- You mean like dem planets?
- No, we're not talkin' about a theory.
- Oh, do you mean the shootin'?
- Yea, we're talkin' about uh shootin'.
-Anyone diiie?
- Well, it ain't no action, and it ain't no western neither.
One of the greatest parts about learning how Studio Production works is that we have the ability to wear a a variety of hats, and are not confined to the same task. Since we have started shooting the Writing Center, I have been able to participate in a healthy variety of roles, and have learned from each of them.
On the first day of shooting, I was able to play the role as the director for about half of the class. This was a special learning opportunity because we were able to work with talent outside of the class. Until that day, I really took for granted having talent that understood what we could do through editing. It almost felt like we were a group of cowboys trying to teach Indians why we using guns and not bows. When the talent first came in, a lot of them wanted to make everything that was recorded look natural, but everyone else wanted those uncomfortable pauses between lines, and we wanted them to sit under the hot lights until the audio, and lights were just right. Being a director in this situation, I learned to take a few steps back, understand their desire not to be uncomfortable, and explain how in the end the uncomfortable way will eventual look the most natural. Once they understood, I think they rather than feeling like they were making mistakes, they were able to see that they were giving us exactly what we needed.
In almost every western there is one quick scene when the cowboy goes home just to say bye again. It does not matter what his wife says, he always leaves. On the second day, I got to use the camera for just enough time to record one talent reading the script. I felt a lot like the wife in the western that day. The shot was already aligned, the white balance was already set, and there really was not anything that I could do. Sometimes being somewhere is more important than having a say, just like the wife being there for her children might have been more important than having a say.
I also had the ability to work as floor manager for a different talent. Being the floor manager is like being put in the center of a draw. The director is asking one question, audio needs a sound check, and the talent is asking another question. I did not realize how important this roll was until we were really shooting. The person in this position has to be quick, and focused. They are stopping all the bullets, and shooting them right back were they need to be directed.
The day before we stared shooting in the studio I tried to set up lighting for the shoot. We set up the lights, ran to the camera, changed the lights, then changed them again. We even put up the umbrella lights for the first time just to practice. When I do lighting I feel like a cowboy who has lost his horse. I see so much potential with lighting, I think that lighting is an incredible aspect of film, but I still do not know were to start looking for the lighting shot I have in my head. Aside from becoming an efficient umbrella light setter-upper, I suppose the most important aspect of lighting that I've learned is that I have a lot to learn.
In between each titled job, I did do some miscellaneous work: I moved the board for the talents to read the script, and for the cameras checking white balance. I took the batteries out of the mic-pack, and I helped turn off lights, and lower them after each day of film way over. Doing the miscellaneous work is like being the 5 year old boy who wants to leave with his dad to fight the Indians, but is only big enough to clean the horses, not to ride them. Even so, every little task is important to the production, and if everyone did a little more of the maintenance production work could be a lot smoother.
Finally, I was able to do some of the filming outside of class. The first day, we went to the writing center, shot some 'potential idea shots', spoke to people in the writing center about how they wanted this filmed, and even made note of lighting situations that would needed some attention. The second day of outside of class filming, we filmed the Center. I helped set up lighting, and acted as the student walking into the center. This was like finding a new cattle herd rounding them up, and taking it home. New footage for the entire class to enjoy!
-Yes'em, we are talkin' bout a real good shootin'. Dun learned a lot.
