And we're done! Module 140 is over.....

Today was the hand in of module 140, well at least the DVD's anyway.

This Module has been very challenging and I have learned a great deal and I'm happy, mostly, with the outcomes. I have personally learned a new skill with directing one of the pieces and had a chance to work with some truly gifted people on the stripping documentary.

Stripping for a Living has faced problems with unreliable contributors and long days driving all over the country were great learning curves for us all and will put us in good steed for working in the Industry later this year.....
All that is left to say really is a big thank you to my Producer, Cameraman and Editor. It was a really rewarding experience. All of your dedication, drive and enthusiasm was brilliant and I am grateful for such a good team.

Beer, Brewing and the Britz gave me the chance to increase my sound skills and I'm happy with the outcome of that. Its a shame it got so far behind in the later weeks as I think the concept and original idea was a good one. Ultimately the Director/Producer struggled with the role, but thats why we are here studying the Masters.
The production sound was good and my choices of equipment (rifle Mic, boom pole and zoom recorder) proved to be the right choice and I understand fully why they are industry standard.
Post-production sound was unfortunately non existent due to the doc running way behind schedule. In fact the sound and camera operator were actually the ones editing the basic structure of the documentary.
Music choices were made by the director and editor to save time as they were unable to edit it. In the end it was a four man job to pull it, kicking and screaming, back on time and make it possible for the Director to hand it in on the Friday.
That said I have learned a lot about sound on this project, just would have liked to get a chance to use Protools to tidy it up a bit and set the levels But its all a learning curve!



Next stop final major project.......

We finally made a documentary!

After delays, unreliable contributors and a club owner who went on holiday, we have finally just finished a gruelling two days filming in a Lap dancing club in Bristol.
We had just two evenings to get everything we needed and within that time we had only one and a half hours each night were we had freedom to film when and where we wanted. Its was a very intense way to film and credit goes out to the producer and cameraman for working so well in these difficult conditions.
Last night we got back at 3am in the morning and we are in university at 9am to pitch to Twofour Digital so it never stops at the moment.

Looking forward to seeing all the footage in AVID and starting to work with the editor to turn all the great shots into a documentary.....

London filming abandoned!

So I write this blog entry after a gruelling 7 hour drive back from london.

We should have been spending the day with our contributor, filming her life outside of the lap dancing club and then following her before she went to work.
Instead we awoke to find a text message from Gigi from 11pm saying she had been rushed to hospital with pains in her breast implants!

We have had a great deal of problems with contributors on this project but its all good industry experience and we have rallied around again and phone bashed all the clubs to try and gain some more contributors.....
In the mean time we wish Gigi a speedy recovery and hope that we can get filming in the coming days.

Pitching time again!

This week we started Unit 140, two productions to make this semester so its all go!
On the back of good feedback from the last module it was all to play for as we had either dramas or documentaries to make...

My aim was to gain some more camera experience and hopefully direct a piece. the competition for camera roles was high again but as luck would have it, I have been able to work on documentaries and get a sound, camera and director role! Although these roles are not going to be easy.
The first documentary is 'young and pissed'.
     Yep you guessed it, sounds of people being loud and obnoxious and of course SICK! Guess what my role is? Sound, so this will be challenging capturing the atmos of evenings out whilst being able to react to people around us.

Keep an eye out for following posts about sound recording techniques and images of set ups!

My camera role is on Kernow Curfew which was an idea I pitched, this will have great challenges with low light shooting and young contributors.
I will research the role and experiment with different cameras to see which copes best in low light and learn techniques of on camera lighting.

My last role is Director, this is the one I'm most excited about, the documentary is about stripping in the U.K! This will be the most challenging Doc yet and will take all the skills from the director and producer to make it happen and find the contributors.

Watch this space.....