4

So. My TV group has hit a little roadblock. After committing to an idea and starting to plan its production, it was brought to our attention that the story synopsis we chose to do was actually pretty much a rip off of an existing short film, which is a bit disappointing. Although I am very glad that we weren't further along when we found out, as none of us can really afford any wasted time. I guess it's back to the drawing board now- today in class hopefully we will develop a new concept or choose another one form the class pool. For me the most important thing in making such a short film is to keep the concept relatively simple. Personally I'm not entirely convinced that we could really pull off some of the ideas brought up in class. While they are all still very, very good concepts, I think they would be suited to something a bit longer (and in some cases perhaps a feature film...) Hopefully everything really does have a way of working itself out....

3

I was doing a little bit more research on projects that had been shot with Canon DSLR’s and found out that Darren Aronofsky’s The Black Swan was shot (amongst other parts) on a 5D Mark II and a 7D. I also came across this incredible clip of the development of the visual effects in the film- I didn’t even know some of these things were possible! Pretttty cool.

2

I’m getting a new camera! I’ve been using a Canon EOS 450D for the past few years which I have really loved, but needed an upgrade. Enter 60D. Obviously the biggest difference is the HD (1080p) video function which I am so excited about. I haven’t really had easy access to any vaguely good quality camera, and while previously still photography has been my main creative outlet, since I started this course I have been really interested in making little videos. The Canon DSLR’s are being used more and more to shoot big scale projects like TV shows, commercials, even scenes in Hollywood movies-which is pretty rad. I love how extremely high quality results are increasingly becoming readily available and realistic to amateur film makers and photographers- there is really no reason that any average person with a bit of experience and practise under their belts can’t produce really beautiful and professional projects.

1

Due to an unfortunate scheduling conflict (somebody fire my secretary...) I was unable to attend my first week of tutes for any subject. Working the Avalon Air Show, what up. But now I'm here and not going anywhere. Coming into week 2 of this Film/TV tute I was already a little behind, not having uploaded my short film idea onto the Film/TV blog. But not to worry, I wrote it all down in a little book and was all ready to sell my heart wrenching, tear jerking idea...until it was explicitly suggested that we do not write our stories around 85 year old men and women. Ummm... yeah. Time for a new idea. I don't even know why I centered it around old people...I don't even really like old people (best you know now that I'm not a particularly saintly person and my morals are shaky at best).

So out with the old (so to speak), in with the new. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to do this, but when I think of a film as short as 5 minutes, all of my ideas are primarily based around a visual experience and implied story, rather than one with heavy dialogue and narrative. I prefer creative short films where there is a storyline, but it is told in an unconventional way and is very stimulating visually and aurally. Here are some example of some of my favourite little films that follow this:

VANESSA BRUNO

Vanessa Bruno from POP Magazine on Vimeo.

DANIEL ASKILL- WE HAVE DECIDED NOT TO DIE

We Have Decided Not To Die from Sion Roberts on Vimeo.

PAS DE DEUX CODA

Pas de Deux Coda from Opening Ceremony on Vimeo.

These have quite ambiguous and fantastical narratives, but so pretty. My story idea has a little more guts to it, but you see what I mean I think.

this is the start.

And so begins another year. I feel like starting a new blog for a new subject, a new year is somewhat therapeutic. A perfectly blank space that is waiting for me to fill it. From what I can tell, I feel as though I am going to enjoy Film/TV more than some of the other subjects I completed during first year. There seems to be a little more freedom, a little more room to be creative and freedom to develop our skills not only practically, but artistically (I hope?)

The theme of Seven Deadly Sins for the collaborative project is a perfect balance between direction and creativity, and I can't wait to get started on it. With that in mind, here are some goals/guidelines I intend to adhere to in order to make this subject as productive and rewarding as possible.

1. Maintain a consistent 2-3 posts per week on this blog

2. Enjoy the collaborative process of working in a small team for our little film, and hopefully silence control freak tendencies.

3. Complete the essential/set readings for our tutes. As much as I would like to think they are unnecessary, obviously those who teach this subject know their shit and select them for a purpose. I need to learn.

4. Develop my knowledge of what it takes to make a short film, and gain as much experience as I can in all aspects of the process

5. Attend all tutes and lectures- while I had to miss the first tute and lecture due to an unusual work situation, working in groups does not allow for one to be absent.

this is the start of new things. and the end of this post.