Week 7 – Woe to all the bottles!

Well Monday was mid-term holiday (mid-term already!) so this week began on Tuesday with an MER meeting about the ELIR process outlining what us reps will be required to do whilst the Academy is under review.

I think Andy oversold Network for me. It wasn’t as amazing as I had hoped. It seemed like all the characters were corrupt in some way and I think it was supposed to be funnier than I found it. However, I was entertained and it did make some interesting points about television. Mass hysteria is one of my favourite topics and, whether intentionally or not, Howard Beale’s stirring speeches were good examples. It is all very well to say “Turn off your TV and go and shout out of the window” but ultimately nobody did, because they all turned it back on again to see what he would say next. Like all mad and weird new hypes people eventually adjust, get used to them and finally get bored and in this way Network displayed the futility of ‘pushing the boundaries’. It always has to be bigger, crazier and less conforming and of course the natural end is simply death. Not at all surprising and I have to admit I was not at all surprised. Another point was the enjoyment with which everyone yelled at the world “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore” which of course sounds good but isn’t clear on what they’re not planning to ‘take anymore’ and exactly why they’re mad. Personally, I enjoy life, I think it was made to be enjoyed, and I find it rather saddening that people might imagine they have to be angry about it.

Here’s a question: When does a film start? Does it start after the last opening title has faded? Or when the lights first dim? Or as soon as you enter the cinema? Or does it start from the moment you are initially aware that the film exists? I would argue that, commercially, the latter is true. A cinema trailer was my first encounter with Choke and that made a pretty rubbish start of the film. Nothing in it made me want to see the film and by the time I was leaving the building I had totally forgotten it existed. So the film tried to start, and failed. Next I was told the title. Once again the film tried to make a start and, once again, it failed. A few hours later I had totally forgotten the title. So finally, on Wednesday morning I was sitting in a darkened cinema and the film started. Well, my review highlights my main thoughts on the film and of it there is little more to be said. Frankly I plan to forget it as soon as possible.

I actually really enjoyed For Your Consideration but perhaps only because it contrasted my experience of the morning. It was refreshing to watch a film that I actually found funny and it was educating at the same time, in some small way, about the real situation with the Oscars instead of all these ‘prophetic’ films (Broadcast News, King of Comedy, Network) which instead, are speculating.

A very hard day on Thursday as we had two teaching sessions back to back both of which required brain-related work, instead of the usual afternoon screening where the film does the work for you! However, they marked the end of the first section of these modules now so there was a bit of evaluating and reflecting to be done and it made me realise that I am in fact learning rather a lot. In the evening those of us doing the film-in-a-weekend competition had a meeting to get everything planned out, the revealed ‘object’ being a water bottle.

Yet another intense day on Friday, this time in the practical realm. Learning about back-focus and exposure with Ray was great and he requested that we take the 570s for our weekend shoot instead of the 150s, a decision I am very grateful for, despite the fact that we thought we weren’t ready. The written ‘exam’ in Gavin’s class came as quite a shock – I didn’t expect it to be so hard – and if I am honest it is the first time, since coming to the Academy, I felt like I was back in school!

Shooting our short film over the weekend was an amazing experience and I am rather proud of the result. My first real taste of a professionalish film set and it made me realise two things: first that I am destined to work in film, and second that I can’t wait to start making films properly as part of our course. Anyway, all in good time. Patience…