You are on page 1of 6

A Film in 5 Minutes

10th January 2015

ACTION!!
My Strengths
Focus
This week I've been really
interested in the film aspect and
have been very focused in our
sessions with Gavin and I felt that
as a company we were focused so
this helped my concentration
levels.
Enthusiasm

I have been so eager to learn


on this process and I have been
really listening and learning
and really positive about this
process and I think that was a
strength of mine.

Teamwork
I worked really well with the
company this week and when we
did trust exercises with Innes and
I felt that I was really open with
the company and during filming
we were all patient towards one
another.

07/01/15
Mark Workshop:
I didn't realise how much was involved in walking with acting
for camera, there are marks on the floor where you have to
walk to but you can't look at the floor to stop there. If you are
out you won't be in shot and the shot won't be focused. First
we did an exercise where we just walked to the spot and then
we did having dialogue with our partner whilst walking to the
marks on the floor. I just did a straight line and Gavin said it
was good being more natural but my face was very animated
and I know where he was coming from even though I didn't
feel it was really heightened. When you do a close up shoot
on your face you see all emotion and movement so ever detail
is vital, but I also thinks it's because I was playing a pride and
prejudice character.
The second time around we did the other person did their
monologue but whilst the rest of us undertook roles and
responsibilities of the crew. We did a tracking camera so we
were following the action and the assistant who helped the
camera man and the boom mic. We did the first director and
continuity shouting the turn over, camera rolling, speed. I
think it was great to start this from such a early point in the
process because we will get used to saying this when filming
and become second nature to us but we are laughing because
of getting it wrong and pausing which is great to muck up
now so when it comes to filming later on for the project we
will be smooth and get through it quickly. I'm looking
forward to undertaking these roles for this process and
understanding the behind the camera action and what it takes
because media is also an area that interests me so I think it
will be great to learn all the ins and outs.
The workshop overall was so fun and I didn't realise how
much is inside just walking to a mark and I did underestimate

A Film in 5 Minutes

A Film in 5 Minutes

My Weaknesses

Stamina
I felt that this week I was
finding myself sometimes
getting tired when watching
the Michael Caine video
and during looking through
the the bible but I wasn't
bored but I just need to
keep myself awake.

10th January 2015

the eort that goes into just walking and being the crew as
well. It was great fun and I can't wait to start filming with the
equipment!

Michael Caine Video:


Nobody exists when your in the camera
Hang on to each other's eyes
EYES!!
DONT CHANGE EYES

Pessimistic

Blinking weakens you

At the beginning of the


week I was a little
pessimistic because of
having to do the scene just
for Sam and I find it unfair
there are so many chances
to pass when there should
only be one deadline.

Use you further away eye from the camera to the eye of the
other actor which is closest to the camera you are more
forward on.
The camera will love you if you ignore it
Listen and react
Have to just be
Sense of relaxation is concentration
Trust everyone

Sight reading
I hate sight reading and
what I got given was so
dicult and I messed it up
and because I'm dyslexic
it's harder for me and
however much I practice I
can't do it and it's under
pressure.

A Film in 5 Minutes

Never smoke or fiddle in a wide shoot (plan it if you do) for


when it gets to a close up
Treat the camera as your best friend not you audience
Work with the camera man and take him with you. (Move
slower)
Take it slower, take your time
Rushes

Scripts:

A Film in 5 Minutes

10th January 2015

To finish the day o we were put in pairs I was with Daniella and we were given scripts that we had a
rehearsal of and then Thursday filming. This was exciting, the script was very short I only have four
lines but I can tell under there will be pressure when speed, sound, ACTION is called. I'm liking the
pressure of just having one rehearsal and going for it and see what happens, but with my experience of
acting for Camera with Stalingrad I don't feel I was in character and it was hard but after Michael
Caines wise words I feel I have some tips that will help me through the process. I think it's great we
are being thrown in the deep end and given a challenge straight away and also to see where we are
going wrong from the o so we can fix it now.
When rehearsing I felt that I just wanted to scream or just be more animated because I felt like the
scene was dying, so it was hard adapting to being so naturalistic and calm. Michael said you need to be
relaxed and it's only you and the other actor in the room and I feel this is something I really need to
take into consideration. I just need to bring it down and not move as much because I find that in
myself I can be animated with my hands and face as Julia so it's going to be dicult to bring it down
and also to bring it into the eyes and don't blink as much.

08/01/15
The Bible:
We went through section 1 of the actors guide to acting for camera and there is so much to learn,
there is a lot on light into the camera and types of camera and shots and drones. There is a lot to take
in and I think when it's in practice and we are doing it and seeing what's in the book in practice.

