The first studio I ever did for this degree was called Seeing the Unseen v2 with Hannah Brasier. It was about unique and abstract filmmaking techniques and projects, focusing more on noticing what was around you or within a space, and using that to build a freeform narrative. It may sound a little wanky, but I found it really enjoyable and influential. It really taught me to think and focus on little things, always looking out for the small to make the big. It makes me put a lot of thought into each piece of work I make or watch that lingers, and I’m seeing a pattern between noticing in Seeing the Unseen v2 and noticing in Film Light.

In Film Light, we are always attentive to what’s on-screen. We are always paying attention to where the light source is intended to be coming from within the scene. where the actual light source is coming from, the qualities of that light, whether it be hard or soft, is it diffused, gelled, etc. There are so many variables we as lighting students look out for in both preparing for our own works, and watching others. We linger and notice, much like I have done previously.

An example of me noticing and lingering on lighting was two nights ago, when I was watching Muriel’s Wedding by P.J. Hogan for the first time, for a cinema studies class. The film itself is great! It’s funny, heartwarming, and a bonified Aussie classic. But during my viewing, I began to focus and notice aspects of the technical side, some of which felt was lacking in some aspects. In particular, there was this one scene in her apartment which featured one blue gelled lamp, and one green gelled lamp, which subtly cut into the fill. However, this created a dual shadow that wasn’t fixed or even attempted to be fixed, blatantly revealing the locations of both light sources. This may have just been a rushed scene shoot, and it in no way really brought down the quality of the film drastically, but it was just something I noticed, because I had the techniques and the knowledge to do so.

Pretty cool, huh? I thought so! Can be a bit distracting though, I never just enjoy a film again!