Author: martinboyle933

Show Reel filming

 

Now that my documentary rough cut is complete I can get back onto the show reel.  Before the easter holidays I cut down my UWS show reel and presented it to my lecturer.  The response was one of disappointment which turned out to be a good reality check as it has motivated me to go out and shoot more content in which there is a noticeable and deliberate use of a lighting setups.  The lack of these types of shots are absolutely glaring in a cinematography show reel so this needs to be fixed immediately.

April 29th Loft Lighting Filming

 

 

Documentary Rough Cut

Wednesday 25th April 2016

Started the Rough Cut today.  I completed the text and the footage for the introduction, and stages 1 to 3.

Thursday 26th April 2016

All stages have their corresponding video and text.  I’ve recorded narration but it is purely a place holder for now.

Friday 27th April 2016

Completed rough cut with full narration, text audio and video.  I’ve still to add music but I’ll do that for the fine cut as I will be changing a few things.  Having watched it a few times my biggest impression is that it comes across a bit cowardly.  I feel that I’m hiding behind big text blocks that I could utilize better with overlapping footage instead of just text boxes.  The rough cut is complete though so I can get back to working on my show reel.

Documentary Script

April 15th 2016

Documentary script is now complete.

The Monomyth of Buffy Summers Script

I’ve had some of my fellow Buffy fans to have a read through to make sure it makes sense to them.  The response has been good.  I’m itching to start editing it together.

To complete the script I used the following research material:

  • S01E01 ‘Welcome to the Hellmouth’Written by Joss Whedon

    Directed by Charles Martin Smith

    S01E05 ‘Never Kill a Boy on the First Date’

    Written by Rob Des Hotel & Dean Batali

    Directed by David Semel

    S01E10 ‘Nightmares’

    Story by Joss Whedon

    Teleplay by: David Greenwalt

    S01E12 ‘Prophecy Girl’

    Written and Directed by Joss Whedon

    S03E12 ‘Helpless’

    Written by David Fury

    Directed by James A Contner

  • ‘The Hero with a Thousand Faces’ by Joseph Campbell

Documentary Research

2000px-Heroesjourney_svg

Completed the introduction section of the script including the introduction of the monomyth and Joseph Campbell, and Joss Whedon’s intentions with the character.

I used the following for research purposes:

  • The Hero With A Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell, published by Pantheon Books 1949, 1968, 2008
  • Joss Whedon Interview – Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season One Special Features
  • Buffy The Vampire Slayer S01E01 – Welcome To The Hellmouth

 

Rough Cut Feedback

Not good enough…yet.  Got a few shots that I can keep, but the majority needs to be replaced.  The biggest issue was how I light (or how I don’t light) my shots.  I need to think about how the show reel flows in terms of pacing and how the shots progress.  Need to include some sound design and mess with the dynamic range of the soundtrack.  So basically I need to film more shots.

Take out March shots from nature reserve, second shot of statue, Danny nature reserve, FITB hospital.

Well my moral just took a good boot up the backside.  It’s the kind of feeling when you just want to runaway.  Anyone with a passing knowledge of Joss Whedon can recognise that I’m a massive fan. In situations like this |I’m reminded of a situation recounted in Amy Pascale’s Whedon biography in which he’s talking about working on a show called Parenthood as a writer with show runner Ty King.  He recounts a scenario in which the pair are despairing over network changes and there fear of the shows cancellation…

At one point the two were venting their frustration of the show.  “This is unbelievable what they’re doing.  They’re killing us.  This is just…I’m so angry.”  Then King turned to Joss, with the biggest smile, and said, “This is so much fun.”  “I never forgot that,” Joss says.  “It’s so true.”

And he’s right.  Obviously my making a below standard show reel is not the fault of the lecturers standing as a metaphorical television network.  I remember working at Fujitsu and dealing with similar feelings and being so disillusioned by the entire stressful enterprise because it meant absolutely nothing to me on any kind of profound or important level.

Not so with the show reel.  This is something I do care about.  Even the negative aspects are part of a process that I love.

 

 

 

Graded Unit Show Reel Rough Cut

 

I’ve trimmed my UWS show reel down to around 1m45s.  This is it in it’s barest, roughest form.  I’ll make changes based on the feed back I receive from my lecturers.

I think I need to take the duller nature reserve shots out.  I like the snowing sequence and I don’t think it’s a good enough transition.  I don’t feel that there is much variation in the footage.  Not enough interesting things going on with the lighting.  I need to shoot more footage with interesting camera moves, and lighting setups.

Week 10

Completed Wednesday  30/3

  • UWS Show Reel Rough and Final cut and storyboard uploaded to Graded Unit page.
  • Shot List for 3 minute short completed and uploaded.
  • Uploaded all current work to Editing Own Programme page
  • Completed Critical Analysis LO1
  • Started work trimming the UWS show reel down to 1m30s for the rough cut of my Graded Unit show reel.
  • Completed After Effects titles and 3D room tutorial for Compositing and Motion Graphics

Got feedback for the planning stage of my Graded Unit today.  I lost 3 marks which is very good considering I can lose 27 marks before getting a B.  It’s encouraging to be on the right track.

Completed Thursday 31/3

  • LO1 and LO2A/B for Work Experience
  • Uploaded finished promo video for work experience
  • Completed Week 5 After Effects tutorial
  • Completed first rough cut of Graded Unit Show reel

Completed Friday 01/4

  • Updated GANTT chart
  • Completed show reel research