Spoke to Jim on Friday. Due to the length of time this film is taking/going to take, and obviously because it was always going to take a while, production time has been increased. Instead of before the idea of making sure I had a trailer by the end of the semester, they'd be happy to just see a script. So the plan so far is, take as long as needed on the script (to make sure it's just right), better not to rush these things after all :)
Went to the library yesterday and got 8 books out on lungs, pulmonary conditions and clinical care. Just going to make sure details are accurate. Aside from this progress has slowed. The introduction of these 3 short films has sort of got me confused and out of focus. Doing multiple projects always does this. Now I'm not entirely sure where my focus is or what I'm doing! I know that I still want to do this film though! It will be done! And it will be done well!
Had tutorial today with Andy. He's doesn't seem so keen on such a big project (although doesn't have a problem with me continuing on with it) and wants some smaller projects. I'm going to try keep this in with the film because working on more than one project at once does my head in and I make stuff that is crap and/or naff; at least not to a standard that I'd want. Might try to do some character workshops to develop in film characters a bit more before final production. I understand his motives however and they are well received. Just have to try and keep in a grove.
Have another friend - who is doing film theory at uni - interested in being part of the film. Bringing into the film writing process. Think this will be the last person who I should get to help me co-write the script. Anymore would be too many. Will have to discuss with Sean. Pretty sure he'd be happy to help out with any other area too. Will have to check what other areas I may need support in.
Background Previously I have looked at themes of time and decay using black and white analogue photography, which was made into a poetic sequence. I have also made an adaptation of a poem by Jeffrey McDaniel into a short film whilst working in a group. In the same vein I also made an attempt to make an adaptation of another poem by Ben Jorgensen into a film which did not come into full fruition. It had a slightly dark theme of forbidden love with a sense of hopelessness and played with the idea of dreams. Last semester I developed from the idea of poems and video and incorporated one of my own poems into a film/film installation which was set up using a number of television sets.
Aims/Intentions/Themes This term I aim to develop my sketchbook/research and development techniques, through once again producing a film based on a piece of poetry or writing, with possible intentions of developing my previous work from last semester or using that as a basis to create another film of the same fundamentals but possibly with a different structure or theme.
However my main focus for this year is to produce a character study film. I intend to bring key personel into the production team to help me maintain a high standard and to reduce the workload. A good production team will also help me to gain more awareness of working with others in a team and hopefully to maybe produce an even higher standard of work than I would be capable of especially in a limited timeframe. Due to the scale of this project I do not believe that I will have the finished article of work over the next 3 months and intend to instead show a trailer of the film, which will also hopefully detail the progress of the film. My expectations are for the film to be finished approximately by the end of summer, end of the year at latest.
Timescale CCS to be done during current projects. 1 month: research 1 month: writing 2 weeks: plan and rough draft of essay 2 weeks: final essay
3 weeks: Poetic Film (resit) 1 week: come up with concept 1 week: filming 3 days: post-production 4 days: quality control
1 month: Script writing for character study film 1 week: research 1 month: Filming 1 week: video editing for trailer
Post May assessment 2-3 months: Filming 1 month: post-production 2 weeks: video editing 2 weeks: sound editing
Objectives To be able to sufficiently show that I am capable of making note and record of my research and development of a project. For my main project I would like to be able to write a screenplay capable of capturing the attention of viewers and be able to create a relationship with them and fictional characters within a film, to immerse the viewer into the world projected through film. To learn to be part of a production unit and develop a film as part of a creative team. To see the demands and constrains of producing a film. I want to see if I can achieve creating a bond between audience and what is on the screen before them. Be it through an obvious poetic medium or through a living character. Also to increase the viewers awareness of the situations of people suffering from a terminal illness or an individual close to someone with a terminal illness.
Context Through watching numerous films such as "The Wrestler" by Darren Aronofsky, "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" by Michael Gondry, "Land of Plenty" by Wim Wenders, "The Straight Story" by David Lynch, and "The United States of Leland" by Matthew Ryan Hodge, in where there isn't really much that happens through the film, where the film is driven by the characters held within. It is essential that you can develop a relationship between those characters and the audience through whatever means. Be it dialogue, music, a persons actions or through the use of image it is imperative that you can achieve this in whichever way possibly otherwise the film becomes flat and uninteresting, as the character is what drives the film and holds the interest of the viewer.
