Our Final Class

Our group still owes at least one more blog, so I better write one before we wrap up this semester. Tonight was our last class, but definitely not the end for our group. We will all be back in the lab next semester (and probably over the break, too) trying to turn an obscene amount of nothing but dialogue and floating heads into something that is intriguing and artistic and pleasing to watch. We all hope that we can do justice to this amazing story that we lucked into. At this point, I think our group agrees that it would feel wrong not to.

Next semester, I hope that I can be a little more fluid with editing and transitions. I pray that I still remember how to use Final Cut Pro when we get back. As for this semester, I didn't think that the hardest part of this whole process would be chopping up the clips, but I can't believe how hard it is to spend hours upon hours capturing things just to turn around and decide that the six hour shoot you just did was barely audible on tape. Admittedly, this whole filmmaking thing can be a little frustrating for someone like me, who had no idea what I was getting myself into. I'm used to doing things very methodically, which isn't really how filmmaking seems to work. There's not one clear answer, or even vision, so everything becomes trial and error. Science isn't really known for being subjective, so it was weird for me to try to create something with the mindset of how it would make people feel, rather than just constructing something that relayed facts and observations. I'm still unsure about how I feel about the manipulation of the audience (though the time in this class has made me realize that there really isn't a way to make something visual without forcing, or at least pressuring, your audience to feel or interpret it in some way). When things like lights or shadows can change the entire way you feel about the person on camera, its hard to know what's real and what you've been fooled into thinking is real.

All in all, this has been a really great experience, so it really wasn't hard to commit to another semester. If anyone has any ideas about interesting shots or visuals for our film, feel free to speak up! I would love suggestions! Hope everybody has a happy holiday, and for those of you not returning next semester, good luck and nice to meet you!

-Em

Editing and Paperwork

The last 3 shoots Joe and I have done were done seperately and had been somewhat short filming times. Joe had filmed Slater tap dancing and B-roll, I followed with shooting for a little less of an hour of photograph B-roll, and finally, Joe filmed Slater walking and also an interview. Currently I am compiling an extensive list of Film Festivals while putting together the forms we will need for releases for Slater, Slater's friend in the black Mercedes and the cemetary we filmed at; while Joe is working on more ellaborate and detailed editing in the lab. All-in-all, it is very time consuming on both sides. We really hope to make this one heck of a film with all the neccessary arrangements for presenting not only in class but in festivals. Wish us luck!
Justina