First Semester Entertainment Final

This semester in Entertainment has been crazy. At the beginning of the year I wasn't even in Entertainment, I was actually in Animation. I switched into Entertainment because I felt like I was a stronger video student than an animation student.
The first project that I did in Entertainment was the music video. This being the first project that I did in this class, and being a little late to the game, I took a easier position in the production team. For the music video I was the Art Director. I wasn't really able to do much because of schedule conflicts. As for the actual production itself, I don't feel that I was involved, really at all. Not only were there schedule conflicts, but there were also conflicts in our team. I understand that there are differences within teams, but this was new to me. I came from Animation, which is a work by yourself class.
The other project I was able to do this year was a short film. For this we all wrote our own scripts and the in groups decided which ones we wanted to do. I wrote my script about a schizophrenic teen boy, who is able to lead a normal life despite his mental illness. Overall I think that project went extremely well. The script was called Friendly Delusions. While we originally had set roles for our production team, those roles changed with circumstance. Scheduling was a big issue at the beginning of this project. Many of us had to make cancelations to our schedules as well as rearranging.  Our cinematographer wasn't on set, at all.  So, we improvised. The rest of our team co-produced the entire project. While doing this, we ended up working well together to complete the best project, I think, I have been a part of so far. We put a-lot of time and long nights into this project. Our team, as well as our actors, had great communication with one another. We did actually face a-lot of trouble, however, with the camera and tripod. First issue we ran into was the lens that was given to us on the camera we had checked out to us. The lens was not able to get a wide enough shot. At the same time, the camera had the plate for the pan on it. The screw had been stripped too badly to use a screwdriver to get it off. I ended up taking it to my dad, who is a photographer and he was able to get it off. But we still didn't have a plate for the tripod. So, I borrowed all of his equipment. I had to use his tripod, and lens.  Overall, the situation worked out. Some of the shots I got with the borrowed lenses were actually better than the shots with the lens that we were given.

As for my time in class, I feel I used it well, depending on the project. For projects such as the music video, where I wasn't all that involved, I worked on my website and other projects, because I didn't have access to the project. When it came to the short film, however, I used my class time to work as much as I could. I was either editing the script, editing, making a hot list, talking with my team and actors, or filming. I was here quite a-lot after school to complete a project that I would be proud of. When we didn't have set projects we were working on, I was working on my website and film reel.  I was actually able to film outside of my class on vacation to get some of the shots for my film reel. I had fun filming what I wanted to, without having a set schedule or plan for what to film.

I fell that my strengths for video production are along the lines of directing and editing. Through the short film editing, I learned how to really edit sound. Its a lot easier than I expected, you just have to know where to look and listen closely. I also feel that I was strong with directing. I don't like to boss people around, so I was able to communicate well with my team and make something we were all proud of. We did not argue abut much when it came to the short film because we were either able to compromise, or we had the same basic vision.

On the other hand,  there are still quite a bit of things that I still need to improve on. I still need to improve on scheduling and time management.  I feel I need to improve here because, during the short film, I was here editing until probably 9 or 10 o'clock at night, during the school week. It was really the only time I had to work because I work on the weekends, all weekend.

As for the guest speakers, I feel like I learned a-lot about characters, oddly enough.  I learned how to develop a strong character to fit the story. With that being said, I also learned how to develop a strong story. How to take a concept or idea, and turn it into a detailed story.

For the feature ilm we will begin when we return form break, I have been assigned as one of the editors.  I feel that this is a good role for me because I am not able to be on set a-lot. I live with a very jam packed schedule and don't have a-lot of time outside of class to work on things other than schoolwork.

The thing I loved the most about this semester was script writing and creating. I loved being able to express myself without having to actually speak to people a-lot. I am quite shy in person and kind of hide behind that when it comes to working in a group. I don't like to take charge when it comes to large projects.