A little bit of reflection

Monday 18th Jan

This is a lesson we were all looking forward to - the first of our promised host of various industry practitioners that would be gracing us with their prescence throughout the course. I'm not sure exactly what we were expecting but one thing I can say, and I think I speak on behalf of the majority of the class also, is that we did not expect Kim Millar, a successful soap storyliner and writer, to be so young. Having heard all about her career and having researched her online before the class, I was very impressed that someone her age had achieved the success that she had.

I felt this was a very educational, interesting and exciting lesson. We discussed her career, the path she had taken to get there, exactly what the job involved with the odd anecdote about some soap opera celebs! We have been set the task of creating an original soap character and to write them in to one of the big soap operas - Coronation St (which Kim assured us was, by far, the most well respected and best written soap out), Hollyoaks, Emmerdale or Eastenders.

I believe we get the most out of lessons where people can share their own experiences - able to tell us what it is really like out there, how to make it, to cope. This is the type of learning that best suits me, hearing about it first hand then getting to do it yourself rather than just discussing the theory of film and television production.

Tuesday 19th Jan

Our day began with Ray's technical class where we focussed on lighting. Putting the lamps up and donw and setting up the cameras under different lighting conditions. I have used a lot of the lighting before so I knew some of the stuff we were learning however I feel it's always good to over things again an again - always improving. Also to know how things are handled in the industry - standard precedure - the lingo!

The afternoon consisted of a short tutorial with Gav in the edit suites to discuss our editing theory and practical assesment we sat before Christmas. I felt this went very well - we discussed some of the correct terms to use for certain editing techniques for the theory test and he was very pleased with my cut of the 'Dukati' Motorbike commercial. I enjoy and feel I get a lot out of the classes and discussions I have with Gav - he is very approachable and takes an interest.

Wednesday 20th Jan

We had our television class with Andy, discussing the impact of reality television from COPS to Big Brother Season 500! As usual it was packed with interesting facts and debates. I think because our class is so small - these kind of lessons are very open - anyone can give their opinion and discuss the topics.

Thursday 21st Jan

As we only had tutorials with Adam on this day - I was only in for a very short period of time. We discussed the television ideas we had written proposals for before the new year. We discussed the idea and how to develop it - Adam suggested ways of expanding the themes which I found very useful. We will be taking these ideas forward for the foreseeable future so I feel it is very important now that we are satisfied with our plans.

Friday 22nd Jan

Here came another silent film, Nosferatu - as I had fully expected not to be totally enthralled (having not enjoyed Battleship Potemkin the week before), I was pleasantly surprised to find myself really getting involved. It is very early cinema although it really sets up the 'vampire' genre which we are all so used to today.

All in all, a successful week I feel. Heres hoping the next week will be the same!

My Sister's Keeper - Christmas Highlight

Now, normally when we hear the word 'highlight', we assume something happy, something joyous. However - as good as this film was, it was no happy experience. I, admittedly did not choose the film to watch, it was my sister's choice, telling me she had seen it before and that it was definitely worth seeing. Had it not been for the subtitles, I probably wouldn't have heard the film through the deafening sobs.

I thought this film was excellent, a truly touching story with incredible performances and approporately moody cinematography.

Based on the novel by Jodi Picoult, 'My Sister's Keeper' tells the story of an 11-year-old girl who sues her parents for "medical emancipation" and the right not to donate a kidney to her sister, Kate, who is terminally ill with cancer. Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine) gives a very convincing and subtle performance which drives the emotional weight of the film. Her dying sister, played by Sofia Vassilieva, although not as demanding a role, is equally as convincing and along with Cameron Diaz, Joan Cusack and Alec Baldwin creates a film with uniquely powerful performances.

The gritty cinematography shows the landscapes of southern California in a different light, we truly feel for all the characters involved. One scene in particular, where, knowing that their daughter will die in a few days, Kate's parents grant her the wish of taking her to the beach. Watching her brother, sister and father play catch from under a blanket on the sand, Kate accepts and becomes at peace with her fate. This scene is a pivotal moment for Cameron Diaz's character as she accepts the inevetable and decides the spend some quality time in the last moments of Kate's life.

I found that, although and uncomfortable experience, it was a worthwhile one, a compresensive guide to evoking emotion in an audience.

