Schools Project

17th December 2014

THAT'S A WRAP!!
Success?
I think the process was a major success because I learnt so many new skills not just
about acting in a new format but also behind the camera which I am also equally
enthusiastic about. I learnt so much about the technicalities of the camera and the
performances for both TV and film. I have learnt the roles and responsibilities of personal on film and TV
set and I have also undertaken these roles and put them into practice. I was really excited for this process
and working with Gavin because I personally work well with Gavin and as a company we haven't worked
as a team as much as we have on this process, which in itself is a success.

First o we were given scenes to rehearse which we had to perform and film them the next day, this was
so exciting and such a massive challenge to everyone in the company. Also at the beginning watching a
Michael Caine video and seeing the dierences on film from an expert really helped give us tips and notes
to consider when we went onto screen. I felt that the script was quite a deep script so that there wasn't a
lot of room for interpretation, Gavin was directing all of them so I trusted him. When we first watched back
the rushes you could tell all in the eyes if the performance was believable and how it looks so dierent
when it's put up on the big screen. Focus of the camera, lighting and creative vision on the shots we
evident when watching back the footage. I thought my first performance was believe able and being with
Daniella who I also rated in her on screen performance was the best shot as well my Levi; Gavin said it
was the strongest in all departments.

Next scene we looked at stick and stone I was with Lewis and I interpreted the scene as being robbers
and running away from the situation. I felt that this scene was more open for interpretation and Gavin took
on our ideas and listened and put them into practice which I thought was beneficial for us to see what
works on screen and not. I thought the performance was comical and more heightened which I wasn't
sure would translate well onto screen but I did and it was right risk to take and I'm glad we did. Watching
back these rushes all of the scenes had our creative input in and that's what made them dierent and also
some of us had learnt more about the equipment and so felt more comfortable on screen and behind
because we were understanding the process more. The next scene dog and bone challenged all of our
acting skills because we had to do a phone call scene which was just a single actor on screen. This for me
was my worst performance because I felt under pressure with getting words wrong and showing the
reactions and for me this was a definite challenge, there were moments of believability but not all the way
through. I got the opportunity to be a director on one of the pieces and I chose the locations thinking of
the type of scene and the style and aect I was going for with one being closed and one being open. I felt
that I directed the scene well and when watching back the rushes Gavin said he could see clearly where
the edits and cuts would be to the scene to make it run smoothly and I can't wait to get them back to edit
together to see how well it would work. I felt that being the director I had a clear vision, I liaised with the
DOP and actors and First AD to make the my vision reality. We also did a live recording which for me I did
a bare grylls / David Attenborough wildlife programme which was also comical and this was a highlight of
the process for me, I really honed in my creative vision and ideas and worked well with the company to
deliver this vision.

We did commercial castings as well which was so much fun and a great experience to have because if I
saw a casting I would now go for it having insight into what it would be life and the feel and the people.
We also read a booklet about the technical side a did a written test which I was excited but nervous about
to put what I know into writing but I thought this was beneficial to see what we all knew about acting for
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17th December 2014

camera in from and behind it. The most successful point to this process was that we got free reign with
our creativity to interpret the scenes how we wanted to and have the opportunity to be creative in the
other side of the camera.

Individual Strengths and Weaknesses

RISK

During this process I felt that I took major risks in the interpretation of the scenes and really used the
locations to its full potential and looked into the whole picture and didn't let the camera stop me from
creating my vision. I felt that I took risks with my experiences with being on and behind the camera as
well as in the commercial casting. I feel like taking risks made me challenged myself constantly and
pushing myself to develop and that freedom I felt is a major strength as I embraced this unlike other
processes.
CREATIVITY

I felt that my creativity combine with the risks I took was a strength of mine in this processes and I put
my ideas into practice and acted on them and made them a reality and always had an idea when we got
scripts. I felt that I have been stumped with creativity recently during other processes but because the
company was working together it was easier to be positive and the creative juices to flow.
TECHNICAL TEAM

I felt that I really came into my own when we looked into the technical side and as this is something
that really interests me I wanted to put my all into it and really learn as much as I could. I felt that
when I was given an opportunity to be camera operator DOP, First AD or director I really came into my
own and used my creative vision to communicate this to the rest of the crew and work as a team which
is a strength,

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17th December 2014

TIME

Time was a major weaknesses of mine but more management of time and how
much we had was very little and we were learning a lot during this time and it
was hard to fit everything in and do what we wanted because we wanted more
time to do this.
PATIENCE

Sometimes on this process my patience wore thin because I wanted to do so

This process was mentally draining and I felt that it was hard to keep up my
stamina and the company lacked energy at time which I fed off. Although I
loved the process I think I should have slept more and rested and tried to keep
my energy up until the end of the day and not let it affect me.

