The Searchers

This was, as Andy said, “just a great movie”. It had everything you would expect from a good western and, for that matter, from any good story. Having seen the first three minutes in our previous class I had the opportunity to predict where the story might go. I was way off. I had thought due to the subtly detailed opening of the film, where John Wayne’s character Ethan returns ‘home’, that it was going to be about a roving, reckless rogue trying to settle down but perhaps realising that it is too late and his only real home is in the saddle. As it turns out, the introduction of Aaron’s family is not loaded with so much information in order to set-up their story but to set-up their sudden removal from Ethan’s story. That is the inciting incident of the film and therefore we need as much information about them and Ethan’s relationship with them as we can get as this must last us for the duration of the narrative and give us a foundation for Ethan’s motivations and actions. The set-up is skilfully implemented and, like the Indians in the film, John Ford misdirects us, setting us off on the wrong trail before galloping into the main narrative.

Derrick Ritchie – Lighting Gaffer

I’ve been a bit unfortunate when it comes to technical classes with industry practitioners so far. First it was Cammy for Sound and I was at the Mòd, and this time it was Derrick for Lighting and I had an MER Meeting. So I only got the benefit of an hour of his class though that was enough to pick up some very handy tips and gain an insight into the role and responsibilities of a Gaffer. One thing I would have liked to have asked him was if he knew where names like ‘gaffer’, ‘best boy’ and ‘grip’ originated from and how they came to be used for roles in a film crew. I did a bit of personal research and it seems that ‘gaffer’ is a traditional English name for a grandfather or respectful term for an elder and has been used as the name for Chief Electrician on a film set since 1936. ‘Best boy’ is much the same in origin and dates back to the apprentice system where the ‘best boy’ was the Master’s oldest and most experienced apprentice, the second-in-command, and this is reflected in their role on a film set. ‘Grip’ on the other hand seems to originate from the circus, and possibly from the early days of filmmaking where ‘grips’ were men whose job was literally to ‘keep a good grip’ on the camera to prevent it moving. All this really fascinates me and I’d love to research it more, but certainly it was very interesting to have a session with a real Gaffer even if it was, for me, rather brief.

Twelve Angry Men

This was the third time I’d seen this film and I was perfectly happy to sit through it again. It is a very well-written drama and the story unfolds with pace and precision as the characters open out and underlying hypocrisy, prejudice and bitterness are exposed. The one major issue, which struck me the first time I saw it, is its inescapable ‘theatricality’. It is a play, and works as such, but the very premise is, I’m afraid to say, ‘cinematically’ boring (I can imagine Richard’s reaction if I were to pitch something similar to him!). What jarred most, and reminded me that this was really a piece of theatre I was watching, was the constant getting up and walking around. It seems unnatural that whenever someone has line they have to get up and do something while they deliver it. This is necessary though as there is little visual excitement to be had from twelve men sitting round a table and it is all credit to Lumet that it is in fact as engaging as it is.

Good Bye Lenin!

So I finally got round to watching Good Bye Lenin! and I was a bit confused initially. It had been recommended to me as a comedy, even on the DVD cover was the quotation “A brilliantly original comedy”, but although it was certainly original and the premise had potential to be very funny I didn’t find it as comedic as I had hoped. A serious drama with humorous moments is probably a better description I feel. However, I was watching it for a purpose; as part of my study of German cinema. Interestingly this film broke the trend somewhat. Where previously the emphasis seemed to have been on Production Design more than story this film focussed primarily on story and character. However, design did play a crucial role as the story centres around the changes within Germany as the Berlin wall comes down. Much of the ‘western’ influences are told visually, for example the ‘Coca-cola’ logo popping up all over the place. Westernisation is seen as negative in the film and yet ironically this film is more ‘westernised’ than the other German films I’ve seen. Although it has lost that unique German look and texture it has not forsaken the artistic quality and emotional depth of a European production; the contrast in style and tone would have been immense had Hollywood got their hands on this premise first.

Avid Editing

I am certainly an avid editor, though it may take some time before I am an AVID editor. Gavin introduced us to the AVID editing software and highlighted some of the differences between it and Final Cut. I think I could get the hang of it relatively quickly; the basic principles are the same as any other NLE system. What excites me about it so much actually is its grounding in the original physical process of ‘cutting’ a film, even down to the symbols for an open and closed ‘bin’ where the footage is stored. Somehow this association with the past changes the whole approach of the editor and certainly gives me a more professional, even reverent, attitude to my editing. I also get the impression that AVID is a much more reliable piece of software. I feel I can trust it more for after all it is what the professionals use and has been first choice in the industry for at least a dozen years. I really look forward to using it more and discovering new levels to editing as I take this next step.

The Conversation

I don’t feel I have much to say about The Conversation. It was a good film and I found it reasonably enjoyable. It is hard to judge how much of a breakthrough it was in terms of sound as I feel Ben Burtt with Star Wars and WALL∙E is more on the front-line in that area. I do like this sort of mystery genre where the significance of one event becomes greater and greater as we discover more but I felt the film was a bit slow-moving for it to completely satisfy this style. It was certainly an interesting study on the issue of privacy and paranoia.

Sound

My Gaelic songs came in useful elsewhere also. I felt very bad about turning up late and leaving early from Cammy’s class so I could get to and from Oban but I am consoled that I did have an authorised absence sheet and that I sort of bought my permission by performing some songs for us to practise recording! Cammy seems great. He really knows his stuff and is very willing to impart as much knowledge as he can. He is not a teacher he is a sound recordist working in the industry which means he has no specific teaching method but in my opinion that is exactly how it should be. Better to have someone who really knows what they’re talking about and is certain to be communicating information that is definitely applicable than someone who is simply following a syllabus and doesn’t necessarily know how it practically applies.