LO3 - Carrying Out Specific Production Roles

Listed below are the job roles I have undertaken on various media productions:

- Short Film

*Camera operator

*Scriptwriter

*Storyboard planner

*Director

- Photography

*Photographer

-Games Concept

*Graphic Designer

*Game Developer

-Digital Graphics

*Graphic Designer

 While I have performed multiple jobs through media, the one I'd like to focus on is directing.

Above is an image of myself filming a scene for Unit 41. Along with filming the scene, I also directed the actor on how to deliver his lines and in what position to stand.


 For Units 17 (and Unit 41), I worked as a director and performed additional taks in order to get footage of scenes and create an impressive piece of film. As well as directing both these projects, I went above and beyond in order to get them completed by working on additional jobs. I worked as the directorscriptwriter, camera man, costumes, and editor, amongst other jobs. By performing all these job roles, I was more successful in my attempts at creating a pice that matched my artistic vision of how the film should look.

I gave precise instructions to the actors involved. I unstructed them on where and when to meet for filming and what they were required to do for the scene. I shot scenes multiple times in different ways in order to get the best possible shot. I experimented by changing camera positions and seeing how it would appear on camera. On top of that, I directed the actors to perform their lines in different styles and tones. I also listened to the actors, as some of them at points felt the need to make reccomendations. I took this ideas into consideration whilst still focusing on my own ideas of how I wanted the final film to appear.

Exampled below are the pre-production documents for Unit 17, showcasing the hard work and planning I put into this project.

Script

 When scriptwriting, I used skills and techniques I had learnt in Creative Writing and put them to good use along with my sence of humour to create entertaining pieces of dialogue in a script format.



Storyboard

 Though simplistic in drawn style, my focus for storyboarding was not how well drawn the images were but rather how well they showed how the camera angles should be as a plan for filming and editing. The design of the actors, though incredibly simplistic and almost to the same standard of stick figures still effectivly convey facial expression and movement for the actors to replicate whilst still keeping it vague enough so that they may act it how want and how I, the director, instruct them to act it.

Risk Assesment Form

Call Sheet

 I contacted the actors and checked their availability. From the information I collected from them I carfully planned a filming schedule that would be convenient for both myself and the actors.

Location Reece

When deciding on setting I specifically found areas around Sheffield City Centre that would be convenient for the actors to get to without costs for travel.

Editing

After I had finished filming and had collected the footage I wanted I began to edit it a such a way that it would lead to the creation of the final short film. This involved selecting the best footage, cutting it, placing it in the correct order and adding transitions, titles and music to a presentable and almost professional standard.

LO2 - Analysis of My Own Skill

My Suitability for the Roles

Director

Written Communication

As a director, my written communications would be put to good use. I am more than capable of emailing/messaging the other members of staff of any important information on the project that they would need to know and be informed of.

Verbal Communication

Verbal communications is a priority to a director. I believe I may be relatively successful with this task as I am able to give instructions to staff and explain clearly what they are required to do.

Practical Production

As a director I can give sets of specific instructions to staff and actors. I am capable of demonstrating how I want certain tasks to be performed as part of the practical productions (e.g. the acting/performing side of the film).

Creativity

I have the creativity to make new recommendations to staff (e.g. what camera angles to use, how the lighting could effect the scene), as it’s important that a director can quickly think on their feet as well as planning in advance; These are two skills that I believe I have achieved well within film projects.

Potential Gaps in my Skill

I have come to the realisation that there are gaps in my skill and areas for improvement in terms or being a director.

For starters, I have never worked professionally as a director as I've only worked independently on my own projects. To impress employers, they usually like to see that you have worked professionally in the subject before, so I have placed looking for available job opportunities beforehand under great consideration.

I also believe that improvements should be made to my communication skills, as previously I've worked amongst people I've know personally, so the way I've addressed them and spoken to the on the projects was allowed to be informal. When working on professional pieces, I'm aware that I'll have to speak to the actors and crew in a different way, being respectful yet stern in order to complete filming successfully and keep the project to a working environment. However, I believe I exceed in terms of written communication, practical production and most importantly, creativity.

