MY METHOD OF WORKING pt1

PART 1 

To create a scene, write an essay or complete several exercises.

These are some of the things that we get to choose from – and at this point, I really want to create a scene. I think it would be a very rewarding process focusing on one scene. Creating something from scratch, well thought out and experiment with it.

In my head, this is how I want this scene to play out – I want it to be ‘art’ (which is an eerie concept anyway) rather than  a narrative story piece. I want to look at it as a blank canvas then create a piece on that piece. So I don’t want it to be linked to a film – or a scene taken out of a film. I want it to be a piece within itself. A lone scene… I don’t know. I am having trouble defining what I want… It’s annoying me. I think it’s something I just need to do.

For some reason – I keep think of music clips. They just keep popping into my heads. I think some music clips have a great sense of appeal and ‘lightness’ (some of course). They are short and some can be seen as a small part of a bigger picture. A lot of the story is defined in that small amount of time and others just have different aspects to it that are just based on ‘visual vibes’ – visuals that go with the song.

 

WEEK 4 – epiphany #4

Looking at silent footage is seriously effective.

I paid so much attention to detail – I saw mistakes, I also saw the flow. Although, pointed out by Paul, our week 3 exercises shown were poorly done. I like the honesty – and I saw what he meant. Seeing them silently though really highlighted the establishment of the shots and make me look purely at the framing.

Friday’s exercise was really great! It was a big group – and therefore there was more pressure to take your role seriously. Which I did… as best I could. I was an actor. Dreading seeing myself on screen – but it really gave me an insight. I was able to view from the outside – even though I was apart of the group. I contributed where I could – but also listened to the Director. It was interesting seeing how the shot was set up and then how it played out… The location was frustrating. But you face obstacles on set – and I guess that’s just one of the things that happen. Because it was so restricted I feel like we had a chance to challenge ourselves with shots. My team had a set amount of shots they wanted to do to fulfil the requirements and finish the scene – while we were at the location a little bit more creativity started to kick in and they wanted to try a few other things. We completed the shots with time left – so we redid a few more. Although – I felt like we didn’t push ourselves enough. We didn’t push ourselves creatively enough – we assumed shots to make the time limit and create a smooth process. But because these are exercises I think this is the time we really push ourselves to think outside the box – and even fail. I would be happy to fail at creating a shot – only to know that I took a risk and tried something different. But failing at a shot that is a go-to-shot would annoy me – because that is playing it too safe. But I think when you are working with a team and they are also reflected in what you make is a pressured environment and you have to consider how they feel about the shots. Compromise – but in teams you can’t be selfish.

I think my group did well in working together and sticking to roles. I liked that everyone took their roles seriously – and did what they could with them.

I haven’t been able to see the footage or edit yet – so I will see how that goes.

WEEK 3 – epiphany #3

This week (although I missed Wednesday) was really fun.

The more this course moves along – the more I enjoy it. I sense that some students are getting edgy that we have a lot of control. A lot of people want the best marks and to create the best things that they possibly can (maybe…) – we are so use to sticking to a criteria / set tasks. I like that we have the control. I like that this is experimental and that we are outside a set amount of tasks. It makes me feel like an adult… It makes me feel more in control of what I am learning and what I am capable of doing. I do understand that people are feeling confused and wondering how they are going to get their marks – but I think we need to learn to enjoy the process rather than the final result. I have complete trust in my tute – I feel like I am in a room of some very talented people. So it’s exciting for me to learn how they think, how they feel about exercises and how they react to being pushed creatively. I find it all very interesting.

The Friday class was great – the exercise we had to do really put the pressure on. We were forced quickly to work with people we didn’t know well and allow them to direct us. I unfortunately wasn’t able to direct a scene (as we ran out of time) – but watching other people think on their feet was interesting. Some people handled it well – some people wanted to make an abstract shot (or a well thought out shot) and others wanted to just get the shot done.

 

WEEK 2 – epiphany #2

This week I was sick in class.

But as I have been deconstructing my scene – I have realised that I lack knowledge. Camera knowledge that is. Descriptive words for camera work – i.e. coverage. How the scene is covered. Although I do enjoy working out the meaning behind the shots used – but can’t explain exactly what the shots are. Which is frustrating. I have also worked out that I LOVE analysing films. I have done this all my life and have taught myself to attempt to predict what will be the outcome through character performance, what’s in frame and location (among other things).

It’s so fun when I am wrong. I honestly think it’s a good sign when I am wrong. Although not all the time. I appreciate different things from particular films. Such as – sometimes I appreciate the miss-en-scene ( Her, 2013) and not necessarily the storyline. So when I do predict correctly (the ending, even though I know it’s not all about the ending) but enjoyed the film – I consider what I enjoyed in the film that made me not care that is what somewhat predictable. This all sounds a bit iffy and all over the place – but I want to tidy my mind a bit and learn MORE on the theory and why I like particular things.

