I finally got to join a 3-hour lecture on Tuesday, expecting a big practical lesson. The answer to this expectation was both yes and no. Half of the people in the class shot a scene with around 5 shots, and I was not part of those groups, so I was basically quietly watching what each crew was doing.
Unintentionally, my main focus was on the shotgun microphone guy because I was least familiar with this role until last Friday’s class. I was, of course, paying close attention to the director, and I was really impressed with how decisive she was during this session. I could tell that she, alongside a few others, had a clear vision in their heads and were able to decide what was right for them without wasting limited time. Even though I was just watching others for most of that day, I was lucky enough to have a tiny role in moving the equipment around (desks and chairs this day), as well as removing any items that were not part of the film, such as someone else’s drink bottle and a bag. One time, I was too relaxed watching other people doing their work, and I forgot to pay attention to the background. I didn’t take any action until Robin told me to, so I’m hoping to pay more attention to background checks, regardless of my role in the film.
After the practical session, we watched a film clip, and Robin told us to pay attention to the eye line of two characters who were standing next to each other and having a chat. This was really interesting for me because I don’t remember if I have ever cared enough about actors’ eye line. However, when I learned why it’s important, I realized how obvious and crucial yet very easy to forget this aspect is. Like the two previous classes I attended, this course has given me a new perspective on watching movies, and I’m thoroughly enjoying this process so far.