What Have I Learned?

The Journey

This has definitely been a challenging course, but I'm very glad I took it. I've learned a lot about the process of (low-budget) film-making.

This class has certainly had a huge effect on how I view narrative film-making. I had never really worked on a crew as part of a narrative before, for I was mostly experienced in documentaries. I learned what the exact roles of the director and producer are, the importance of pre-visualization for narratives, and the actual process during shooting. One thing that I know will stick with me the longest are the pre-visualization items: the shot list and the overhead diagram. These are things that I would do before I had learned anything about film-making because I'm a very organized person and this just seemed like common sense to me. So seeing that I wasn't the only one, and then learning the actual process in a professional setting, was not only helpful, but also reassuring.

I also learned how difficult it is to make an experimental film. The process of creating an experimental film is a lot more personal than a narrative film. It's a very individual-based experience and can be challenging. I view it now a lot like an abstract artist views his blank canvas.

The hardest part of this course was presenting work that was not yet finished. I, like any other artist, do not like to present my work until it is refined or at least finished in a sense. Showing our rough cut of our "wild card" assignment made me feel like I was standing in front of the crowd naked. Although I'm sure the crowd wouldn't mind such a sight... I understand that doing this was not only to track our progress, but it also helps us to see how important post-production is, and how impactful color correction and sound effects are.

One thing I learned about myself... Well, I started the course VERY organized. Everyone in the class now could most likely pick my email out of ten unlabeled emails any day because of my unique formatting and linear style of thinking. I walked into the course with the philosophy that it is important to be reliable and disciplined. Due to some personal issues I had beyond the classroom that effected my work, I also learned that even a perfectionist like me makes mistakes and that we are all human. So, at a time when something goes wrong, it is important not to dwell on this and to figure out a solution in order to keep moving forward.

Another very important thing I learned about myself as a filmmaker is that it is okay to let go. I am usually the more controlling, outspoken one in the group. At times when I am sound or producer, and it's not my job to frame a shot or set up blocking, I was always reminding myself to stick to my own job (unless someone needed my help or if we were falling behind time-wise).

Thanks to this course, I appreciate film-making a lot more and the artists behind it. I also have twice as much respect for the actors. I've been a stage actress since I was six and it is nothing like acting for the camera. I see true talent in actors that can turn their characters on and off with the camera and still provide an effortless performance. The whole process, in front of and behind the camera, is tiring and requires true passion. I'm glad that I have that passion and that this whole major was not a mistake. The deeper I dive into it, the more reassured that I am doing the right thing :)

Wild Card: Premeditation

MY ROLE

For the Wild Card assignment, I am in charge of sound. I'm relieved because I have a lot going on with all of my classes, and sound doesn't have a lot of leadership to it. However, being the perfectionist that I am, I intend to still hold a lot of responsibility in this role. Since our approach is an experimental-narrative hybrid, I intend to utilize this as an opportunity to play with sound more than your average narrative. I want to use sound to direct the attention of the audience while also mastering the effect of creating a mood in the audience. I will rely less on music for this project and more on sound effects. Our particular film will be playing a lot with filters in order to create two different realities. With each filter I will make sure to correlate a distinct style of sound. For example, in the dream-like sequences that are vibrant and more colorful with diffusing filters, I intend to create sound that is slightly more "echoey" with levels that promote tranquility as opposed to stress. The scenes that have a grungy look will have raw sound. I want to use uneven levels and emphasize certain sounds in order to heighten the anxiety of the moment. Little things, such as a can opening, a knife cutting vegetables, a door slamming, the sound of the TV, will all be exaggerated in order to set the mood. I also want to play with fading of sounds. For example, while one character is talking, our camera will be focusing on the other and the sound will fade out of the dialogue, making it sound muffled, in order for us to focus on the expression of the non-speaking character. 

I cannot wait to see how it turns out. The best part about being sound, too, is that if my schedule doesn't work out and I cannot make it to a location, I can go to that location when it is convenient to record roomtone, while also doing ADR later on with the actors if need be. Especially since we ended up having a scene on the beach.

The Editing Lab (3b)

Reflection: EDITING SOUND

Creating the soundscape for this assignment was not only confusing, but also fun. Once our group decided that none of us really understood what we were supposed to be doing, we decided to screw the rules and just have fun with it! I made a song out of all of the sounds and it turned out very well. We had a lot of fun manipulating sounds and it was interesting to see what one could do with the most random assortment of data. And once I got started, I was on a roll and could not stop. I was cutting, pasting, razor-blading, and reversing, etc! The main problem we ran into was that when we went back a few days later to apply the visuals, we could not find it anywhere. We couldn't find the exported .wav or the premiere project. We decided not to dwell on this and start from scratch. So I did it again, this time with a new focus, which was the quote: "I really want to get to know you better, okay!" When it came time to add the visual, however, I was pooped and relied heavily on my group member's creativity and suggestions to help me apply it to the soundscape. The final product, I have to say, it beyond strange. I'm glad it's done, and I think that, although it is strange, it is still appealing to the senses.

SOUND RECORDING Reflection

Assignment 3a: Experimental Film

FST 201 SPRING 2014

For the first part of our third group assignment, we had to go out and record sounds (without video). We dicided to go to the Ten Pins Bowling Ally on Tuesday and we recorded an array of sounds. We have over 25 sound effects, ranging from bowling pins to ping pong balls to pool tables and glasses. When we were going through all of the sounds, we decided we needed more ambient sounds, so our director, Lydia, took the equipment home and recorded sounds like the sizzling of a pan on the oven and the dryer tumbling. She also got animal sounds, the doorbell, and strange sounds like a shovel scraping the sidewalk and a zipper. We also met again as a group and recorded the sounds of people walking by the library, and utilized the voices of a conversation that was had outside as well. We caught the ambiance of birds chirping and skateboards going by, along with funny quotes such as a guy saying, "This campus gets more weird every day," or "People have no dignity."

It was great to hear things later on and see how differently they sound. Some sounds can be mistaken for others. For example, Lydia's wind chimes sound like a cat toy and, if you fuse it with the sound of her cat meowing, then you begin to believe you are hearing a cat playing with a toy.
We ended up with all of the requirements. However, we had issues with some of our media going offline, and we also didn't know what to do with the sounds yet. So we started playing around and made a "song" out of all of the sounds. We are aware this wasn't the assignment, but it's really cool nonetheless. We also turned in our equipment 3 hours late due to a miscommunication and are now suspended for a week. I want to cry.

And, on that note, I can't wait to see what the remainder of the project entails.