Scene In Cinema: Week #3 Reflection/ Epiphany

I really enjoyed my third week of Media 5 classes. Both classes maintained my expectations and understanding of the progressive nature of these classes. Essentially, moving forward each class by working on similar scene breakdown tasks and expanding upon the basic work we were given initially in the first week. However each time we undertake these practical tasks, we are encouraged to systematically delve more into the complexities to effectively explore the processes of scene production in filmmaking.

Wednesday’s class was essentially a post-production session, as we were given 3 hours to edit our group’s video, which we shot under the constraints of our second week’s task, in order to compile our scene. After properly inspecting the clips in the edit suits, I was quite please with my groups performance on shoot as the quality of our clips were aesthetically pleasing. After a couple hours of cutting and organizing the shots in an organized linear structure, color grading, and adding sound effects, I was done with my version of the scene, and proud of it. I’m not sure if it was due to my acting specifically, but I interpreted the scene to exhibit a creepy/ darker overall mood, reflected through the reduced brightness and higher contrast color correction, with a hint of comedic relief, which is evident from the music I used to accompany the video.

Fridays class was rather similar to most classes in terms of the whole group production exercise given, which I have no complaints about, however this time Paul instructed us that each of us will direct our own individual scene without the creative input of others. For a split second I was rather surprised as each other exercise was shot as a group collaboration. However within seconds I came to my senses to recall every single experience I’ve had working on a film, television, music video or any type of video production. Each and every active crew member on set has had their own duty. Although everyone works in a collaborative manor to achieve the same result, the successful completion of the specific production, almost everyone (everyone working in their own department) works independently to fulfil their rightful position. Which is what influenced this weeks epiphany.

It felt strange for me to realize that this has been the first time I had ever extensively thought about the true collaborative nature of filmmaking, influenced by Paul’s in-class discussions regarding this topic. Although I still believe that filmmaking is the most collaborative form of art, at the same time I understand that its still an independent form of work, once we analyze the specifics of what everyone actually does. Whether it’s the director, in charge of the visuals and performance (and sometimes the technical stuff) or the camera operator and the sound recordist, who are respectively in charge of capturing the audio and visuals. People who work in separate departments hardly ever experience their jobs crossing over to another department (There has been some occasions tho such as the Director who might also be the DOP). I strongly doubt that the boom operator would consult with the cinematographer in regards to his ideas of how the camera coverage should be executed, on professional production shoots.

But at the end of the day everyone works to get the same result. So is filmmaking a true collaborative form of work? Yes and No to certain degrees. Yes; as all crew members work together to efficiently complete a film. Yet simultaneously no; as everyone in their own department has their own duties and responsibilities to accomplish the completion of the film.