Vista - a shot that includes the who view, panoramic shot. Pleasing view

Filming:
We went straight into filming after lunch and there is so much more to it than you think, everyone has
a role to play and even the smallest role without that person it wouldn't run as smoothly. I was the
first person to operate the camera so I was really excited about this, I already am familiar with how a
camera works with having a Canon. There's still a lot involved with white balancing and focusing and
the zoom. During my shouting I had the challenge of following Harriet as she sat into her chair but I
couldn't make it smooth and then get all her head in when I came down and sometimes Harriet went
to fast or I went slow and we weren't working together. I thought it was so fun I felt I could have
experiment more with being DOP as well with the look of the shot like zooming in and out and angles
but I didn't and think that's something I would plan ahead for. It was hard getting the close ups and
getting a close up but with a dirty shot of the other actor in the shot; you also have to match that the
other side.
I was the camera operator assistant as well and I showed Erol how to work the camera as well and I
felt that I did a good job with this moving the camera around and helping Erol out. I was then on
continuity next and I made sure I got all of the times because I know that was something missed but
the two before me. I felt like I wasn't sure what to put for continuity wise with movement unless it
A Film in 5 Minutes

A Film in 5 Minutes

10th January 2015

was obvious with drinking water or something. I made sure I got down
the scene, take and slate which I feel a lot clearer on now. Overall I had
such a great day and have learnt so much. The whole company have
been so focused and professional during this process even though there
was quite a serious atmosphere we were working together which was
great and we're all positive. I think the mood of the scene brought the
atmosphere as well but I have had lots of fun learning the media side as
well and really enjoy being DOP and camera operator.

Company Strengths

Diving in
This week as a company we started
a new process which we dived
straight into and I felt we have
involved ourselves inside it and
given it our full attention which is a
great strength

Communication
As a company our
communication skills have
improved and during
filming we are all learning
but we're supportive mot
one another and helping
each other.

Learning

09/01/15
Drama School Workshop:
Innes wanted to give us the real drama school experience of what we
might come up against if we have a recall. We started with throwing
the ball in a pattern and I was smiling having fun with it and Innes said
"if you don't want to be here go" and he kept saying "focus" but I don't
think focus has to be dead silent and not smiling and having fun,
because I wasn't like that in my ALRA audition. We then went onto
poses and then Innes asked us who we were and some of us were
having fun with it but when Daniella was asked who she was he made a
comment like "you'd be good in panto" which made me think am I not
standing out am I not good enough? I didn't like feeling judged in this
close situation. We went onto trust exercises which I felt like Amber
was more about strength so I was worried about who I was with
because I'm not strong either, it was all about trust with yourself and
the company. We did an exercise where we did the typical falling, the.
We did in pairs leading each other around the room with the partners
eyes close and then to more extreme with just leading with the voice. I
felt this required a lot of concentration and trust not just in the
A Film in 5 Minutes

We have all put so much


eort into learning about
new things today about all
the cameras and the bible
as well as about the blind
workshops.

A Film in 5 Minutes

Company Weaknesses

Consistently
This week we haven't been
consistent as a company
with focus or positivity we
have had it on and o but
we need to work on being
at our highest all week

Focus
I felt that this wasn't consistent
this week and during the drama
school workshop we as a
company kept loosing focus and
wasn't perhaps taking it as
serious as we should have.

Having fun
I felt that we did have fun but
the atmosphere of the space
could have been better when we
were filming we were focused
but it wasn't a happy focus it was
that awkward whisper silence
having fun focus which I think
we can have more fun.

10th January 2015

partner but also the company to be mindful of one another in the


space.
We did an exercise where we looked at leading with body parts and I
really adding character and exploring with the body parts and I felt I
stood out with really taking risks. I also felt that in the exercise where
we looked at rhythm by copying someone's funny walk when it came
to me I added vocals which I felt was a risk and added a better
atmosphere into the room and I really had fun with this and by the
end I was sweating so it shows I put 100% into what I was doing.
Finally we did an airport improvisation which I thought was fun,
Connor was going over the top with miming to someone who wasn't
there and I was taking the doing nothing beautifully naturalistic
approach. I really liked this and thought of the continuity I thought
of being a teenager and then Amber said I'm with my mum and
pointed at me so I changed my persona. We started to build a story
naturally and I didn't force anything so with this I felt I have learnt a
lot from before.

Sight Reading:
I HATE SIGHT READING!! I was first as well so I didn't really have
enough time to prepare myself, I went in and got a sheet of paper
with a monologue on in tiny writing and on white paper which was
really hard for me to read. When I'm also under pressure I hate
reading aloud and when I had to perform I didn't know some of the
words or what they meant. Whilst performing I started with a
character and being on a carriage but after the first line I just didn't
know and starting stressing to get it right and then I mucked up
skipped about 7 lines and then just finished and I never looked up. I
felt that it went really badly, Innes just said thank you and I left.
When I went to ALRA and had sight reading it was "the was a frog
named Jimmy" in big writing this compared to what I got in the final
stage of an audition to me this was completely dierent and very hard
to get my head around it.

Tutorials:
I was happy with how my
tutorial went I got a
distinction for the
Newspaper Project.

A Film in 5 Minutes

A Film in 5 Minutes

10th January 2015

A Film in 5 Minutes

Action Plan:
- smile more
Stay focus in a happy was
Think more positive
Practice sight reading
Maintain stamina
throughout the day, sleep
more

You might also like