MDA2900 - Reflective Analysis

This is the reflective essay I submitted, discussing how I feel the project went and what I learned about the practical and creative aspects of producing and collaborating with a director and crew.

'The Next Step' - Reflective Essay by amini93

The Next Step

The Next Step from Middlesex University Films on Vimeo.

This is the final version we handed in of 'The Next Step'

Overall, I am very pleased with how this turned out. While I am disappointed about the scenes we had to remove, I personally think that the fact that it is all in a similar location now keeps the film (even in the extravagant dream scenes) more grounded and allows spectators to focus more on Annie and Tom, and not the extra character and other, bizarre location.

I definitely feel that my confidence as a producer has grown while working on this project, even while filming, I managed to sort out a small issue between two crew-members by reminding them of their responsibilities and the fact that they should let the other do their job by being receptive to what they are told.

I feel amazing that I literally saw the project through from start to finish (from having an idea and writing the screenplay, to now when it has been made into a short film.

MDA2900 - Editing

Naturally, after the delays, we had a much smaller amount of time in which to edit than we had originally hoped, but the editing process is underway, and I will get a video of a rough cut posted soon!

The shots we have all work together, and though we had to take away a scene (Tom/The boss in Tom's dream) due to the tight schedule, and the fact that we want toe story to be more about Annie than Tom,) the pace of the film is effective and especially once colour grading and effects have been applied, the look of the film will be great!

I will get a rough cut posted soon!

MDA2900 - Other projects

I have, as part of this module, helped out on 2 other projects!

The first was Arielle and Pauliina's 'Tough Love' which is a great story about a young couple (is this a theme?) who's dysfunctional relationship descends into violence, which has been brought on by the actions of either couple!

My role was as First AD, which meant that I had to keep an eye on the schedule and make sure everything ran smoothly, and also to call the shots, which once I got settled into the role I did efficiently!

I also filled out camera reports for them, which while not specifically a job for the First AD, was experience of a skill which I will definitely use one day!

I'm very excited to see how their film turns out!

The other projects I helped out on was as a runner in Francisco and Collet's film, (filming at my house, I was a great person to handle the tea-making and cooking responsibilites, as they were using my kitchen!) and I also helped Tuva and Anne with their documentary 'Hunting with Maria', by proofreading and re-phrasing their transcribed subtitles so that the dialoge seemed more natural and made more sense in the English Language! While not an aspect of production itself, it goes to show how many different roles go into making a film, and it let me exercise my skills picked up in A Level English Language, which I've surprisingly used a lot on this course, what with storytelling, screenwriting and the multitude of essays!

MDA2900 - Shoot Days!

So, due to people being busy with their own projects, we used a different crew for each day (bar three roles: Producer and director, of course, and DoP: A camera op who Ira knows, called Natalja Safronova, who was great to work with and connected well with the stylistics of the project), this means our credits will be double the length, I would imagine, but nevertheless I had a great time on set, and despite a couple of setbacks (mainly the loan store opening half an hour later than I thought setting the schedule back by half an hour on the first day,) we managed to shoot everything we needed within the two days!

Stresses definitely ran high on the second, longer shoot day, but thanks to Ira thinking on her feet, and my First AD Tuva keeping everyone in check, we got everything done in the right amount of time.

The set for one of the more extravagant dream scenes!
I clearly should be an interior designer...

Despite any tensions before or on set, Ira and I were so relieved once we got everything done, I am very excited to see how everything looks in editing, and to finally sleep!

MDA2900 - Meeting with D&E and preparation for filming!

After the meeting with David and Eddie I feel much better about how the project is going!

They looked over my shooting schedule and the preparation we now have for the shoot day and they are confident that we will get it done. Their main issue was that whether the DoP we find will be good enough for Ira's standards; let's hope so!

Today I also went shopping for props and food for the crew, and I am very excited to get ready and start filming!

Here is the shooting schedule I put together based on Ira's shot list, floorplans, and the layout of our location:

Shooting Schedule REDO by amini93

MDA2300 - Sleep/Wake

My installation has been presented and exhibited.

After a few initial problems during set-up (the television decided not to turn on, and then in the end I couldn't get a photographic backdrop on which to project), in the end, it went very successfully!

The whiteboard I had to use as a background instead had the fortunate side effect of (due to it's glossy finish,) projecting the projection video off it's surface around the room, which in the end added to the effecs of entrapment and disorientation on the audiences, as it projected the flashing images onto the audience, more or less trapping them within the installation, and in the darkened room it almost became claustrophobic, emphasising the paralysis aspect.

I really have enjoyed this module, and it has allowed me learn about and experiment with different types of film, and experience using film as a form of artistic expression in a way which was fresh, interesting and innovative in both my creative and technical approach.

