Radar Music Videos

Interested in directing music videos? Check out this website where artists post briefs with a budget...

http://www.radarmusicvideos.com/home

Justifying Roles

Word of warning! It is important to prove in your production documents and production log what your role was and what you did on specific shooting days...if I cannot tell who did what then I'll assume that the whole group did nothing!

Units...

I've just been speaking with 2 members of the group about the current assignment and I think there is some confusion surrounding what work needs to be done for which unit...

My suggestion at this point is that your treat the research unit (Unit 2) as a completely separate assignment from the production of the film (Unit 6/33). I am suggesting this as I was asked whether the evaluation for unit 33 (i.e. your film) should also critique the research unit. The answer is no...

So, to be clear:

Unit 2 = 1 assignment. All of your research into film festivals, plus evaluation of process

Unit 6 and 33 = 1 assigment. All of your planning for the film, production documents, the film itself and an evaluation of the process.

Submission

I've been informed this morning that we have today and next week left, as the week after (21st) is your screening at the Media Museum and then you're away at Malham.

Subsequently, I need all work submitted by next week (Unit 2/6/ 33)...be sure to read the assignment brief and do a final checklist before submitting.

Also, Leanne has requested that, alongside the submission on your blog, you also submit the research unit to 'Turn It In'. Leanne has informed me that you know how to use the site and she has set up a deadline on there for next Friday.

Cheers,

Mark

Fridays...

Hi All!

I'm guessing that you're all well on your way to completing your assignment now?

From my understanding we have 3 sessions (7th, 14th, 21st) left together this year...I'd like to fill this time with some filmmaking. I know you've had lots of filmmaking on your plate but you only learn by doing...

Virgin Media Shorts

13 SHORTLISTED FILMS. 1 GRAND PRIZE WINNER. £30,000 TO SHOOT YOUR NEXT FILM. BFI MENTORING. VIRGIN MEDIA SHORTS IS THE REEL DEAL FOR EMERGING FILM-MAKERS

Check out the website: http://www.virginmediashorts.co.uk

All I want is for each of you to bring a tiny short story with you as of Friday and we'll film each one of them...you'll direct your own film with the rest of the groups help. I think between us we can find time to each make a short film and we can all act in them...even I'll put a performance in! But please keep it simple!

Rules:

Films can be no longer than two minutes twenty seconds in length (easy!!!!) including titles and credits - not even by a second! It can be shorter...so you could make a sixty second film if you want

Deadline:

18th July 2013 - even if we don't get chance to edit them you can finish them off and submit them.

Example:

Check out the website but here is one made by Alex James of Blur

CIQ: 24/05/13

1. At what moment in the class this week did you feel most engaged with what was happening?

2. At what moment in the class this week did you feel most distanced from what was happening?

3. What action that anyone (teacher or student) took in class this week did you find most affirming and helpful?

4. What action that anyone (teacher or student) took in class this week did you find the most confusing puzzling?

5. What about the class this week surprised you the most? (This could be something about your own reactions to what went on, or something that someone did, or anything else that occurs to you.)

Sheffield Doc Fest

If you have the time - you should attempt to check out some of the events at Doc Fest (June 12-16th): http://sheffdocfest.com/

"Sheffield Doc/Fest brings the international documentary family together to celebrate the art and business of documentary making for five intense days in June. Now in its 20th Year, Sheffield Doc/Fest is one of the top three documentary festivals and markets in the world"

Documentary

In light of our discussion about documentary subjects - check this out:

The Changing Face of India...http://vimeo.com/27064176

Elliot Grove on Cannes

Could be useful for research unit

Elliot Grove, founder of Raindance Film Festival, talks Cannes on BBC: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB1JLB13yQM&feature=youtu.be&a

CIQ - 17/05/13

1. At what moment in the class this week did you feel most engaged with what was happening?

2. At what moment in the class this week did you feel most distanced from what was happening?

3. What action that anyone (teacher or student) took in class this week did you find most affirming and helpful?

4. What action that anyone (teacher or student) took in class this week did you find the most confusing puzzling?

5. What about the class this week surprised you the most? (This could be something about your own reactions to what went on, or something that someone did, or anything else that occurs to you.)

Filmonik (Manchester)

Looking for something to do this summer? http://filmonikweb.blogspot.co.uk/

Monday 22nd - Sunday 28th July. With screenings on Wednesday 24th July and Sunday 28th July.