Sherlock Holmes

I must admit - as a film student this is poor - but this is the ONE new movie I saw over the festive period, not only that but two days before we returned to the course.

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect - Granted, I had heard rave reviews but I knew very little about the character of Sherlock Holmes, plus the fact that it had been directed by Guy Ritchie (not famed for his amazing movies - having been nominated for two Razzie awards for worst script and worst director - the latter of which, he won), however I let neither of these put me off. I went with several friends, two of which are avid Robert Downey Jr fans, which as you can guess, somewhat influenced our choice of film - it was either going to be Holmes or Avatar (unfortunately in 2D).

I was pleassantly surprised to be exiting the cinema, 128 minutes later, very satisfied. The film had flown by - I had been fully engrossed the entire time.

I found the story extremely engaging - it had the right amount of mystery and suspense, balanced with heart-pounding action and yet pulled off some very soft, touching and emotional scenes. The dialogue worked very well - playing, not too heavily, on Holmes' eccentric nature while also portraying the strong and intellectual character within. Watson could have been written and played as a weak sidekick, naive of Holmes' genius and trying to contradict him with science, however he appeared strong, powerful and intelligent while still encompassing a subtle vulnerability so as not to relinquish Holmes' position as leader.

It was also incredible, visually. It portrayed 19th century London beautifully - realistic yet with a sense of fantasy also. The setting felt, not so much a backdrop, but an engaged and interactive environment in which all the characters worked within.

The film was very fast, this pace kept the film moving dramtically - almost every moment revealing something new, either about the plot or about a character. Small humorous moments lightened the films essentially dark and mysterious tone - this was brought about by Holmes' dog whom he experiments on but who Holmes' repeatedly says - "doesn't mind".

If there is one thing I didn't like quite so much about the film - it would have been Rachel McAdams' performance. I don't think it was necissarily bad - I just felt it was nothing special - a lot more could have been done with her character. Probably partially to do with the writing however I just feel that it was one element that let the film down a little.

All in all, I think this is a movie worth seeing. I don't think it will go down in cinema history as a classic but it is a truly enjoyable watch!

My Christmas Film - The Swiss Family Robinson (1960)

This is the film I associate most with Christmas - Although it is really not considered a particularly Christmassy film - I used to have an old VHS recording of it from 25th Dec and watched it every year religiously!

When I was younger - I didn't notice the age of the film at all - it was essentially an exciting adventure film with pirates... and Disney as well - that was good enough for me!

The sets are exquisite for the time it was made (being Disney - I guess they had a lot to spend) and the characters, loveable.

It is a true family film - fun, adventure and pirates all wrapped into one!

Time to reflect - for the first time.

Now I must admit, this is my first reflective blog. I find the process of writing informally about my experiences a lot more difficult than giving my impressions of a film or television show - but I am told it is a must - so here we go!

I call this chapter 'Week 7'.

Monday morning began, as usual, with Richard's screenwriting class - However this was no normal lesson. We had been asked to prepare (based on the idea of postsecret.com) two postcards, each with a untold secret on it and an illustration that represents it. How uncomfortable the experience was going to be didn't hit me until I arrived in the cafe bar to be met with several extremely worried looking faces, all nervously awaiting the impending task!

I cannot explain more about the task as it would impinge on the agreement we all made before going in - that we would not discuss it afterwards - ever! I found the excercise - although uncomfortable - a truly cathartic experience - it felt honest and open, and I think we all benefitted, somehow, from it.

Following that was a rather heated debate about each class member's beliefs - It showed how passionately everyone could get about what they believe in and was a positive bonding experience.

Tuesday brought a written editing assessment from Gav in the DTU. It surprised me how difficult I found it trying to word processes on the computer rather than physically doing them - however I finished in good time - how successful I was is still to be seen!

Later that evening - I was staying at my girlfriend's flat - we watched 'Brokeback Mountain' - I found it to be a very poignant and touching film. It was beautifully shot, edited and acted and deserved all the awards it won. A real insight into the great actor that Heath Ledger was away from romantic comedies - he would only have improved.

A day off on Wednesday (sorry - self-determined study). I spent the day in a meeting with the producer of a film I may be directing in the Summer of 2010. She owns a company called 'Palm Tree Productions' based in Pinewood Studios. I have still to find out a lot more info about the project before I commit to anything though - to make sure I don't miss anything important here at the Academy.

