Thomas Hatchman S3381278 – RMIT University
FILM TV1 – Media and Communications

 Analysis & Reflection – Week 1 Blog Questions & Responses:

Question 1: In 200 words or less please outline your goals, desires – what you want to get out of this semester. You will review this later in the course. Many will rethink this dramatically – this is a good thing

Response: This semester, my goals in this subject are to challenge myself, and therefore get the best out of this course. I specifically chose FILM TV 1 because I wanted to test my creative capacities and discover more about how film works and how it can be used to tell stories. I think film is a very powerful medium, and enjoy learning about the different components that film offers.

I chose this subject because I’ve always been very passionate about narrative and script writing, so I would like to push my skills in this area and hopefully create some interesting material as the semester progresses. Another reason for doing this course is that I’m also interested in developing my practical skills. This involves using cameras and the editing suites. I hope on completion of this course my skills are closer to that of an industry professional, and my ability to use film-editing software is a lot better than it is now.

I’m also looking forward to working in a group environment on our major assignment. I really hope that our group can work together well to bring out the best in everybody. Personally, I’m excited to face the challenge of working with other people and experimenting with different ideas. I hope that throughout this semester I can create and develop new concepts through film practice and enhance and improve my skills.

Question 2: Consider Jasmine’s lecture on Screenwriting and briefly describe one point that you have taken from it.

Response: Throughout the duration of this lecture, Jamie spoke specifically about the use of story and narrative in film. Jamie mentioned that story and narrative are the key components for driving the story world.  She states that there will often be different fundamental figures, e.g.: protagonist, antagonist as well as character events, difficulties and turnings points that will drive a story to it’s climax and resolution.

During Jamie’s presentation I learnt that having a strong story structure is essential as it plays a fundamental role in helping people make sense of film and the world around them. That the experiences we endure through watching film and through our everyday life also convey both a sense of ‘narrative’ and story. Jamie also mentioned that filmmakers will often incorporate the use of story into their work, because as an audience, people often have an expectation that they will be lead along some sort of narrative pathway at some point. I also learn’t from Jamie that all the events in a story, both the ones explicitly presented and those the viewer infers, are often based on the information presented and assumptions made by the viewer.

A point that excites you, something that was completely new to you, perplexes you or even one you take issue with.

Something which Jamie said that excited me was when she spoke about the way filmmakers can arouse the interest of their viewers by carefully divulging story information at various points.  I found it interesting the way she mentioned that filmmakers will actually withhold vital information for the sake of curiosity or surprise, or supply information in such a way that it creates expectations or increases suspense. All these processes constitute ‘narration’ I suppose, which is the plots way of distributing story information in order to achieve specific effects and outcomes.

I also thought it was interesting how Jamie spoke about ‘story not being like real life’, I’m not sure I agree with this completely. I thought story, narrative, or any other form of storytelling for that matter was supposed to, in some way convey real life?  That information was new to me, not something I say I can totally agree with considering I’m an actor on the outside world!

Question 3: Select from one of the readings from week 1 or 2 and briefly describe two points that you have taken from that reading. Points that excite you, something that was completely new to you.

Response:

Week 1 Narratives Branston, G. and Stafford, R. The media student’s book, (p. 32-48). 3rd ed. London: Routledge, 2003

POINT 1:

I found it interesting to read about the different forms of narrative in media. This included narrative through photography, comic strips, radio and cinema. I never thought narrative in photography could prove to be such a powerful political and social communication device, since it is just a sequence of frozen moments in time.

Like photography, cinema and radio were also areas of interest that I found captivating. The most exciting section I read was about the differences between video and audio recording, and how these media devices can move narrative throughout time and space. It’s remarkable to learn how humans have developed systems through voice, silence, sound effects and illusion to create character and meaning to narrative.

POINT 2:

In this reading, something which was new to me, was the way narrative has spread across different cultures overtime. How media and other cultural influences have caused narration to develop into a variety of different forms. Throughout time narration was, and still is, used to describe how stories are told, how material is selected and arranged in order to achieve particular effects and outcomes with audiences around the globe. All cultures from my understanding of this extract appear to make stories in an involving and enjoyable way, in an attempt to create sense and giving meaning to the world.