Alright lets get straight into it I ain’t gonna beat around the bush about this studio in my opinion is the best thing since sliced bread, most people are glad to see the back of the other studios which over complicated the filmmaking process but Paul hit the nail on the head, he wanted us to learn the craft of filmmaking, us hearing this we jumped straight on the bandwagon and were eager to learn. First we killed two birds with one stone, learning how to set up a camera and actually going out and filming with everyone on the ball. We then learnt more about the operation of the camera the whole nine yards. Actions speak louder than words and some of the filming by the students in the heat of the moment was a class act. But we didn’t want to jump the gun there is still a ways to go before we can make some professional films.  But to cut a long story short the start of our studio ‘True to Form’ has been a whopping great experience so far…

I firstly couldn’t help myself in that opening paragraph using plenty of idioms, the title of our studio in fact is an idiom here’s a perfect example of an idiom…as usual, Trong is late, at least he’s running true to form. True to form essentially means following the usual pattern and in filmmaking that is important, the wrong white balance, audio, exposure, framing and focus although it may be simple to cut corners the results could be detrimental to your film making it an absolute dogs breakfast to use yet another idiom.

The studio is exciting so far, the grasping of some of the technical aspects of the camera is fascinating, a crash course so to speak one in which we didn’t unfortunately receive in Media 1. These skills will benefit us as filmmakers going forward. Aspects such as connecting your microphone to the mixer, checking headroom and looking room, adjusting the focus on the eyes of the subject, making sure the camera is set to manual when adjusting the white balance, zebra patterning being turned on for the correct exposure, always checking gear before departure, never rolling the camera without headphones on, checking audio, always having charged batteries and trying to sabotage other groups as karma does exist in the film industry.

From an interview with William Raban about ‘Thames Film’, ‘When I asked about his camera style, he immediately stated that he hated that word, because it implies the affected. “I never use it. I prefer the word idiom, which is better because it suggests a way of working”.  This is what filmmakers should keep in mind as to use the example of idioms filmmakers can use a group of principles and differently adopted filmmaking techniques in a fixed order that have a particular meaning that is different from the meanings of each technique and principle on its own. In creating a sequence of techniques and principles that you prefer as a filmmaker you will stay true to form and hopefully make an cinematic masterpiece throughout the course with this philosophy in mind.

In this class I want to expand on my filmmaking skills, learn more about the craft of filmmaking the more technical side of it so I don’t make lethal mistakes like recording bad audio, having low or not enough batteries, having the wrong lenses and not getting the most out of my subjects on screen in the allocated time. The experience to Guatemala through Actuality Media’s Documentary Outreach Program has certainly made me a more worldly person and a more equip, intelligent, vigilant, structured, connected, intentional, thorough and precise filmmaker. The trip taught me a lot about working in a team, getting the necessary and important moments captured on camera, sticking meticulously to a schedule, making sure all the equipment was in a better condition after using it and of course planning out a story that would emotionally capture the audience and using a structure which would determine scene by scene, shot by shot the emotional highs and lows and their intended effects on the audience. Through the creation of the documentary ‘Cada Gota Cuenta’ I have came a long way in the filmmaking, producing, writing and cinematography profession and with this unique studio I want to expand my horizons and learn more about the art of filmmaking and keeping true to form.

Michael Serpell

Cada Gota Cuenta filmed by Michael Serpell (producer), Taylor Amos (cinematographer), Anita Koltun (director) and Alex Knight (editor) in Antigua, Guatemala with Actuality Media during June and July of 2016 through Actuality Media’s Documentary Outreach Program.