Thursday - and we find ourselves in the always cheery AGOS9 for a lesson on the history of cinema in Glasgow - there was a heavy history element to the class - however I felt it really helped me to visualise the circumstances under which people would have enjoyed cinema in those times.

Thursday afternoon - we entered the world of gameshows and following a brief history and explanation of the format, we were assigned the group task of devising one ourselves. I was a good group exercise and although we did not have long to do it - it proved productive.

On Friday we had only one screening - a Buster Keaton film named 'Sherlock Jr'. As we having been watching Charlie Chaplin films for the last few weeks - I think everyone went in with the expectation that this would be similar but not as good - however I was pleasantly surprised. I found 'Sherlock Jr' more entertaining than most of Chaplin's films - not just because of the technical superiority but the performances also. Although Chaplin has exaggerated slapstick down to a tee - I found Keaton's character to be more subtle and entertaining.

Right, there we go - my week! Phew

Corrie

Well - here I am again, about to complain on this blog - it's becoming oh such a depressing read!

However it's not all bad - I might slip in a few semi-positive comments... possibly.

As part of our television module with Andy Dougan, we were asked to watch an episode of the long-running British soap opera, Coronation Street. Being, without use of a better phrase, a soap virgin - I had many, probably unfounded, prejudices against the show before I even sat down to watch it. I was expecting a excessively dull, banal, visually unexciting and terribly acted twenty minutes - and was pleasantly surprised to find that that was only 95% true!

I had not appreciated the effort it takes to story-line television like 'Corrie' until Andy took us through the process in his class. I can see the talent involved and I am very impressed at how the writers can keep a show going for as long as this has without dropping viewing figures. That said - I feel that the process is irrelevant when what is produced - is to me - absolute non-entertaining drivel!

The plot - although realistic to some extent - is melodramatic - It is the 'real' world as seen through the eyes of social services. I get the impression - the target audience is those who watch 'Big Brother' live - 24 hours a day. I was watching the trivial pursuits of a bunch of Mancunians that I really cared nothing about - there was no romance, no drama, no emotion. It felt dry.

There was one particular plot-line which caught my attention - and not in a good way. Apologies for the lack of names, as I was introduced for the first time to almost 12 different people in a mere twenty minutes - (it took me several days to remember everyone's names in DFTV1). A grandfather takes his grandson out after he collects him from school - an opportunity to sit on Santa's knee catches the grandson's attention but is, not very subtly may I add, avoided suspiciously by the grandfather. When the boy finally convinces his grandfather to take him there - Santa is revealed to be the boy's other grandpa - the men evidently do not get on and a ridiculous argument breaks out between them - resulting in the Santa being fired! This was probably one of the most staged pieces of television I have seen - truly cringe-worthy!

I feel that this has sufficiently conveyed my views towards 'Coronation Street' - Although many of my colleagues have taken the view that if it does not star David Attenborough, a host of exotic animals and include the quest to save Middle Earth - then I will not like it - that's not quite true - this was just really not a street I would venture down again.

New Moon

I know I promised in my last entry that I would attempt to make my next post a positive one, however, unfortunately, this was the next movie I saw!

I am not a teenage girl, I have not read the books, the sight of Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner stripping does not get my heart pumping, I like things to happen in a movie, I am a fan of actors that can or are allowed to act and I am also a fan of vampire films - I clearly tick none of the 'target audience' boxes.

This film was as long as it was dull - with a budget of more that twice than that of the first in the series - one might think you could at least make a 'vampire' movie visually exciting - but sadly, no. I didn't see any vampires - did you? Maybe I blinked!

Non-diehard fans of the series will fail to empathise with any of the main characters - the actors appear bored with their roles. Bella (Kristen Stewart) does little more than winge for the entire duration of the film - Jacob (Taylor Lautner) spends the entire film partially clad (when I say partially...I really mean fully with the exception of a pair of ripped denim shorts which would be more appropriate on a Ken doll from the 1980s) - and Edward (Robert Pattinson) spends the majority of his screen time standing still, looking tired and nauseous.

It would be unfair for me to comment on the success of the narrative having not read the books, however to me, it felt tediously slow and lacking in any emotion.

I'm sure through the rose-tinted glasses of the Twilight fanbase, this was the most exciting release of the year, however to a newcomer, it failed to evoke more than a few yawns.

A teenage love story it is, a vampire film - it really aint!