SCRIPT TO SCREEN - CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Through out the unit of Script to screen I have come across some challenges but in the same respect have learned so much.

Below are the areas I covered on the first unit and a brief description of how I have learnt from my mistakes.

Using the Sony XDCAM


On our first camera workshop we where introduced to the camera that we would be using in the first year the Sony XDCAM, I have only just got used to using my phone camera, now I have to work out what these buttons are (scary).

I found getting the correct aperture was a challenge on the Dungeness shoot. We had to ask Ferg what the problem was and it turned to be because the exposure of the sun was so bright it was effecting the settings on the aperture dial.

On the day of my shoot we faced a similar problem as we were using lights and in the two days that we where shooting, I had two different looks, I need to make sure that I take notes from the camera settings when filming as a white balance is only good enough if the lighting is correct on set.

I also had the issue with the playback not working on two occasions. The first time it happened we was at Dungeness, it was a panic that we couldn't watch what we had but when it come to the edit I learnt that if this happens again make sure that I get plenty of shots for one scene so at least I have a few to work on and it did happen again. The time after was on my own project shoot day but I was more relaxed knowing that I had a shot list and to get as many takes as I could in my deadline.


Script development.

When I first started the course I was under the impression that I was already a good writer, well how wrong was I!
Looking back on my first draft of 'Y4' I realised that there were many holes within the dialogue, I made my characters sound the same and I wrote in the way in which I speak, I went away and got friends and family to do a read through with me and tone my younger characters dialogue down.

I read a few books on screenplay writing and took into account what I have learned so far to fix this problem.

Another issue that I faced was I wanted to have a detailed outline for the set because it was important to the film, but when I started write it felt more like a book then it did a screenplay, I fixed this by shorten the set descriptions.

I ended up with 6 draft screenplays by the time the shoot day had arrived. I still have a love for writing but I need to learn the disciplines of a writer if that is the career path I want to take.

Pre-production - Production - Editing.

I am new to the pre-production process and I didn't realise how much work had to go into filming!
Well, I have learned how to do a shot list, production schedule, call sheet and re-writing scripts.

I found it more challenging to write a shot list as I have never done it so I used the power of goggle images for examples on how to do it. Instead if using Excel spreadsheets to use as my template I used Microsoft word processor instead because I am used to the tool bar, the only downside about doing this method is that it takes a lot longer. So for my next project I will find tutorials on Youtube to help me find an easier way to create my template.

On my shoot day, there were various challenges that I came across with regards to my camera not being able to preview my footage and one of my actress' never showed up. I made an on the spot decision to change the script on the day to fill the void of the actress not being there. As for the camera, I am glad that I was filming in the studios as Ferg could assist me however if I wasn't filming in the studios I would not of been able to conduct my project within the time frame that I had stated in my production schedule. In the future when I do go out on a different location and film if camera problems occur then I know more now how to deal with that situation. I feel that I remained calm, collective and I was assertive as a director on my shoot and treated my crew and the artist with respect but still got done what needed to be done in the time frame that I had.

Whilst being on set as a crew member, I saw a clash of creative differences at times because I feel that I didn't learn enough about what each role entailed. From this lesson I have learnt that professionalism is key on set to get the job done efficiently.

It took longer than expected to create the set and I didn't take this into account when creating my call sheet. I was 2 hours past the scheduled time that I called my actors and crew. However, having an assistant director ( Alix ) keeping me in check of times and priority shots I wouldn't have got everything that I needed within the time frame that I had planned on the production scheduled and I now understand the importance of schedules and deadlines.

NOW, for the part of post production that I was most worried about... OH YES! Its editing time!
As I mentioned many times in my blog post, before I started the course I didn't even know how to turn on a Mac, let alone how to use editing software but thanks to my fellow students and the amazing Fergus I had all hope restored on my first day of editing for my project. Until... Friday the 10th of December 2018, before leaving the studios I exported the footage that I have been working on for 6 hours to the desk top and without realising (at the time) premier hadn't been shut down properly. After the hard drive got removed it was too late and I had lost my raw footage so I could no longer edit on premier for that specific edit and I only had a quick time movie saved. My motto is now "save, save then save again". The fine cut deadline day came and I spent another 6 hours fixing the monstrous mistake that I had made, setting me back another day in which I could of used for this blog post, on that note that here is the next post about blogger.

Blogger? What is a blog? I remember when I was at college and all the course work had to be done in a Pukka Pad notebook, cutting and gluing print offs as you went. When Simon told us about using the blog as a journal for what we learn throughout the 3 year course I was besides myself because I thought that bloggers were journalist and not your everyday 34 year old student or any other student as a matter of fact. 

Once I had started to use the Blogger, I quickly became hooked as I could use images of my choice which also gave meaning to the post as well as my words to express thoughts that I may not of been able to demonstrate otherwise. I use humour in my blog and I write the way I talk because it is a personal journal and journey of my life as a student at UCA. 

      How have I change?

• I have more of a open mind about creative changes that I need to make within my writing.
• I really enjoy working with a camera, which I never thought would be possible.
• I am slowly getting used to Adobe Premier Program for editing.
• I love to blog.
• I have stopped worrying so much about the way I speak (common as muck) I have realised thats just who I am.
• I am going to use the quote from Steve Coombes in everyday life " The only stupid question is the one you never asked" This I have used to my advantage since he mentioned it in our script writing lecture.
• I understand how essay writing can be fun, if you apply yourself and listen to the brief.
• I have realised that constructive criticism is not a negative judgement on your work. Its just how to improve your work.