Filming, Anger, and Dreams
It's been a while, but I think it is time to start documenting this crazy world I've dropped myself into. I have a separate blog but I may just start crossposting to both of them.
Filming: I filmed my second project for Film Prod I over 2 days. The assignment was a continuity editing exercise that involved an interaction between two people or a person and an object (examples include: a couple making the bed, a person lighting a cigarette). It was also the first time I've ever used more than basic lighting equipment; I have some worklight scoops at home that I used, but at most those are 100 watts. My project was an interaction between a bartender and a patron (I'll post the video when it's finished). I shot it in the exclusive (BU students only) BU Pub. At times I had 4-6 likes (1000 watts) a piece. In the grand scheme of things this isn't much, but for me it was a lot, having never touched the things before.
I came into the program wanting to direct, and I still do, but I'm enjoying cinematography and lighting a lot. The Computer Science part of me likes to see how things work, and how they come together. My teacher talked about how the director doesn't edit or shoot their own picture, but I feel like that's exactly what I want to do. This may be because I come from a digital video background, but I like that control. I like the idea of the film really, truly being mine. If I just direct it I can't put "A Film By..." because that's bullshit, too many other people took part, but if I do all those jobs, I feel more comfortable with it. Regardless, unless I'm writing it I still can't give myself credit.
Writing is a pain. I have a lot of trouble with it, but I'm trying to get better, and just write as much as I can. I'm picking up more shorts and reading more scripts to get a feel for their flow versus feature films. I'd still love to connect with a writer, but they are few and far between. Bill and I may hook up on some stuff, which is great because I think he has an eye for film, and is also a brilliant, witty writer.
Anger:
I was a dick on the T. I hopped on the green line to BU East, and leaned against the doors (the left doors that don't open when you're going inbound). The train filled up fast, and after two stops it was packed to the point where people were getting left on the platform, waiting for the next train. A few stops later a group of four people pushed their way on the train, with their duffel bags that they had to leave in the middle of the aisle because there was new room to get them any further. At this point I was pretty annoyed because they could have waited like everyone else (We've lugged two large light kits on the T this past week, and we've always waited for an empty train). So the stop before mine I move to the center of the aisle, straddling the large duffel bags. Once it gets to my stop I try to move through, but there are so many people it's a slow process, and people are trying to get on. I told myself that if they're not going to wait for me to get off, I'm not going to wait for them to move out of my way, so I plowed through one of them to get off. He called me a fucking prick, which I deserved. I put my anger towards the wrong person, but it's one of those things where I'll try to be calm next time. It's the T, people are dumb, no need to be angry.
Dreams:
I usually don't have dreams, but lately I've been having this specific one: I'm in a play and I don't remember my lines, and I'm backstage and it's right before I'm about to go on, and occasionally someone takes my place. I never remember the details, but it's very similar to this one I kept having about marching band where I was on the bus to the field site trying to memorize music before we had to go on, then we'd go on and I'd be improvising everything. Bass drum runs do not work when you're missing one of the drums.
I'm not sure what it all means.
Filming: I filmed my second project for Film Prod I over 2 days. The assignment was a continuity editing exercise that involved an interaction between two people or a person and an object (examples include: a couple making the bed, a person lighting a cigarette). It was also the first time I've ever used more than basic lighting equipment; I have some worklight scoops at home that I used, but at most those are 100 watts. My project was an interaction between a bartender and a patron (I'll post the video when it's finished). I shot it in the exclusive (BU students only) BU Pub. At times I had 4-6 likes (1000 watts) a piece. In the grand scheme of things this isn't much, but for me it was a lot, having never touched the things before.
I came into the program wanting to direct, and I still do, but I'm enjoying cinematography and lighting a lot. The Computer Science part of me likes to see how things work, and how they come together. My teacher talked about how the director doesn't edit or shoot their own picture, but I feel like that's exactly what I want to do. This may be because I come from a digital video background, but I like that control. I like the idea of the film really, truly being mine. If I just direct it I can't put "A Film By..." because that's bullshit, too many other people took part, but if I do all those jobs, I feel more comfortable with it. Regardless, unless I'm writing it I still can't give myself credit.
Writing is a pain. I have a lot of trouble with it, but I'm trying to get better, and just write as much as I can. I'm picking up more shorts and reading more scripts to get a feel for their flow versus feature films. I'd still love to connect with a writer, but they are few and far between. Bill and I may hook up on some stuff, which is great because I think he has an eye for film, and is also a brilliant, witty writer.
Anger:
I was a dick on the T. I hopped on the green line to BU East, and leaned against the doors (the left doors that don't open when you're going inbound). The train filled up fast, and after two stops it was packed to the point where people were getting left on the platform, waiting for the next train. A few stops later a group of four people pushed their way on the train, with their duffel bags that they had to leave in the middle of the aisle because there was new room to get them any further. At this point I was pretty annoyed because they could have waited like everyone else (We've lugged two large light kits on the T this past week, and we've always waited for an empty train). So the stop before mine I move to the center of the aisle, straddling the large duffel bags. Once it gets to my stop I try to move through, but there are so many people it's a slow process, and people are trying to get on. I told myself that if they're not going to wait for me to get off, I'm not going to wait for them to move out of my way, so I plowed through one of them to get off. He called me a fucking prick, which I deserved. I put my anger towards the wrong person, but it's one of those things where I'll try to be calm next time. It's the T, people are dumb, no need to be angry.
Dreams:
I usually don't have dreams, but lately I've been having this specific one: I'm in a play and I don't remember my lines, and I'm backstage and it's right before I'm about to go on, and occasionally someone takes my place. I never remember the details, but it's very similar to this one I kept having about marching band where I was on the bus to the field site trying to memorize music before we had to go on, then we'd go on and I'd be improvising everything. Bass drum runs do not work when you're missing one of the drums.
I'm not sure what it all means.