Over the past semester I have experimented with various methodology of filming short scenes. The practical approach to learning has given me the breadth to focus my investigation on my own personal filmmaking skills. I played the role of the director, the writer, the editor, the producer, the sound mixer, the cinematographer and many more. My primary role, in all of the scenes that I worked on, was the ‘Problem Solver’. Before working on my personal exploration, in class week by week, we experimented as a group with camera coverage exercises.

Collaboration is essential in the film and media industry. It was good working in teams throughout the semester, although it was difficult if everyone didn’t have designated roles. The game of ‘what do you think?’ ‘What should we do?’ was a constant back and forward time waster. When we shot the door scene in the editing suites, regardless of the final product, the work dynamic on set was far more productive than the previous weeks. We filmed two full scenes in two hours. Everyone had their individual priorities and there were no overlapping or contradictions of ideas. Being a new class we weren’t familiar with one another and our abilities. earlier in the semester people would question and doubt their decisions. They would cross reference with the entire group to make sure that what they wanted to do was ‘O.K’. Once we started allocating roles people felt more comfortable and would experiment with new and exciting ideas. The only issue that I noticed with this, was that some people would fall in to being the ‘actor’ every time. I tried to encourage the people, that were less confident, to use the camera. The more confident everyone felt with one another, the more experimental and less questioning we became.

As a part of my personal ongoing investigation I focused on the camera and how it can be manipulated to reveal a short scene. Initially I thought that this would be my only focus. Of course, filming comes with hurdles and limitations. I filmed multiple shots in Fairfield Park for a script that I wrote. Even if you set yourself minimal constraints to work with, they always arise. The main pressure on set at Fairfield Park was time. We were racing against the sun, which also meant I had to keep changing and matching settings on the camera as the light and colours changed quickly. I enjoyed doing this as it challenged me technically. I had to learn to use my camera quickly and to use it well. Overall, the camera coverage that I captured was not enough. I should have focused less on the long drawn out panning shots, and attempted to capture as many different angles and shot types that I could. This was not evident until I entered the role of the editor. My intention as the ‘director/producer’ in preparing for the scene, was to shoot it with the moving camera and compare this to a short staggered version. My main objective as the cinematographer was to capture what was intended by the ‘director/producer’. This experience of filming a scene by myself, without a crew influencing my decision making, has allowed me to problem solve based on the limitations that I set myself.

Each section of the filmmaking process required me to play a different role and to understand where I went wrong in previous roles. For example: I played the role of the Director/Producer right through the entire production process. I played the role of 1st Assistant Director preparing for the shoot. When I walked on set I played the role of the Cinematographer. When I began editing I played the role of the Editor and then finally, as the Sound Mixer. It was clear filming on set that my position as the 1st Assistant Director, I didn’t schedule enough time for both scenes. I should have scheduled an extra hour (this schedule was due to the availability of the actors and could not be altered). From the perspective of the 1st Assistant Director, other aspects of the shoot ran smoothly; all props were on set as required; the shoot ran to schedule perfectly; the rights were obtained, therefore there were no interferences throughout filming. As the cinematographer, I didn’t recognise my faults until I played the role of the editor. Once I entered the editing room, the issues that I faced were indicative of my role as the cinematographer. It was when I played a different role that I learnt where I went wrong in my previous role. During editing, colour and lighting were not an issue, I was able to adjust these through post production colour correcting. Aesthetically, all of the shots look engaging. the issues that I had as an editor were related to continuity, pace and the ability to cut more than one scene. Reflecting on my role as the cinematographer, from a technical perspective I am satisfied, but from the perspective of coverage, I struggled. I was lost in the middle. I tried to  create an ‘organic’ filming approach/methodology as well as trying to fit in with my preconceptions of what I envisaged.

I was still not satisfied with my investigation after I finished two edits of the scene. The timing was off slightly in both of them. I was contemplating analysing other existing cinematographers and films. Instead, I put my directors cap on and began editing the scenes with a fresh mind. Once you have looked at the same footage over and over again, you begin to miss things. With a fresh perspective I could instantly pick out the mistakes that Robin had noticed from my edit. I started a fresh edit. I began to play around the with second, eerie edit as I had more fun with this one. The long drawn out shots didn’t allow for me to cut when I wanted, I had to wait for the shot to move into position etc… The second edit was a little more abstract. I was experimenting with compressing time so that we wouldn’t have to watch the girl wake, stand up and then walk over to the tree. The style of the scene played with an ominous feel. I experimented with the final edit that I posted onto the drive (not the exhibition version). I  reversed the clips, emphasising the ambiguity of the scene. If only parts of the scene are ambiguous, they feel out of place. If the entire scene is abstract, you are more curious to make sense of everything. I really enjoyed playing around with this edit. I think I was reluctant to edit it this way as it wasn’t what I had initially intended. Visual effects could have again lifted the scene, making it more obscure. I didn’t bother to take it this step further. Instead, I focused on a short sound design to lift the intensity of the scene. I added diegetic sound that I had recorded on set, as well as an eerie sound track. I chopped it up and shuffled it around the scene where it would evoke a greater reaction.

Reflecting on this project, I think that I became a little lost with my objectives and intentions. Personally, I needed clearer intentions within each scene to drive me with my cinematography and with my editing. In hindsight, I should have prepared to shoot the scene four times. I should have determined two objectives for the same scene and then established two ways of covering the scenes. I could have shot the same scene four times swapping the objectives with the camera coverage plans. Only filming two scenes demotivated me to capture more than I needed. Overall I learnt a lot throughout this process. I realise a lot of my strengths and weaknesses of roles within the entire process of filmmaking. I wasn’t just the Director of Photography – I was the 1st AD, Producer, Writer, Director, Editor and Sound Mixer. I feel more capable to film using my camera. I understand the creative decisions that need to be made throughout the entire production, from writing the script to editing the final sound design. Perhaps I could have asked someone to complete an edit or asked someone to film it for me. This would have defeated the purpose. I wanted to experience all of the individual roles to learn more practical knowledge, rather than analyse how someone else edits and compare it to how I would have edited it. I learned more, practicing the entire production process and developing my craft as a filmmaker.