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Bee(a) buzzing through film school

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beatroot:
18/03/19 - 21/03/19
Story 2A

I really shouldn't be surprised that there's a huge difference between non-fiction storytelling compared to fiction storytelling but I'm still so surprised. There was a lot of emphasis on research methodologies this week as we expand on our assessment from Screen Business. Our assessment is about creating a hypothetical documentary. In Screen Business, we focus on the marketing and feasibility side of things. As we continue this assessment in Story, we talk more about the story we want to tell and its treatment.

I was gonna do an exposé documentary about the producers behind MAFS and how the show has affected the contestants post-show. But after a week filled with social issues and which ones you were passionate about, I've decided to make my hypothetical documentary about 'the fault in the private school education in regards to sex education' and how this affects young boys and whatnot. I have an interview with the head of PDHPE from an all boys high school in my area this week so am pretty keen to get on that. I've interviewed some guys in my year about the issue as well and it's genuinely surprising to see a lack of sex education at boy high schools.

I seem to be more confident with answering questions in class which is pretty good. Though I only feel like I only speak up because I feel bad for the tutor- they ask a question to a class of 20 but no one replies back.

End of sem projects (update):
- So I'm producing a dating show where we'll send off a two people in our cohort on a date but there's a twist!
- Not sure if I'm gonna edit a film because the director doesn't have a full crew and I'm scared that the film will be dropped because I would like to edit it since the topic is so relevant to me and also all the good films have been taken and I don't want to edit some crappy film about some boring social issue lol.
- Technically I can work in three films but decided to only commit to two so I don't burn myself out. People keep asking me to do production design, sound and first ad work but I keep saying no and I feel bad !! But like why force myself to do roles I'm not good at lol.

beatroot:
25/03/19-28/03/19
Image 2A

New year, new camera. We got introduced to the Sony FS5 which is a HUGE step up from the Sony NX70. The FS5 can shoot 4K and has a detachable lens which is pretty cool. Got introduced to new set of lights as well. The theme of the week was 'the unrepeatable image'. We did an activity where we head down to a dance school near us and filmed the classes. It was pretty cool because you really had to be mindful that once a move was done, it was done. You also had to be super selective of which shots you wanted to take as well.

We also did an activity where we had to recreate a top tips/interview video. We got into groups had to take turns of a role- in this case I was cinematographer so I was able to practice my cine skills. I would like to know how to light up a set because lighting is actually pretty hard.

End of sem projects (update):
- So we did end up getting a full crew so I am now officially editing a film.
- I am also assistant editor for another film as well.

beatroot:
01/04/19-04/04/19
Screen Business 2A

This was the last week for Screen Business for this semester woohoo! We had some pretty cool guest speakers come in and talk about audience, marketing strategies and cross promotion which helped a lot with my assessment. Then we learnt about the zeitgeist which was interesting at first but got very repetitive towards the end of the week.

08/04/19-11/04/19
Story 2A

So we learnt about different cinematic modes and non-fiction models which was super interesting. I never really thought documentaries had different genres and modes until the first lecture of the week. We spent the rest of the week really developing our ideas for our assignment. We had to make an outline for a documentary about an issue we're super passionate about. I really enjoyed writing non-fiction because it's surprisingly lot more flexible than fiction writing in a script mode. We also had our feasibility meetings for our end of sem projects. So far, so good! Everythings under control- even got sucked in to co-produce a new film (that means I'm working on four films now which is a lot).

Curious to see how Image goes this week before we head into a new cycle next week for our three other subjects!

beatroot:
Keep forgetting to log in this journal every week ah

15/04/19-17/04/19
Image 2A

Bit of a weird week since everything's been pushed together for the upcoming Easter weekend. We pretty much did activities in class where we had to film footage for assigned audio filed (if that makes sense?). Our group ended up making quite a sensual piece about two lovers with an overlay of a poem being said over the top. The next day we spent playing the green screen and what was intended to be a serious activity ended up being a shitstorm. Protip: don't give film students green screens without a solid brief! We were given equipment the day afterwards for our Image assignment where we had to interview someone. Let's just say this someone is a familiar face to the AN community. My edit of this interview will be up and running soon!

23/04/19-26/04/19
Character & Performance 2A

We are BACK again with directing class and directing non-fiction is so so so much better than fiction. We had this AMAZING activity in one of our workshops. We had to deal with interviewing difficult subjects (there's four types) and there are four ways to get around them and make sure they stay on track. We had acting students come in and each had a persona and difficult subject archetype and we had to figure out what the archetype was and use the methods to get what we wanted. The first person I interviewed was a costume designer for Nicole Kidman. The goal for this was to get info about Nicole for an upcoming documentary. But everytime I would ask questions about Nicole, there was a sense of grudge towards the actress (this acting student was brilliant). I was able to unlock her by telling her that she was in a safe space and the cameras weren't rolling and that's when she opened up. I interviewed someone else who's pet ferret died in an incident and the goal was to get her to talk about the details of the incident. But the acting student kept derailing the conversation and talking about how alone she was. I didn't know what to do and got so frustrated that I broke out of my interviewer character ahaha. Although the acting student told me that I was so close to unlocking her. She kept saying that she was alone and that the couch was big. Turns out all I had to do was to sit next to her and talk to her as a friend rather than an interviewer and that's when she told me all about the details of the incident. My mind was blown.

It was such a brilliant workshop activity. It's probably the best activity I've done at film school. I learnt so much.

29/04/19-02/05/19
Rhythm & Juxtaposition 2A

This week has been an eye opener for me and has brought me back to my love for editing once again. This is certainly a good thing cos I lost my passion for it last year rip but it's back now! We learnt something called the Paper Edit where we had to transcribe interviews, print them, cut the interviewee's answers and assemble them into a new sequence that flows really well. The order of the interview question will certainly not be the same order in the final cut. This entire week has been creatively challenging and exhausting for me- which is definitely a good thing.

Other stuff
* I've been talking to the students in the year below me, not just in the hopes of networking, but also in the hopes of making some new friends as well!
* Pre-production documents for production blocks have been slowly making progress which is great.

beatroot:
Hello! Long time, no see. We wrapped up on official classes about one and a half weeks ago. I learnt about the idea of fiction storytelling within the non-fiction genre in directing class. Colour grading in editing class (this entire week was super intense) and all things sound design and podcasting in sound.

We had our final production meetings last Monday and we are currently in production block. Most of the documentaries I'm working on shot well before the production block so I've only been doing mostly post-production. I did direct a film a few weeks ago and up to this day, I don't understand the hype around directing. I suppose it's a confidence issue but also have a strong enough vision for the film.

I'll be on set this week as producer/glorified runner. It'll be interesting to see how this film goes as I've decided not to take any on set roles this semester. It'll definitely be weird being back on set again.

I CANNOT wait for our screenings at the end of this semester. Can't wait to see all the docco's come to life- after seeing so many behind the scenes photos and people's stories. I also cannot wait for my mid year break because I've been wanting to do a whole re-discovering my love for the arts type of thing. Just really create stuff that I care about and finding my roots in the fine arts again because I miss it. Although it's crazy to think once this semester ends, I'll literally be halfway through my degree. Time flies so quick. It was just like yesterday when I got my acceptance email.

See you guys soon !

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