GIVING TO AND RECEIVING FROM THIS COURSE

We were assigned to create an “aesthetic masterpiece” but not to have “a creative crisis”. (More about Exercise 1A here) Throughout the first class, I kept asking myself what film form is. It made me realise that our media studio aims to equip us with the technical knowledge to execute whatever simple or abstract ideas. There is no point, if a storyteller has the most imaginative and thought-provoking concept but is unable to present the idea in a clear and effective way. I believe that being conscious of our creative process is being “True to Form”.

Typing this right now, my goals are revealed to me:
1) To be a disciplined filmmaker by practising a care for equipment and everyone on set
2) To be a purposeful storyteller by making considered choices about what and how things are in frame
3) To be a creative film editor by learning and applying ways to cut, string, foreshadow, trick, hide, reveal stories
4) To be a considerate and effective director by communicating with team members honestly, clearly and kindly

My obstacles:
1) Ignorance
2) Clumsiness
3) Fear of socialising
4) Looking down on myself
5) Unaware of strengths and weaknesses
6) Being easily demotivated by my obstacles

My actions:
1) Update blog regularly to reiterate learning points in a coherent and cohesive manner.
2) Do not be afraid of looking foolish. As Dutch scholars Erasmus and Peter Bruegel believe, everyone is inherently a fool and deranged.
3) So no harm trying something new.
4) Critically analyse the creative choices a storyteller makes.

I still do not know how, with specificity, I can achieve the above goals. They may also disappear or evolve along the way. Hopefully through this course I can develop not only various aesthetics of film form but also a form to filmmaking.

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LEARNING PROCESS

What is so scary about being in a new environment, learning something new? It is not exactly the unknown or “newness” that I most fear. More specifically, it is the fear of helplessness; not understanding what questions or resources can be raised and accessed to help make progress.

With my limited experience of twenty three years as an earthling, I discovered the importance of systems, a step-by-step approach to cope with obstacles and hopefully even overcome them. And the first day of class has shown that there will be many challenges ahead.

I quickly realised that only one person in the room had no experience filming with a Sony EX3 or X200 or any advance video camera for that matter. Me. So it was time to learn. I felt like a lost sheep not understanding half of what Paul was saying.

Thus my brain wired: 1) First, absorb what he says as much as I can. 2) Then, observe my fellow table-mates following his instructions tinkering with the bulky black box of a contraption. 3) Follow their actions. 4) Ask questions to clarify doubts and/or emphasise learning point. 5) Repeat. (Picking up the Taiko drums was useful after all: observe, mimic, execute, repeat.)

How has the above systematic process helped? Firstly, asking questions and giving an honest dunno-the-fuck-i’m-doing expression clears the air: I do not know what the fuck I am doing. Caution: sometimes facial expressions can be misread. Secondly, since I have no clue where to start, it is good to practise listening and observational skills before forming coherent thoughts and questions. Thirdly, get straight to it: to learn by doing.

Paul’s first tip was a system too:
PAFFWER – Power, Audio, Focal Length, Focus, White Balance, Exposure, Record

Ok, so now I know there are three rings that can be played with: the Focus Ring (FR) closest to the lens, followed by the Zoom Ring (ZR) and the Iris Ring (IR). The numbers on the FR indicate the estimated distance between the camera and the object which you want to focus on. The ZR has a tab which sticks out that I find makes zooming in or out less smooth. I think the little tab defeats its purpose. The IR adjusts the amount of light that enters the lens. I had never played with this exposure function before so it was very interesting.

The White Balance button is elusive. That little imp. Spoiler alert: I did not use it during our 1A and 1B exercises. Totally forgot about it. Knock knock, PAFFWER. I need to remember this.

I believe Paul explained, the zebra pattern indicates “70 percent light”. So any highlights on a subject should be marked by The Zebra. E.g. side of nose. How would Voldermort feel about this?

APPLICATION PROCESS

Our team set out to complete the first mission. Exercise 1A: direct and operate camera to shoot a single, 10-second shot per person. The shot will include an action. Be conscious of what and how the scene is framed.

Our team’s setting: the stairway landing between two doors.

My teammates were very lovely people who were inclusive, easy-going and willingly answered my questions. I am thankful for learning in that safe environment. Observing my team members also gave me more time to be familiar with the filming process and identify possible problems they encountered before my turn to play.

I had been inspired by Stanislavsky’s acting methods, i.e. identifying goal, action and obstacle. However, I implemented this approach not as an actor but as a director. My primary goal for the actor was: to sit on the stairs. The primary obstacle was: the door. The actions are: open the door and sit on the stairs.

Firstly, I rehearsed with the camera to frame the door and then the stairs. This way, I practised the panning movement and also identified where exactly on the stairs Arfi could sit.

“Could you sit on the fourth step? Beside the railing.” Arfi clarified, “here?”
“Yup. Please go behind the door now. Open it then sit on that fourth step.”

And we rolled. Arfi opens the door. Then a stranger surprised her and blocked her path. Interestingly, the unforeseen circumstance gave the actor a new obstacle but having rehearsed, the path is clear to her. Arfi continues and completes her goal. It was also fortunate that the added obstacle gave me time to pan and continue being in sync with the actor’s movement.

Typing this right now, my goals are revealed to me. Click here to know more.