I've decided to dedicate my first blog post to discussing my expectations of the Narrative Production course I am taking this semester. (Aside) It seems as though the first blog post is the most difficult to write. Here's to finding my blogger's voice:
As the first week of classes dwindles down, I find that I have a great deal of excitement, as well as apprehension, about the 6-credit JHU/MICA production course. This course is constructed to mimic the process of creating an independent film. And this will technically be my first collaborative cinematic effort, hence the apprehension.
In the 3.5 years that I've been studying Film and Media Studies, I've made four short films and the filmmaking process for each has been vastly different. So far I've created a found footage project about the human consequences of automation in American industry, a black and white silent film that shakes and distorts reality with mirror reflections, a color/black and white study of the deterioration of a relationship over time using 360 degree rotations to depict different stages of the break-up, and lastly a short film that I shot on my cell phone documenting a particular study abroad experience as though it were a dream.
I've written all of this to say that not only does the filmmaking process give me a great sense of fulfillment, but also this particular class has brought to my attention that I am not sure whether I know how to defer creative responsibilities to other team members. On each of my film projects, I have served as the director, the cinematographer, and the editor and I'm not sure I understand how to separate these identities just yet. In my mind, I have a difficult time picturing the director, cinematographer, and the editor existing as separate entities, although I know they must co-exist harmoniously (and usually separately) to ensure the quality of their film projects.
I was reminded in class by one of our instructors, Matt Porterfield, that the writer creates the foundation of the film and the director takes that into his/her desired "direction", thus rewriting the film in a sense. This occurs again and again as the cinematographer and editor add visuals and rhythm into the mix. But I guess my specific question is how does the director communicate his/her vision with other vision driven artists? This may seem to be a silly question or concern, but it is my legitimate week one concern. I find that I grow to know my projects so well that I can't feasibly instruct someone else to execute and document MY vision because I vividly understand the way it looks, feels, and sounds.
But I'm excited to know what it means to collaboratively create a film.
This class is bound to be an eye opening experience! Here goes nothing...
More to come.
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