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17th December 2014

Company Strengths and Weaknesses

TEAMWORK

We worked like a company and because we had to come together and

ENTHUSIASM

As we were all learning something fresh and new to us about another part of our craft
we were all enthusiastic and excited to get on this process and working with Gavin a
director we all have worked closely with was something we were all looking forward to,
therefore put a lot of effort into.
POSITIVITY

This process is the most optimistic and positive everyone has been collectively for
the first time on this course, I felt that we wanted to be here and this was an
improvement to say the least and I think we all learnt a great deal from this
process and Gavin and this is why it is a company strength.

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17th December 2014

TIME

Like my own weakness I felt as a company there was little time to complete tasks and I
felt we could have used our time more wisely. Such as when we were scheduled in for
independent time and we could have been creating scenes or devising scenes that we could
have brought to Gavin to film but it would have been hard with the time scale we had anyway.

INDEPENDENCE

I felt during this process we lacked independence as a company as we were stuck in a rut slightly
we waited for Gavin when we could have set up and I said let's start and leave a note for Gavin
but we couldn't always get the permission to go to certain places without Gavin so it was hard to
be independent when we couldn't in some areas.
ENERGY

Like my personal weaknesses like I mention the company couldn't keep up the stamina
always and there was a lack of energy in the room sometimes because we were all
mentally drained and being so focused in what we were doing the room felt serious and
not as fun as it could have and that should have been our responsibility to pick up the
energy.

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17th December 2014

Tasks Successful?
Most of the tasks were practical so it was easy to completely them because we were covering
them, but I had loads of fun creating and having free reign to do what we wanted with the
scenes we were given and go about the tasks how we wanted. This is the first time I have felt
that I was in charge of how I was learning and what I put in is what I get out. I thought the tasks
were successful because of Gavin supporting and helping us through the process and clearing
up any confusion and listening to our ideas to what we wanted to do with the scenes.

My favourite task was the live recording which at the start I was keen on doing because I wasn't
sure how well it was going to go, but my idea I was happy with and I wrote a brief script but it
was mostly improvisation and this is why it was fun. I liked the idea and I let my creativity flow
and working with the company on this and because they liked the idea as well they were up for
helping and it was great and I had a lot of possession over how I wanted the live recording to go
and it was great. It was also great being a part of the other live recordings like the director on
Harriet's and I felt that I took charge, was assertive but not rude and I felt that I knew what shots
I wanted and I felt that I researched the piece and put this into action.

More time?

I just wish we had more time in general because there is still so many dierent styles to learn
and so much more of acting for camera we could explore with Gavin's assistance. I would have
liked to write a scene and had time to do this and film it as well and also go to location, which is
what we were led to believe we could but, I thought we might go to somewhere other than the
NWK campus so if we had more time I would have liked to explore with more locations. There is
so much more with styles such a comedy, episodes and ADR and editing that we could have
had more time to do and look back at the finished project when we finished the entitling and go
through the whole process. I felt we covered so much with dierent formats in the little time we
had, I just wish we had more.

What Do You know Now?

I know so much more than I did before this process, I learnt about camera and the different
shots and hero it came be shot, one continuous shot / handheld or in different slates. I learnt
more of the technical side and the terminology that I feel confident to use which I started
using during the final task of the live recording. I feel i know more about on screen
performances and what to look out for whilst watching the rushes or on screen performances
from actors. I know it's all in the eyes and it doesn't have to she so wooden in front of the
camera, I have learnt how to relax on film which was a major thing for the company at the
beginning of the process. I know what commercial castings and the feel of those auditions are
like compared to normal drama schools auditions which I felt helped me because I feel like I
can go in there and am prepared to make a fool of myself. I have learnt more about myself and
that my creativity has no limits even on film and I will try and bring that to the floor on the
next process.

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Schools Project

17th December 2014

Action Plan:
Keep using the terminology
Write a scene for film
Film a scene on location outside NWK college
- Direct a scene and keep in practice with using
equipment.
- Start using the creativity on the
floor more.
- Keep up energy in the space
Use time more wisely.