BSA 131 (Digital Filmmaking I) Week 1 : Introduction to Paper

July 13, 2017

BSA 131 (Digital Filmmaking I) Week 1 : Introduction to Paper

This week we were introduced to the paper and looked at our upcoming assessments:

The big overarching assessment this semester, one that bleeds into BSA133 (Pre-Production) as well is a music video that we are going to be making. Some time this or next week we will be given a pool of songs produced by the Bachelor of Contemporary Music students, we can listen to these and for our favourites start brainstorming video ideas.

After we've all had time with the songs and have chosen the ones we'd like to make a music video for, each of us will have to pitch our ideas to the music students. This will be a one-on-one session in which the music students will choose which of us they want to make videos for which songs.

The first assessment in BSA 131 is the proposal, a presentation which we will have to deliver to the class concerning our music video idea, this is to be presented on the 2nd of August, about three weeks from now. It is not the same as the pitch we'll be making for the music students, this has to be formal and professional, like something you would present to an actual producer.

I personally really like this part of the assessment, I like it because we get to experience the full process of making a music video. Pitching your idea is a very important part in the film industry and it's something we all probably need practice with. So far I am really impressed with how this course has managed to represent the real industry on a smaller scale, something I've not only experienced myself in the Bachelor of Film, but which I've also heard is the case in Animation.

The second part of this first assessment is an AV script we have to produce, this script will be for an introductory drama sequence to be played before our music video begins. It has to contain two characters, an objective and obstacle for the protagonist. I think this serves as a replacement to a 30-60 second TV ad that previous years had to do, but I'm not too sure on that. If that is the case though, I'm glad that it was changed. I much prefer doing a music video to an ad, and incorporating the drama sequence into the music video is similar to how you transition from a scene in a movie to a montage. Many great directors do this and I think this is how I'll try to imagine this part of the music video, it's like a movie musical or Tarantino film.

What I think the biggest challenge of this assignment will be is how we have to establish or maintain a 'brand' for the artist. This is an important part in the industry, and so it has been translated here as well. We are going to have to discuss with the music student what their identity is and how they want their song visually and tonally represented. Could be difficult, but it's part of the job. As long as the director and artist don't clash or don't have too different views then I don't think it should be a problem. Luckily we get to choose our songs to some extent and they get to choose their directors.

In general I am excited about the music video because I find it easier to come up with scenes or shots when I listen to music, some other students are already planning what they want to do for their video and where they want to shoot, I think I'll rather wait to hear the music before I start generating ideas. This way the images and ideas will be specific to that music and hopefully that will translate in the final product.

This part of the assignment is only worth 20%, but it's obviously much more important than that. I think messing up here can really have a negative impact on your shoot.

The next assessment is the actual production of the project, this means directing, producing, editing and post production. This is also the most valuable assessment of BSA 131, weighing in at 40% of the paper.

We'll only have two to three days to shoot this video, with the third day requiring tutor approval. I'm sure one could complain that this hinders our ambition, but that's the way life works and even the biggest and best directors get tight time frames in which they can produce their music videos. Planning and organisation will be more important here than ever, with the interview last semester we had as much time as our subject would give us and even then I didn't manage to get what I wanted. This time around I will have to be very attentive and organised if I want to do well.

One of the requirements I want to make effective use of this time around is the rough draft we have to submit for tutor feedback. Last time I did such a poor job that I could see everything I did wrong as I was filming and the class feedback session didn't add much, this time I want to go all out and make it the best I can.

The last assessment (other than this blog) is the crewing of our film sets. We have to work on at least three of our classmates music videos, filling three main roles: camera operator, sound operator and first assistant director.

In preparation I should probably issue a camera and sound kit and do a recap on each of the roles, so that when I get on set I will be a valuable - or at least fully functional - addition to the team. I'll start with camera operator and go over all the menu and settings again, as there are what I am most fuzzy on. I'll also have to get some practice in with the Canon, a camera which I've hardly touched and one that I am sure many of my classmates will want to use. I'll go over the X200 again while I have the camera and next week get the Canon.

The other roles we have to fill are roles on the sets of second and third year film students. Part of this assessment will be us helping the senior years for what I believe are short films they are making. I am excited about this because I want to see how they operate and I enjoy the behind-the-scenes look at their projects, especially since they are narrative driven short films. I am also somewhat worried about this, I don't want to let anyone down, even though I will have a very small role (the roles for first years are grip assist, lighting assist and production assist) I don't want a repeat of what happened on the third year group project. What happened on that set was that there were a lot of us first years standing around waiting for someone to tell us what to do, this meant that we would get mixed messages and our department would be constantly changing. One person will tell us to do something, we'd do it and then another person would be angry that we're doing that and not something else that they want us to do. It was messy. In the end I came to realize that I should have been much more attentive in my designated role (best boy). I wish to make up for my sloppy behavior on that set and prove to the older years that I can be a valuable team member.

We have to do two second year film projects and two third year projects. There will be feedback reports to file after filling a role, I think this is a good idea, although I'm not sure whether or not we'll be filing these reports on the second and third year projects too.

Overall this is the paper I am most excited for this semester, it's the most hands on and practical and I like the way it's been constructed. In class we watched some music videos for inspiration and to observe what they did well.

The first video we watched and the one I enjoyed the most was Thriller by Michael Jackson. When we started watching I was very happy to be able to sign off for a bit and just be entertained. It helped that I had never watched the thing from start to finish. Then towards the end Patrick pointed out some techniques used and why, he also asked questions and suddenly I realized I had to pay attention. He asked us to be more attentive when we watch entertainment, and observe what they do well and not so well. I've believed this for a long time, I always watch movies analytically and it has become such a habit of mine that I can't have fun with a dumb movie anymore. So I was very surprised when I found myself being so mindlessly entertained when thriller came on. Maybe it was the music, maybe I was just tired, but what Patrick said was very interesting.

The music video uses fog to create texture and depth, it creates a softer light.

They also strategically use colour and clothing to highlight the main subject. Jackson's leather clothes aren't just normal leather, they are shiny. This reflects more light and makes him stand out more than he would otherwise.