FMP Journal 1 – Over February Half Term
FMP initial thoughts and ideas
Although the start date for our Year 2 FMPs is some time away, I started thinking about my FMP. It’s a very weird time to be doing our Year 2 FMPs. Last year, for our end of Year 1 FMPs we were in full lockdown, and at very short notice, literally the week that we were starting to work on our FMPs. This made filming very challenging. Last year, like this year, I had very much wanted to make a fiction film. But due to full lockdown, I was limited to my parents as actors. I was, and still am, very interested in camera movement. Before Lockdown was suddenly announced, I had planned on filming a chase scene, including pretend roof tops, using lots of interesting shots, angles, cuts and especially camera movements, in appropriate ways. I was planning on having as crew/cast my usual group of 90%Bloopers, i.e. Adam, Ellie, Jack and Harley, and some acting friends.
Obviously, when lockdown kicked in, and you couldn’t meet with anyone not from your own household, that made this idea impossible. Helpful as my parents are, it just wouldn’t have worked having them in a chase scene. I think they were very relieved that I thought this. I tried to think, quickly, of other fiction ideas that I could film with my parents, but with the first lockdown coming on us without much warning, I pretty much only had a couple of days to think of anything different, so I had to think outside the box. So, after rejecting a number of ideas, I changed to a documentary about camera movement in film, presented by me. It was very challenging setting up the scenes, setting up my new camera slider (that I got for my 18th Birthday, especially for my FMP), and instructing my Mum exactly how I wanted the camera moved on the slider. It was much more challenging for me than being behind the camera. I like being able to see exactly what I am filming live as I move the camera, rather than relying on how someone else is moving the camera, even after extensive directions from me. However, it did work out, and I am pleased with my final film, under the circumstances. I learned a lot and it was very interesting. I also used some editing techniques that I am very pleased with, like synching up behind the scenes footage from films like Rocketman (2019) showing the cameras moving, with the actual footage from the film.
But this time I really want to film a fiction film, since that is where I feel my skills lie, it’s the area of film making that I want to go into, and I particularly want to demonstrate my cinematography, directing and editing skills.