I delivered my presentation using my blog via the projector, as recommended by Mark Ingham. I’m quite used to speaking from notes only, so this was quite weird for me to be looking at the laptop screen and everyone else looking at the projected material behind me. Quite a different experience from engaging directly with people.
My presentation was a lot about how I’m going to study existing films and books, then go and do my own thing. The feedback from Mark was “Pornography”. I think he didn’t like the way it sounded like I was trying to copy other films; finding the elements that people like then emulating them. He chose a brusque way of saying it, but assuming I correctly understand what he meant then I can certainly see his point. And I think his point is that I should tell the stories and make the films that I want to make, coming from my passion.
Trouble is that the feedback from my previous presentation was about becoming more reflective… opening up to different influences… I thought I had done that with this revision of my research strategy, but it would seem that I’m somewhat off the point according to Mark and Jeremy’s opinions. Hm.
Taking their most recent feedback on board I can see that if I actually did all the research work I’ve set out I’ll not have enough time to make a film. It’s this attempt to do things the right way. I think I’ve got an idea that pursuing an academic qualification requires doing things the right way. Perhaps it doesn’t.
Further feedback from Jeremy and Mark included: “Your direction is finding your own voice” “You probably know all the technical stuff already” “Take risks” “Be passionate”
Thoughts and questions that came up from their feedback include:
What films do I want to make?
Give up trying to second guess what the market want - make something wild and crazy – unconstrained
What if I start a practice of screenwriting 3 pages a day and shooting something every day? What about making a film even if I don’t know what it’s going to be about? Get 2 or 3 actors and spend a weekend with them improvising a story.
During the next couple of students’ presentations I made a few notes about how to proceed: Basically I’ve got 15 days to make my next short drama. I’m working 3 days a week, in MA lectures one day a week, and developing my film career one day a week. The deadline for my short drama is May 1st, so that gives me 15 days. Last year’s film was a big production number, with 3 solid months of writing, pre-production, production and post-production. This year I simply don’t have the time to do it the same way.
So what I’m thinking is this:
Jan, write notes every day, and shoot 2 days (ie 1 day a week)
Feb, Shoot with actors for 2 days, edit for 2 days and see what I’ve got, still writing, still developing the story
Mar, Ditto
Apr, Sound post-production for 2 days and grade for 2 days
In essence it’s about putting the limited time I have into making the film rather than the organisation. It’s much more activist than reflector, but I know I’ll make it work. See High Noon on the High C's, a 5 minute film which I co-produced and directed Sept 08, in 48 hours. We were given the genre (Western or musical, so we did both) a line of dialogue (can't you see I'm in training?) a character (Danny the wine expert) and a prop (a torch), on the Friday night, and we turned in the finished film Sunday night.
It’s snowing today so I couldn’t get to work, so I’m actually going to go out this afternoon and shoot some video. Just for the hell of it. See what I get. Advice that Jeremy gave to someone else but is pertinent to me: “There needs to be a feeling of not being in control”
apparently if you ask the audience what they want you will end up often with some form of pornography being it a sex movie, 'celebrity' or 'big brother'.
ReplyDeleteIn the 60's a number of directors experimented with improvisation and political discoursive formats.