I used technologies I had not yet used before, (such as certain FCP effects, and the equipment,) and I also for the first time really considered how to properly utilise the space in which my film is being presented. This really opened my eyes more to the world of expanded and art cinema, and the different ways that new and old technologies and innovations in film can be used to express something artistically which holds a personal resonance. Most importantly, I feel that I had fun, tried something new, and succeeded in something I both am interested in and enjoy.

MDA2300 - Sleep/Wake - Final Videos

These are the two videos which will form my installation piece: there is the Television Video:

and the Projection Video:




I am very pleased with how these have turned out; the editing in the television video is paced irregularly, so that after the piece has been looped for so long, even though the projection will be looped, the audiences will have difficulty telling how long the television film lasts. This will give a feeling of confusion with regards to the time the film lasts, representing how when suffering from sleep paralysis, time can appear to be irregular.

The projection video, with it's flashing images and erratic movement, (due to the use of keyframes, and Luma Key - Key out Lighter/Darker,) is in itself a very disorienting piece. While watching it people find it difficult to focus, and while watching it, due to the flashing, visual illusions seem to appear, different for each person who watches it, which are similar to the hypnagogic hallucinations often experiences in nightmares/sleep paralysis.

MDA2300 - Presentation

This is the presentation I am going to do tomorrow, as the final part of the portfolio project. I have taken out a projector from uni, and I have everything I need for tomorrow ready to take to university, set up the installation, present my project, and then have every view it! Nervous, but I have everything I need ready to go, so excited as well!

Film and Innovation: Sleep/Wake - Final Presentation by amini93

MDA2900 - Project Update, rescheduling and auditions...

So, I haven't posted for a while, and honestly, I grew quite worried about the project!

After being busy with other projects and working, Ira hadn't given me and work or contacted me for several weeks, so I questioned her commitment to the project.

After finally getting through to her, we have arranged a meeting with David and Eddie, and I have also rescheduled shooting, and held auditions and found an actor and actress, with the help of Jessica Skyers, my Production Assistant.

The actors were found on Casting Call Pro, and they suit the part, and eachother, very well in my opinion. I have sent Ira their profiles and she agrees and is excited to work with them!

As for rescheduling, I have moved shooting back to the 22nd and 23rd April. While this is cutting it fine, it gives us time to organise everything and make sure nothing is rushed, so nothing will go wrong.

MDA2300 - Project Update

I have inquired and now have room G107 booked to use to display my installation on the 17th April

I am underway with the editing of the projected, abstract film and I have also filmed several shots of my bed to use in the television video.

I have also been experimenting with different renders, and effects (using keyframes) on Final Cut Pro, and have decided to use this software for the projection video, as it is the one I am most comfortable using, and there are many different options for me to choose from.

I also did a digital mock-up of what the installation would look like when set up:

As you can see in the picture, the pattern on the projection appears to make it harder to focus on what is being shown on the television, so when the images are moving and flashing, in a darkened area, the effect should be made more apparent, giving the installation the effect on audiences I intended it to have.

MDA2300 - Idea Development

After considering the time I have left, and the equipment/ facilities available to me, I have available to me, and after researching and developing my idea, I have decided that I will do an installation including two films, instead of three.

One of the films will be shots of a bed, and of a person sleeping in the bed, and they will be displayed on the television screen. This represents the person and how, when in a nightmare or an episode of sleep paralysis a person is trapped within the 'nightmare'. The camera will be placed above the bed voyeuristically, to represent how sometimes while having sleep paralysis another 'presence' is sometimes felt in the room.

The projection video will be a film, reminiscent of the type of film created by painting on, or scratching onto celluloid film, and I will use a software such as Final Cut Pro or After Effects to create flashing, quick-moving geometrical patterns, which will be similar to some of the Hypnagogic Hallucinations seen in sleep and during episodes of Sleep Paralysis.

This idea, instead of creating three films to be shown in three simultaneous projections, will be more effective at reaching an audience, as I feel that the smaller, more personal/compact size draws them in, as well as the fact that while people try to focus on the images on the television screen, the flashing and confusing images of the projector, (which will be projected over the television,) will lead to confuse and disorient audiences, as they have difficulty focusing on the main point of the installation.

I am now also going to inquire about rooms and locations in university in which I can display the installation.

MDA2300 - Idea Pitch Presentation

This is the presentation in which I pitched the two ideas for my project.

After pitching and getting feedback I think that I will go for the 'Sleep Paralysis' idea and I think that exploring nightmares and sleep artistically will be very interesting, and also due to the fact that making five films will probably be too difficult given the timescale.

I will now begin to research my idea and the methods I could go about this

Film and Innovation: Portfolio Project Ideas Pitch by amini93

MDA2900 - Pitch

This is the pitch we presented to David and Eddie in class.

OVerall, to say I'm not usually great in presentations, it went well, and we have been given the Green Light to go ahead with the project!

