Something Different

So I'm at film school this year, which some of my readers may already know. For those of you that don't, well, there it is. I'm really enjoying it, and am learning a lot of practical skills for the industry. It's also only a 1 year course, so it's a really good turnaround time as far as tertiary qualifications go. It's not a full degree, but it's everything I'll need if I want to be working in the film and television industry (which I do).

As a part of this course the students choose a specialisation in either Production Management, Drama Directing and Scriptwriting, Documentary Directing, Camera Lighting and Audio, Post-Production or Art and Design. There's also a separate animation school and on screen acting course, but I digress...

I've gone for Drama Directing and Scriptwriting, mainly because I see it as being a natural extension of the writing skills I've built. I'm also taking optional skills in Presenting and Floor Managing, for the sake of diversification. As part of my specialisation I (surprise surprise) have to do some scriptwriting. I'm not new to the whole thing, having done some scripts for stage shows before, but working for the screen is still a challenge.

This last week, we did an in-school 48 hour film competition (viewings are this Friday...) We drew from a hat what style of film we would do, and were given a line, prop, character name and technical element we had to use. I drew found footage a la Cloverfield, Chronicle etc. To add to it, out cameraperson stated they wanted to make it a 1-shot film (a la Birdman).

Not afraid of a challenge, I opted for a stoner comedy parodying found-footage horror tropes by having paranoid stoners freaking out over nothing.

It was awesome.

I know this post is a bit ramble-y, but in truth I'm just enjoying the challenged of writing something totally different. We took something challenging, made it even more challenging and totally pulled it off. After a late night slapping a script together and fleshing out the major gags we set straight to filming the next day. We planned shots meticulously, often with me flailing my arms just out of frame to pass on directions to the actors (who were incredible, I might add). It was fun as hell, and to see it all come together so well in post the next day was a satisfaction I haven't felt in a long time.

I think I've made the right choice going into this industry. It's going to be hard work, and I'll go a long time before I make decent money (or even any money) but it's really satisfying work for me. In a way, it's exactly what I've been looking for.

Aside from a publisher, of course...