Week Two

This week we got the opportunity to shoot and record a short three minute interview segment using a three camera set up. As well as using Q-Lab software to insert a video that was referenced during the interview. Then the vision mixer cut back to the studio and to the opposing reaction shots of the presenter and guest respectively. Camera one focused on the guest, camera two maintained the master shot, in wide angle that held both the presenter and guest as the focal point. Whilst camera three focused on the presenter.

I was already familiar or rather aware of Q-Lab. The software is essential for modern broadcast television. The name of the software, cleverly defines what the program is used for. Q-Lab or Queue – Lab? Its function is to queue up media for display through various designated outputs.

Going through the process of demonstrating how to alter the preferences and settings was very useful. My experience in film making has largely been self-taught though video tutorial sessions such as Video Co-Pilot. Technology, in terms of both software and hardware has changed greatly since my first introduction to the conventions of filmed media.  http://www.videocopilot.net/

I have knowledge of making films. Yet, the production roles behind the scenes of broadcast television were completely alien to me. This week, I got the opportunity to be a Production Assistant. We ran through the production script a few times i.e. the sequencing of prompt words, which trigger action and response from the crew.  It was my function to relay information from director and producer through the headset I was wearing to the crew in the studio. At times, the role felt somewhat redundant. There would perhaps be a more efficient way of doing things. By having the director or producer wear a headset to communicate directly to the crew. But efficiency wasn’t the point. We were learning the ins and outs of all the production roles. The repetition of the production script was a good way of memorizing it, even though at times I felt like a parrot mimicking the prompt words I’d just heard almost free of any independent thought. I was acting as part of a machine that worked in tandem with all of the other parts. It was important to get the process right, because if we didn't and we actually were broadcasting live and made an error it could place our careers in jeopardy.  The repetitive process of rehearsing the production script reminded me of a scene from The Green Mile.

Week One

Focused heavily upon studio terminology and etiquette. Although I have some experience film making, I had never worked with a multi-camera set up before. I was familiar with most of the terminology but did manage to add a new word to my vocabulary or rather a new meaning to a word I already knew.

Tracking back and forth, I was already aware of and assumed that you would also track left and right but I was mistaken. The correct terminology is to “crab” left or right. I found this underlying theme of “seaside” quite amusing. For as well as learning the term to “crab” we were also tasked with tilting, panning, zooming and focusing on a poster of Finding Dory.

Going up to the gallery was exciting. It was a bit hot and uncomfortable but that didn’t diminish how beneficial it was. As each student got the opportunity to try out all of the different production roles. We all got a sense of the industry terminology we will have to use throughout the duration of the module.

Some of the waiting made me feel like I wanted to jump-cut my life. Jonathan Dawson expresses a simile of my own thoughts in reference to Jean Luc Godard, “Godard just went at the film with the scissors, cutting out anything he thought boring”.  But, even the waiting around was part of the learning process. When it came time for me to sit in the vision mixer chair I was able to use the control panel. Switching between camera feeds reminded me of scene from Wayne’s World. 

I prematurely pressed the fade from black twice. The director and production assistant counted down from five and I pressed the button at the end of the countdown instead of waiting for the prompt word which follows the countdown. Which reminded me of the toilet scene from Lethal Weapon 2 

Back in the studio we did the partially silent countdown from five which reminded me of yet another scene from Wayne’s World 

The associations between films are for me a memory aid that demonstrates some of the principals learnt in this weeks’ workshop.  

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-breathless-1960