to get that beautiful shallow depth of field effect. I was going to ask them to talk to each other but as they waited in their spots patiently, in their own heads what happened was really beautiful and I couldn’t have planned it. One of my classmates was incredibly photogenic and I mean that in the captivating way not the superficial way. His eyes were incredibly provocative and colourful and his inner monologue or whatever it was going on in his head was really interesting to watch. I would never have thought to use him in a film or necessarily thought he would translate on film like that not because he’s not interesting but because until someone stands in front of a camera, I am not to know what will happen. I ended up rolling without telling them because what was happening naturally was really beautiful. My female classmate was standing behind him and her red hair looked beautiful with his green eyes. I had a thought of ‘Waiting for Godot’ and thought I could edit and name this short film ‘Waiting for the Rain’. There was something really purposeful and unscripted with the way they were standing there waiting for the weather to change with all this stuff going on inside their heads. It was really beautiful and I think this exercise has inspired what I’m going to work towards for my pitch in week 7.

I also really understand what Paul was trying to say in the class before about finding things that are honest and beautiful, moments rather than outcomes. I’m exited rather than nervous about not having some interesting concept to pitch.