Week 1

‘The Big Tree’
The script containing dialogues, character and location descriptions created a mental imagination of how this film would be. The script went in details of camera movements, the set up, characteristic features and dialogues. The imaginary neighborhood with two boys gotten their ball stuck in the tree was mentally post-produced and the film started.

As film didn’t follow up the rules of script writing with the principle of the ‘one page per minute’ this removed the constructed mental visual bits and segments. The film’s expected quality shortly decreased as lacking elements where not shown. This removal of elements rather increased the rule of ‘less is more’ and instead made the movie entertaining. Instead of showing every detail a space was created for me as an audience, engaging me as the viewer more.

This disappearance shows that in the process of reflective writing I must through thinking and learning, observe and consider the characters, emotions, reactions/actions, time, context and the theory involved.

I then tried to relate the film to other movies to see what was up with using a tree and if there were any similarities. ‘The Lemon Tree’ from 1990 and U2’s Joshua’s Tree came into my mind so a tree is a symbol, maybe knowledge?

Reflecting on the film ‘the big tree’ many script details were removed and these lacking contents made the film less valuable but from an editing point of view, maybe the producer felt that it could be cut out, and then therefore decide to remove these pieces. Actions instead of focusing on details were entertaining and related more to the phrase ‘show don’t tell’ I think.

In this first attempt of a TV 1 reflection I decided to write it from an academical perspective by comparing the differences of theory and practice. When asked upon the expectations in the week 1 tute upon TV1, the reflection was less formal and more informal with details in a moody way.

Expectations and pre-reflection of week 1

I thought doing a journal entry reflection as homework would be a bit hard but when the classical song “Radetzky march” came on the radio, I don’t think I’ve ever seen my pen to paper come so quickly.

The very first thing to come to my mind as I am reflecting on the first week is the smiling Christine Rogers from Thursday’s 09.30 tute; “That’s sick.. but I think, I think it would be a good story! It’s actually exciting,” she said laughing.

Starting RMIT’s first semester of 2010 could not have been better. Of all the crazy stories emerging from the 7 words of sins the class is probably engaging more than ever before. I totally love third year. I’m surprisingly hooked. Yesterday’s 4 month summer of Thai beaches and an internship felt miles away, but this was a warm welcome to Uni. Whatever sick story that came up in the tute was great for Ms. Rogers. Cool.

I think TV1 shows the difference many of us have been waiting for; more practical work! Scriptwriting, journal reflections and a 5-minute film will be the most awesome assignment I reckon!

Now, a few days later the idea of reflecting writing is coming more and more into my mind, I am starting to learn how learning and thinking in this way crucial and important.

What am I taking from the course Film-TV 1
I see this course taking me to another level of creative writing and developing more narratives and story ideas. While writing in this course I think the narrative being written, needs to be more reconsidered and rewritten as it is being put into the practice of making a movie. I think this course will give wake up calls within writing and rise alarming bells of clarity and conciseness.

I see my degree will take me into broadcast. The assignments given are a good start on a portfolio. What I will take from it is reflection and perfection of creative writing, the use of software and camera equipment and improve presentation. The dream is to become a news reporter and experimenting and exploring the contents of Film-TV 1 is giving the opportunity to find weaknesses and strengths within writing, editing and presenting.

As a last reflection of this week I think reflective writing will continue the development of my writing skills as the reflection is a chance to look back upon mistakes done and learn and improve from these to next assignment.
It can be any RMIT assignment and further on as in Marianne’s situation learn from mistakes done at work, improve and get more confident.

The idea of short film
I believe a short film is good for experimenting with film production as its length gives the opportunity to edit an undo mistakes. Its shortness also limits the works of the pre-production as the script is meant not to overcome 5 pages, which suits very well for 12 weeks of work. I also think this is why you have chosen this format to teach us, and since many of us has done writing, editing and broadcast media it is not unfamiliar to us and gives us the continuation of previous taught editing skills. I think this altogether gives us the further development of creative story writing and more guidance from a perspective we haven’t had before.The things that make a short film work, is effective post-production; a simple but conflicting narrative, a met deadline, an easy available location for a set up and a group being open to give and receive constructive criticism and work under pressure. The genres we have been presented will work for making a short film as a lot of its elements is recognized in our everyday life.