The first assignment required the class to create a poetic film and a representational film based off a big thinking quote and a neighbourhood specific quote, building off ideas and thoughts of a look and feel mood board that we had to create in preparation for the presentation. At this early stage of the studio, I was pleased with most of my work as I’m not putting too much pressure on myself to produce two perfect films, paired with other outside obligations such as volunteering at MIFF (which I consider vital information and film culture experience to my overall learning studying Media at RMIT). However, I was content with only one of my films and felt I gave a rough presentation not portraying my ideas clearly enough.
The feedback from the class and Kim about my presentation confirmed my feelings about my work. This made me realise my instincts about what I’ve created are mostly accurate and I should listen to them next time, such as changing music (even though the score itself is nice) to fit the ideas of Carlton I was presenting. I was attempting to communicate how a specific suburb can have an appeal to you based on your interests and values. The class said the poetic video was disjointed with contradictory ideas and images paired with sombre music. Next time I will make the effort to change music if it doesn’t work, even if it means starting from scratch after meticulously making cuts to the music. I also gained some new and insightful knowledge that I hadn’t considered after the feedback, such as I could have swapped the videos over with my representational film being the poetic film. I disagree slightly with that, I think just because my representational film had more emotional weight doesn’t necessarily mean it should’ve been the poetic film. It had clear representations of loss of home and memories and the frustration young people feel in not having a choice. The class also gave feedback that they liked my representational video more. It was clear to them and myself that more time and energy was put into the film over my poetic film and a full fledged story being realised before shooting.
Watching some of the other class presentations inspired me to do more research next time and use mood boards as an important step in the creative process; drawing inspirations from directors and cinematographers. It’s inspiring seeing other peoples work portrayed so clearly by directors or films that they engage with. Even if I didn’t like the films I understood where there creative vision was stemming from. For the next assignment I will give more thought to colour palette and directors who inspire me. I had never made a look and feel mood board and was slightly confused by the idea. After learning that I hadn’t done a standard mood board during my presentation I updated it into a new format with the pictures and quotes I’d provided in my presentation. Seeing others mood boards also helped me identify its significance to producing better work in the planning and creative process. Putting more thought into the mood board could have enhanced my poetic film by 100% as I ended up getting frustrated with conflicting ideas on that film and decided to shoot and then decide what I was trying to portray.
Producing these two films came with many learning opportunities. I believe I was successful with my representational video as I planned the shoot beforehand. I provided an interesting character, narrative tension in a universal experience many young people have lived through and a statement on the human condition. These three things were at the forefront of my mind when shooting. Shooting on the street proved difficult, I think this will be the last time I interview outside, despite originally believing there was reasoning for shooting outside in this film as it felt at odd with the piece to interview inside a house when she’s talking about essentially being homeless. In the future I will visit the location again even though I believed I was well acquainted with it. I knew that location well after having lived there for a year, yet I had never looked at it in a filmic setting which will save time in future productions.
I’d also change credits on both films as Kim said that matters in a 1 minute film and I hadn’t put any effort into font or display. If attempting another poetic film I’d like to get more creative and have more experimental shots that reflect what I’m portraying as a story.
The first assignment did help as a building block to my ideas about memory, identity and neighbourhood. I believe I will go further with what I was trying to portray in my films. Whilst filming I was struck by further ideas filming in Carlton. I wondered why Carlton was seen as an Italian suburb an in turn how Thornbury was identified as Greek and Preston as Asian. Perhaps suburbs creating mini versions of their home country in the neighbourhood they live in- inspiring me to look closer at Melbourne immigration and demographics. Filming provoked inspirations for other future ideas such as why someone who lives in Preston says that they live in Thornbury. I want to develop ideas on temporary homes living in a city. What’s interesting is that even though everything worked out for Sofie and she’s happy in the home she’s at now, she struggles to call it home because there are so many outside forces that could determine she soon can’t live there again. She will continue to go round and around looking for the next home. How many times do you live in a place you call home before it loses its meaning? What happens when home is inaccessible?