Something that has stuck with me from class so far is the idea that filmmaking isn’t just about making films, it is about the process of making them. There is a lot of trial and error involved in the process and practice is the best way to improve. Rather than crafting an entire film from scratch, start to finish, I am excited to develop my skills exercise by exercise.
So far we have been using tripods more often than not to get the right shot. For the three shot exercise though, I went with a mostly handheld approach. The point of view shots are reminiscent of Peep Show whereby the actors look directly at the camera for point of view conversational shots. This is something that I want to explore further.
The handheld camera technique is not new, but I think I started to first notice it’s use in the Office. The mockumentary style brings Steve Carell’s character to life, creating his humorous demeanour. The frequent breaks of the fourth wall invites the audience in to the life of Michael Scott.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, which began at the same time as The Office, is another sitcom that uses a handheld camera. The reason for it’s use though seems to be different to the mockumentary style. Judging by the pilot episode of It’s Always Sunny, budgeting was much more of an issue. That and obviously a mockumentary style was not desired. Nevertheless, the cost factor is an undeniable reason why people would choose to go with a hand held approach. I made a pretty shitty movie for my first degree called ‘Unsuccessful’. I tried to do a bit of everything (write, act, film and edit) but I found it quite difficult, particularly with time constraints. Throughout the semester, I would love to develop an idea for a web series with classmates.
I came across this article outlining a few reasons why people go handheld. The 6 they came up with are cost, efficiency, effect, lower profile, surprise and time: “Hand-held camerawork is a great option for filmmakers looking to cut costs, reduce set up time, lessen equipment, and create an authentic, intense atmosphere”.
Reflecting on the scene we shot as a group for the three shot exercise (which turned out to be more than three shots), I am happy enough with the end result. There are some obvious errors, such as the reflection in the window and the jittery zoom pans, but I will have this in mind for the next exercises. So far I’ve enjoyed making little snippets to learn from.
– Gabe