Proposal – Thoughts in my Head
Overall, I enjoy being able to take the time to plan exactly the shots that I want, to tell the story as I want. I have found that I prefer the accuracy and effective evoking of emotions in an audience that this can bring, rather than rushing. I believe I have an eye for detail. A helpful positive of my dyslexia is that I envisage things in my mind very much, whether it be certain framing of a scene, the way to use focus to tell the story (like they do so well Queen’s Gambit), the actions and expressions needed from the actors, the shots and the way I intend to combine them. I love taking this vision from in my mind and turning it into something that I can share with everyone – a film.
The two roles that I find very much resonate with me are that of Fiction Film/TV Director and Cinematographer (Director of Photography), and I love seeing behind the scenes footage where they discuss their inter-relationship and how that affects and enables the director’s creative vision. I watch many behind the scenes videos, I find them an excellent way of seeing what happens on a film set, and I am fascinated by that. I love Sam Mendes (Director of 1917 (2019)) and Roger Deakins (Cinematographer of 1917(2019)) discussing how they worked together. When I was researching for my Promotional Video, I learned that Steven Spielberg (Director) and Janusz Kaminski (Cinematographer) have a long-standing collaborative relationship – 18 films since 1993.
Director and Cinematographer are roles which naturally fit together. I have heard that many Cinematographers have gone on to become Directors, which is my ultimate, eventual goal. It is a route that I feel is appropriate for me, since, as well as being passionate about eventually becoming a director, I also have a love of all things technical, especially cameras. So, starting as a Camera Trainee seems a good route to take. I really want to be able to film something bigger without quite so many Covid-19 restrictions around as there have been. There are still restrictions that are going to get in my way, but I will do my best to find as many solutions as I can. I also would like to create a piece of film that demonstrates that I am a good candidate for a role of Camera Trainee.
But most of all, I just want to make a film to tell a story and entertain people. I love playing Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) and being Dungeon Master (DM) for D&D games, and a large part of being DM is creating and telling stories, in a way that allows your players to become immersed in your D&D world. In my research paper, I investigated whether DMing was helping me gain valuable skills for becoming a Fiction Film/TV Director, and I concluded that it was. Which is great – I now have a brilliant “excuse” for when DMing D&D games. I’m not just nerding out with my friends – it’s for my career!
But I was fascinated to learn just how many Fiction Film/TV Directors (and other Creatives) had played or still play D&D, and credit it with being a part of their passion for film making. I think that maybe it is a bit of a “chicken and egg” situation, and Joe Manganiello summed it up well. He explained that he didn’t think that it was necessarily the D&D that made him become an actor and director. Instead, he said that he realised, once he entered this Creative Profession, that he was “flexing the same muscles” as he used, and still uses, for D&D. Not all D&D players/DMs become Directors, or even enter the Creative Industry. Not all great Directors played D&D. But, amongst other things, my Research Paper certainly proved to me that there is a strong correlation between the passion that players and DMs exhibit when playing D&D and the passion and drive to make films, as shown by great Directors such as Steven Spielberg, Jon Favreau and both Russo brothers, Joe and Anthony, to name but a few – a drive and passion which I believe I have, and that I would like to demonstrate in my Unit 13 FMP, along with technical skills to help me achieve a Camera Trainee position in the future.
More Thoughts later
I came back to my Journals and re-read what I had been writing earlier. I got a bit passionate I think. Which is because I am passionate about making films.
However, I am also aware that whatever role you do in the Film/TV Industry, the more experience and knowledge you have of the other roles that you are working with, the better you will be able to collaborate, and hence the better team player you will be. This is true at all levels. And as I progress, I intend to make the most of every opportunity that I get, in all areas of the Industry, and will approach them with the same passion that I would give a Camera Trainee role.
It has also been suggested that by trying other roles and areas, such as live TV, Music Videos etc, I may find that I actually would prefer those areas. Somehow, I doubt it. Although having said that, I do like the idea of using linking a lot of music into my stories, so maybe Music Videos would still be good? I saw a clip of the great Director Martin Scorsese saying, about a Filmmaking Masterclass that he was teaching, “If you are intrigued by movie making as a career, this isn’t the class for you. But if you need to make movies, if you feel like you can’t rest until you’ve told this particular story that you’re burning to tell, then it could be speaking to you.” I have so many movies in my head that I want to tell, right now I don’t know how to get them all out.
That is why I took this UAL course, why I want to gain experience in the Industry, and why I want to go to University to do a (very appropriate and carefully chosen) Film Making degree. I also do want to get as much experience in all areas of the Industry as I can. But I don’t believe I will change my mind as to my ultimate aim. I do believe that Fiction Film/TV is the area I want to work in. But, in the words of the 1983 James Bond film title, “Never Say Never Again”.