"The Kabaret is part creative jam session, part cinematic bootcamp: a whole week of flat out, pedal-to-the-metal 24/7 guerrilla filmmaking; a chance for filmmakers, writers, actors, musicians, artists and creatives of all types to come together in a spirit of creative collaboration, to put their inventiveness, ability to improvise and eye for an opportunity to the test, and to have fun with film.

Whatever your skill or interest, the Kabaret has something to offer. For Directors, it’s a chance to hook up with actors, writers, cameramen and editors, for cameramen, sound techs and editors, it’s a chance to hone your skills in a high-pressure environment, pair up with directors, and start working as part of a filmmaking team. For writers, it’s a chance to workshop ideas with actors and get that script on screen. For musicians and composers, it’s a chance to try your hand at scoring a film, or performing on camera. For actors, it’s an opportunity get invaluable experience working with different types of directors and an array of varying dramatic roles. For every participant, it’s an opportunity to build up material for your show reels. Taking part in Kabaret films often leads to future projects and work outside of Filmonik. But you only get out of it what you put in - so get involved and push your talents to the limits.

Participation in the Kabaret will cost £45 for the whole week. For those who cannot commit to a full week, we have divided the Kabaret into two sections - the first leading up to the midweek screening, the second leading up to the Sunday screening. Participation in a single section / screening will cost £25. This will cover access to kit, food provisions, venues and studio hire, insurance, etc."

Blog Layout/Assignment/Units

Hi all!

In terms of presenting your work (Unit 2/6/33) - it may help to create individual 'pages' for each unit on your blog. This will help me to identify which parts of your work are for which unit

Katy has done this and it looks very neat - http://kathrynpogue.blogspot.co.uk/

Also, I'm fine with you uploading word/pdf documents to dropbox and putting a hyperlink onto your blog. Whatever's easiest for you in terms of submitting is fine with me.

In terms of the assignment - please, please check the learning outcomes to see that you are meeting some of the listed points under each italicised heading.

e.g. Primary sources: interviews (face-to-face, over the telephone, by correspondence, by email); questionnaires; surveys; focus groups; information leaflets from source; own sources, eg notes, video or tape recording of live events, contacts list; diaries; observation; recces

Regarding primary research for unit 2 - get creative if you aren't getting responses. Twitter has loads of filmmakers and film festival profiles - tweet them! I suggested to Shabaz that he looks specifically at the names of filmmakers at certain film festivals and contacts them directly.

Also, look at smaller film festivals/film nights:

Filmed Up North, Cornerhouse - http://www.cornerhouse.org/film/film-events/filmed-up-north-west-filmmakers-night

Exposures Student Film Festival - http://www.exposuresfestival.co.uk/

Stoke Your Fires - http://www.stokeyourfires.co.uk/

I'll update this as and when...

Tomorrow...

Hi all, 

tomorrow is your penultimate lesson with me before your assignment deadline. I'm happy for you to work towards completing this.

I also have a task for those who have completed all work for your assignment.

See you then,

Mark

Vertical Video

Shabaz and I made a couple of vertical videos yesterday. Vimeo allow you to upload length ways so the effect of the video would be better had I uploaded the video there. However, I still think it's an interesting way to view an image. Some of the videos in the tall screen vimeo group almost seem like moving photographs - check them out: https://vimeo.com/groups/tallscreenvideo  

CIQ - 10/05/13

1. At what moment in the class this week did you feel most engaged with what was happening?

2. At what moment in the class this week did you feel most distanced from what was happening?

3. What action that anyone (teacher or student) took in class this week did you find most affirming and helpful?

4. What action that anyone (teacher or student) took in class this week did you find the most confusing puzzling?

5. What about the class this week surprised you the most? (This could be something about your own reactions to what went on, or something that someone did, or anything else that occurs to you.)

Assignment Brief

Little reminder - be sure to tick off the assignment brief as and when you complete specific tasks

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/55126728/brief/HND%20Moving%20Image%20%5Bupdate%5D.pdf

Task: AM

This morning. Either create a:

Vertical Vid 

Our computer screens and trips to movie theaters have biased our eyeballs. When we think of video, our first thought most likely includes films snuggled safely into the 16:9 or 4:3 format. But that's not the only way! 

Turn a camera sideways and you've got a whole new world of compositional possibilities. Not convinced? Check out Jesse Rosten's beautiful video, Beach Verticals: https://vimeo.com/10453905 

Today, I challenge you to cast off the shackles of tradition and flip your camera 90°! But don't let this rotation throw your aesthetic sensibilities off kilter, if you need a little inspiration, head over to the Tallscreen Channel: https://vimeo.com/groups/tallscreenvideo 

The restrictions are as follows: Your video must contain vertical, static shots and be a video between 1-2 minutes long. Think of it as a photograph that moves and use this opportunity to capture something subtle, like the slight movement of leaves in the wind, or the hint of a smile on a friends face.

