Upon Reflection…

Studio Prompt: What is lost and found if we disassemble the conventional relationship between screenwriting and filmmaking?

Twelve weeks ago I looked at this prompt and didn’t really know what to give as an answer to this question. I said that: “I think what this is trying to ask, is when writing scripts, what can be lost or gained in translation to the creation of the actual adaptation film. For example, this week we were asked to write a short story, and when turning that story into a script, the perspective and details of what the character was doing had to be changed and added”.

This entire experience played on “the unconventional” occurrence of five unprofessional “film-makers” being placed in a group together with no knowledge of each other whatsoever. We collaborated to disassemble the elements of what best constructs different aspects of film. Some groups chose to focus on genre, some focused on different styles of camera, and in Squadron’s case, we had a strong focus on location and how that can influence a films overall look and feel in conjunction with the Thriller genre.

Upon reflection i’ve discovered that in Week One I really didn’t know much at all about what it takes to create a film. A major idea that comes to mind, is when a writer’s script is placed in the hands of someone else – the production will likely be nothing like what the writer had intended if they aren’t there to monitor it. In Squadron’s case, Jackson’s script was edited, cut down, and given a makeover. We loved what he had written however the way we interpreted the script put emphasis on parts that he didn’t see as important. Alex edited the script, taking out parts that Jackson loved but we didn’t see as necessary. Putting creative control in the hands of someone else is decidedly unbearable for creative people like the Media students and Creative Writing students, but for the sake of collaboration we pushed on.

In all honesty, i’m not sure if I really do know what it takes to make a film. This process has taught me just how hard it is to really construct a well-polished film. I have learnt what it takes to make a good film teaser/trailer, but I feel that i’m still a long way off being the next Spielberg.