The only issue with the plan so far, is the fact that we need to thoroughly plan out the shots we will need, and get a shooting schedule sorted, because, if we stick to the surrealist stylistic elements, then the camera/lighting and other aspects of filming will all have to be very exact for us to accomplish what we want with the film.

Here is the presentation:

The Next Step’ Pitch by amini93

MDA2300 - Final Essay Idea

For half of our final grade we have to write an essay discussing an innovation in film (whether that is how they're made, used, displayed, anything really,)

I have decided to write my essay about the idea of expanded cinema, and using film in an art installation.

I will probably write about how the medium of film in this case has affected artistic expression, and will use examples and perhaps concentrate on one particular artist.

One artist I am particularly interested in is Marina Abramovic, who often uses film and video in conjunction with performance art. An example of this is her performance Balkan Baroque in which she sits atop a pile of bones, cleaning them, as folk music plays and a film is displayed behind her.

I still have a lot to think abotu with regards to finding a firm point on which to anchor the essay, but this is an area I am very interested in, and will coincide with the fact that I plan on making an art installation for my final portfolio piece.

MDA2900 - Project Schedule

Here is the schedule I made for the project:

Schedule! by amini93

MDA2900 - Project Brief

We have now been given our final project brief for MDA2900. We have until 08th May, to either produce or direct a ten-minute short drama or documentary film.

I am producing 'The Next Step', which is the short film I have written for my screenwriting module. After discussing the film with her, I have decided to work with Ira Merzlichen, who will be directing.

My reasons for not directing my own work are the fact that curently, I feel more confident as a producer than a director, and on such a large-scale project, I wouldn't want to jeopardise a grade by choosing a role in which I am not very strong.

After bouncing some ideas off of each other I think that Ira will be great to work with; we both have a passion for surreal/arthouse films and hopefully her directorial creative vision will reflect this in the final piece!

We are now preparing a pitch to present to David and Eddie in class soon.

This week I had a producer's tutorial with Eddie

Personally, I find it went really well, he was pleased with the presentation and amount of planning which went into my work

My main task now, he said, is making sure that I get the work off Ira which I need, so that I can start to schedule the shoot days, so that when we come to auditions, if any of the actors ask how long/what times they will be needed on set, I can give them a good idea, which will increase their confidence in the amount of planning which has gone into the production.

Here is the production booklet I used in the meeting with him:

Production Booklet by amini93

MDA2900 - Assignment 01 - 'The Unwanted' Adaptation

Here is our film which we made for the first assignment, based on a scene taken from the play 'The Unwanted', by Walter Wykes.

https://vimeo.com/57633696

One of the main problems in this, is an issue with the sound, as several sound files shot for one of the camera positions became corrupted, so we were unable to use them. This resulted in having to use the sound recorded into the camera, as we didn't have the time to organise voice-over sessions.

Our sound technician managed to take-out the background noise in the clips we used, but unfortunately a difference in sound quality is evident, which takes away from the believability (for audiences) of the film.

Despite this, I have, however learned a lot about how better to organise myself, were I to produce a project again, and to have more back-up plans, as chances are, something will go wrong at some point on the project

MDA2100 - The Next Step

This is the final version of 'The Next Step', which I have submitted for the MDA2100 Screenwriting project.

The Next Step - Final by

MDA2100 - Idea Change

After trying to redraft the story of 'One Night Only' I have decided to redraft and write the script for another idea I had early on in the project.

My reasons for doing this are that I feel, due to parts of the story being based on personal experiences of myself and friends, too personally attached to certain parts of it, which is, in my opinion, inhibiting me from changing too much of it and carrying on writing to the best of my ability. I do enjoy the idea, but I feel that right now, I am unable to make it a better script, and still keep some of the essence of what I enjoyed about the story in the first place, so I feel it is better for me to start afresh with another idea which I still feel for and which I believe has the ability to be an entertaining and suitable script.

The new idea with the working title 'cold feet' is a story involving a young couple, moving to the next stage of their relationship and spending their first night in the new flat they recently bought.

Returning home from work, the man finds that his girlfriend has cooked a meal for them to celebrate, and is wearing conventional, feminie clothes. This is unlike their real personalities (the conventional, 9-5, working couple), as they are much more bohemian and still young at heart, and neither express their fears of changing and maturing into the real world.

In the night each partner has a dream which explores their unexpressed fear and as they awake the next day, each partner's actions indicate that perhaps a part of their younger self still exists in them.

While I feel the above description doesn't do the story justice, I feel the completed script will be an intriguing story of how people, especially around my age group, are afraid to face the fact that one day they must grow up, and enter the 'real world' and how some people do it even though they are not exacty ready. I plan on using surrealist and almost avant garde ideas and techniques in the dream sequences, which will draw parallels to the now-mundane lives of the couple, and also to use the actions and visuals to express to audiences the character's individual fears which they are too scared to express to one another.