Week Nineteen

OK last week of the semester before mid year holidays, and to be honest it couldn't come soon enough for me. It will be great to recharge the batteries after a few weeks of stress and frantic last minute handing in of assessments involving a few all nighters. The semester has had its highs and lows like anything in  life I suppose, with the directing unit more highs I'm happy to say. The class was quickly one of my favourites, with its later 10:30 am starts (which I still managed to occasionally be late to) and laid back vibe. The main aspect I enjoyed from the lectures was breaking films down and looking deeper than just the visual elements, and seeing the intricacies of directing in more detail than I have seen or noticed till now. It has been a real eye opener for me and I am excited to see just how much more I will learn next semester.

My subjective assessment which I screened this week got quite a few laughs from the rest of class, which was unexpected and entertaining I was told which was satisfying. Although not all of the shots were subjective, which this time I did expect would be the case. Unfortunatelye had to rush the shoot as myself and crew had other commitments on the day so we didn't manage to get all the necessary shots. When I was editing I knew this was the case so I had to use what I had, so it's not a case of me misunderstanding the concept. Anyway check it out and feel free to let me know what you think.

Week Eighteen


This week what have I learned? Hmm that some of my classmates get the POV concept, are rather creative and are up and coming directors in their own right, even at this early stage. Whilst others haven't quite got it yet, and maybe directing isn't their calling...but hey to each their own.

After a screening of the majority of the class' work and some sometimes harsh critiquing from lecturer and students alike, I'm feeling a bit of pressure to succeed where others have not. And with 234 assessments (artistic licence at it's best) all due now, still haven't even shot mine yet. Changed the script as my version was fuelled by delusions of grandeur with it's Tarantino like action sequences and dialogue, back story and even a flashback scene...simplify I tell myself. So hopefully when I screen mine next week in class, they'll have mercy. I'm almost positive a couple of objective shots will have crept in and be rather emphatically pointed out to me, but as long as the majority are subjective and the scene entertains I'll be happy.

So I guess this where the Men get separated from the boys so to speak, in terms of those serious about directing in the course and those who are just going through the motions to pass. Still trying to figure out which applies to me, as much as I love directing and Chris' class (which has taught me more about film in 6 months than all of Certs 2, 3, 4 and the other Diploma units combined. And yes Chris I know you read this but I'm not sucking up to you, just the truth.) I'm still leaning more towards editing and post-production. But contemplating doing two electives next semester, rather than only one which is enough to pass, and continuing on with directing. Time will tell I suppose, well said my piece so I'm done...for now.

Week Seventeen

No lecture this week due to public holiday.

Week Sixteen


Weeks sixteen and we were left to our devices, given class time to work on our second assessment which is shooting either an all subjective or all objective scene. So effectively no lecture, no theory and discussion just go do your thing pretty much.
Now at this point in time planning to attempt (now I'm on record saying attempt) to breakdown the scene and select all subjective character shots, which will be challenging but a little lateral thinking and I think it can be done. Speaking with Chris about how to go about it and also watching previous years work, and learning from their shortfalls I have realised how integral editing is to making it work. I mean as an aspiring film editor I've always known and appreciated great editing, the invisible art as it's sometime known as because great editing is seamless and the viewer never notices it, which is the goal. Chris has being saying "It's all in the way it's edited!", so saying all of the above I'm really looking forward to both the direction and editing aspects of this assessment!