Action Plan

Sheffield Hallam University provides courses in filmmaking and the study of film; I believe it would be beneficial for me to study these to improve my knowledge and understanding for future film projects. Studying film making at University is also an impressive quality to add to my CV or resume.

In terms of seeking a professional directing position, I would need to provide an impressive CV/resume to a film/TV producing company and attend job opportunities and interviews to find work in these sectors. Sheffield has Warp Films and Sheffield Live! TV, just to name two media companies specialising in film and TV, so it seems logical to pursue companies like these in case they are hiring people. I imagine myself starting with local and smaller film projects and gradually working my way up till I perhaps have a directing job with the BBC or another successful film/TV company.

LO1 - Compared Contributions and Responsibilities of Job Roles

Comparing the job of Scriptwriter to Director

If the director gives an instruction to the scriptwriter, the scriptwriter must follow it. However, whilst the scriptwriter is not able to give the director orders, they are able to recommend and suggest their own ideas to them. Despite this, the final decision still belongs to the director, so these ideas going ahead or not depends upon how the director feels about them and whether he likes them or not.

The scriptwriter, when presenting his script to the director, will have to explain, describe and clarify how they wanted/pictured it to give the director an understanding of the product. The director has to have a full understanding before they make any alterations that they feel necessary.

The director can only give a basic idea of what they want. It is the responsibility of the scriptwriter to convert the director's requested elements into words and include them into the script.

LO1 - Skills Required

Skills Required to be a Director

Directors are required to organise and keep charge of a majority of staff and actors and have to give them instructions on how he wants certain tasks performed (e.g. what type of lighting should be used, how he wants certain lines to be said.) that will improve the outcome of the final film product.

Skills Required to be a Scriptwriter

Scriptwriters must be able to write an original and creative script in the standard script format. They must understand traditional film conventions (e.g. mise-en-scene) whilst avoiding cliches and creating scenes/dialogue that will entertain and/or get the attention of the intended audience.

LO1 - Equipment used for each job role

Equipment Used by a Director

A director requires some way to easily gain access to all staff working on the project. This can be as simple as the director having a mobile phone so that they can contact other staff members to supply them with new/extra information or instructions.

Equipment Used by a Scriptwriter

The scriptwriter relies on equipment to plan/write the script; this can vary from a pen/pencil and paper, a typewriter or a computer, keyboard and printer. The typewriter has become quite outdated, so many modern and professional scriptwriters will use a computer, keyboard and printer, but many will still acquire a pen/pencil and paper to note down their original concepts for planning the draft version.

LO1 - Job Roles Key Functions

Job Roles Key Functions

The key functions of a director are to keep control and order over those working on the film (cast and crew), and to assign each of them jobs that go towards creating the final film and to a high quality that matches the director's vision. I believe that I have the skill to be able to perform these key functions and work confidently as a director as I see myself as being organised enough to see that each job is completed to a proffesional standard.

Meanwhile, the key functions of a scriptwriter are to follow the instructions of the director. The director will give an indication of how they want the scene to play out, so the scriptwriters' job is to put it to paper by creating the scene is text and inventing the dialogue to be used and give clear written ques to the actors of how the roles/scenes should be played. These decision must be made by both the scriptwriter and director, so these key functions relie heavily on teamwork by both job roles.

LO1 - Job Roles Definintions

The Role of a Television Director

Definition of a Director: A person who is in charge of an activity and supervises the actors and other staff in a television product.

(Definition information from http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=define+director&oq=define+director&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l3.13142j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&gws_rd=ssl)
(Definition information from http://www.google.co.uk/search?safe=vss&q=define+scriptwriter&oq=define+scriptw&gs_l=serp.1.0.0i10l2j0i22i10i30.3008.3008.0.4364.1.1.0.0.0.0.112.112.0j1.1.0....0...1c.1.53.serp..0.1.112.TvkzycxjKes)

The Role of a Television Scriptwriter

Definition of a Scriptwriter: A person who writes a script of what activities/dialogue will take place for a TV show.

(Definition information from http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=define+scriptwriter&oq=define+scriptwriter&aqs=chrome..69i57.9515j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&gws_rd=ssl)