20 Steps

Take your video camera (cell phone, point and shoot, camcorder or whatever else you have) and find an area outside that you want to explore. To begin, take a short video of the area you start your video adventure.

Then, take 20 steps in one direction and stop and stop and take another short video. Repeat this process after taking another 20 steps in the same direction. After you've captured 20 little videos, every 20 steps, you'll edit them together to create a little film.

There is no limit to how long you capture a video after each set of 20 steps, but each video shouldn't be too long (5-10 seconds). Then, edit the videos together chronologically and see what you come up with! The idea is to creatively capture your adventure, focusing on how to capture a similar area in different ways. Try to find a new and interesting image or perspective every time you stop by varying your shots and angles to come up with something unique. You can try telling a story of your surroundings, capture the area in a way that people do't normally see it as or anything else you come up with.

Short Doc Project

I've been contacted by a man called Paul Clarke who does "pop-up" gardening events. Anyway, he's doing one at Chelsea Fringe and he's looking for some sort of short documentary to be made about the event. 

It may be good for those of you who haven't started your assignment for Dave. Or it may just be something extra for your showreel. The event is Saturday 17th May - 1.30-5.00 

 He's sent me all the details:

"Here is some information for you about the event and links to the event etc.

event meeting schedule and plan for the afternoon http://www.pop-up-foundation.org/web/?p=150 

chelsea fringe information on us http://www.chelseafringe.com/the-urban-orchard-with-a-twist/ me planted! http://www.pop-up-foundation.org/web/?p=142

our newspaper for the event outlining the speakers http://www.pop-up-foundation.org/web/?p=131 

article in the Daily Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/9970886/Planted-people-help-cross-fertilise-ideas-at-the-Chelsea-Fringe.html

2Degrees network sustainable solution of the year award nomination http://www.2degreesnetwork.com/groups/managing-sustainability/resources/pop-up-foundation-demonstrating-sustainability-unexpected-places-and-unexpected-ways/ "

Anyone interested?

Tomorrow, assignment, etc...

Having read back your CIQ comments - it seems that most of you are happy to have lesson time to get going on your 3 unit assignment. 

However, I don't feel that everyone used their time effectively last week. You essentially have 3 lessons left with me [I've been told since last week that half-term begins on 24th May]. The fact that planning, never mind shooting/editing, hasn't even begun is quite scary to me...filmmaking is also about time management! I'm also concerned that some of you are only just reading what you have to do! You are HE students now and independent study is a part of that.

Classroom behaviour - I was also disappointed that people think it's ok to just disappear and not say where they have been. If you don't want to be in the room, that's ok. Just let me know where you're going and why...but please have some respect. No one is making you stay in college.

I have delivered filmmaking sessions for, essentially, the entire year...and I can do the same tomorrow if you want me to? I'd be happy to do a little shooting/editing task but at this point of the assignment you should really be editing your assignment. I can talk about filmmaking all year if you want - let me know. Either way - I don't want people sitting around doing nothing.

I don't want to get on your backs...think about this and let's move forward. 

Vimeo Comp

Hopefully you've been studying diligently during our Storytelling the Stillmotion Way series because it's time for a Challenge! Be sure to check out all 4 parts of our collaboration with Stillmotion on learning how to better tell you stories. More details below!

Here are the rules for the challenge:

+ Use what you've learned in the Storytelling the Stillmotion Way series to tell the story of somebody who is doing what they love.
+ Your video should be one to two minutes in length.
+ If you add music, use a song you've created or something from the Vimeo Music Store, or With Etiquette.
+ Add your video to the Storytelling the Stillmotion Way Challenge Group: Make sure you upload and post your video to the Group by Monday, May 6th at 11:59 PM (EST).

Remember that only videos made specifically for this Challenge will be considered. All videos must be approved by the Vimeo Staff before appearing in the Group, so don't worry if your video doesn't show up at first; we'll get to it!

And here are the prizes:
+ The top 10 finalists will receive a $99 music license from our friends at With Etiquette.
+ Third place will receive a Simplis Quick-Release Plate, plus two Universal Accessory Mounts from Cinevate, and a free Vimeo Plus account for one year!
+ Second place will receive an Atlas FLT Camera Slider from Cinevate, and a free Vimeo Plus account for one year!
+ First place will receive an Atlas FLT Camera Slider with Moco from Cinevate, and a free Vimeo PRO account for one year!