Found Scene – #1

Can’t Buy Me Love (1987)

I was so stuck on which film to choose. I have a bookshelf of DVDs and decided to close my eyes and ‘point a finger’. I then skipped through to a random scene and that is the cheerleading scene.

Can’t Buy Me Love (Steve Rash, 1987)

4.53 – 7.04 (YOUTUBE VIDEO)

At the start of the scene the audience is shown one of the main characters Cindy Mancini (Amanda Peterson) through some kind of cage. So already the audience is looking at Cindy from the outside – perhaps emphasising that the story is not from her perspective but an onlookers (Ronald Miller – Patrick Dempsey). Cindy is also wearing different colour clothes in comparison to the rest of the cheerleaders (who wear read) but still holds the pom poms to highlight that she is still a part of the team. This shot lingers as she does her routine – then swaps to a mid shot of Ronald.

 

The audience is then shown who the onlooker is as he is on the other side of the cage and wears no red whatsoever. He is also clinging onto the cage (fence) which could be interpreting as him wanting to get inside – but can’t. The audience is then shown the cheerleaders again to remind the audience what he is looking at. Cindy then begins to walk out of frame. A next shot is above the cheerleading squad looking down – showing the audience how many people are in the team. Cindy is at the mid/front of the shot – showing that she is the leader. The next shot then follows Cindy (movement) with Ronald behind her. This highlighting her lack of knowledge of him and how is in fact ‘outside’ her space which she is practising in. Which could be interpreted at him being ‘outside’ of ‘her world’ and as he is still holding onto the fence – still wants to find a way in. But the audience is introduced that Cindy is the leader and the one he is watching.

 

The shot is then switched to the cheerleaders as the camera follows Cindy’s movement and how they are listening to her. It switches another time – which highlights the Cindy is in control of this situation. It then goes back to Ronald gripping onto the gate – still fixated. Then another view of him looking through the fence – as an outsider. The camera has changed to a midshot wear both Ronald and Cindy are in the same frame. Ronald is standstill – and not moving, while Cindy is moving freely. It also shows that he is right then but separated by the obstacle. Which the audience finds out later – is getting into the cool group. Cindy walks out of frame and the audience is introduced to another character – and he is on Ronald’s side of the fence – meaning that he is also not a part of the ‘cool group’.

 

Ronald then begins to talk about the ‘cool clique’ and the audience is again repeated with the shot of Ronald looking through the fence at Cindy and the cheerleaders – showing the audience that they are the ‘cool clique’. Ronald’s friend states – ‘why would you be thinking of them? They are certainly not conscious of us.’ Which literally states the coverage Cindy and Ronald have shared so far in the scene. The conversation then starts to talk about how they have always been there but still can’t get in – and as this happens they move away from the fence. The audience is then shown the group from above INCLUDING the footballers in the background. This highlights the clique.

 

The camera then goes from below Cindy and her friends – showing that they are superior within the group. A new character comes in and we are shown the main football players – another section of the ‘cool clique’. The conversation continues between them – showing that they do converse (in comparison to the Ronald and Cindy) but through conversation the audience is told that they don’t actually like each other. As the conversation continues – the camera in different shots gets closer to the characters. This is the audience getting to know the characters through coverage – a closer look into their lives.

 

This scene to me is the introduction of the cool clique – and the distance that Ronald has with them and who he wants to be with (Cindy). But mainly the fact he walks to be a part of the group.

 

 

WEEK 1 – epiphany #1

What you want from this course?  / What you think this course is?

I think this course is a thorough analysis on details within a scene – a subjective view. Even though we have been told that it is a theoretical course, I have found so far that it is very creative. It’s your interpretations of different forms – e.g. coverage, scripts etc. We are able to interpret things the way we want – and it’s more about an exploration. Self-exploration. I think that it enables deeper though – depending on how you want to see and contribute to the ‘discovery’ style classes. The first class put me out of my comfort zone – I can’t really explain why. But I liked it. Again, can’t explain why.

I want to become more observant, and push my limits. I also really want to listen to other peoples views and see how they take the classes. I feel I could learn a lot from the people within the class and the subject. Because ….

epiphany – everyone took things differently. Everyone has an individualistic view and take on things. When we had to create the scene – and everyone came up with something different. Which was so strange but oddly cool. Although I don’t want to do this every week because I feel it would take away the reason for doing it. Every couple of weeks maybe, but every week might ruin the experience.