My aim for this course has moved towards deconstructing the traditional processes and roles associated with writing for film, and filming for writing. Through ongoing discussion of the steps taken in film-making, especially how the script arrives “finished” pre-production, I have become very interested in subverting this formula. I’ve been thinking how a scene’s dialogue could evolve throughout production, and potentially create a more visceral cinematic experience, because the script was not set in stone, but fluid enough to change organically. And I know, of course, that these sound like the fanciful ideals of a 1st year media student wanting to change the entire industry. But a more democratised production style, with fluidity of roles and contributions, sounds pretty good to me.
Of course, I’m maybe just being selfish because I really, really want to do more writing for film than filming for writing. I ADORE studying film, but I’m much better at conceptual ideas than at practical film-making. Working with our tech equipment doesn’t come easily to me, and I often second-guess my instincts and knowledge. I often find myself thinking I don’t have the know-how to be behind a camera or to be telling those behind the camera what to do. In general group structures I’m a contributor, a collaborator, someone who works better in a hive mind where communal ideas are central to the final product. Of course, the groupings in which this format work are always very hard to find, and making a good product that everyone is happy with is even harder. A lot of the time it can only be done through finding a good collective of people who have the same general vision to you, but varied experiences and talents.
So even though I am doing the filming for writing side of this course, I’m curious to see how inverting these traditional production methods (where the script is finalised before shooting), opens up for a more collaborative approach to the whole process. By having the script set in wet concrete, rather than stone, perhaps the entire method of creating this work can be more collaborative.

I realise that throughout this entire post I have sounded like a hippy. I am not a hippy. I really hate hippies. Sorry for sounding like one. Damn hippies.