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The Makings Of A Collaborative Project

Okay I was reading the blog entry, from one of my fellow classmates in my Masters of Media Production course “All Along the Watchtower“, and I have to admit I am glad that I am not the only one who thinks that collaboration can be a disastrous endeavor if not “handled with care”.

I find collaboration in class situations often difficult due to the different goals people are trying to achieve. Some are just trying to get through the course, while others are trying to do well. I often prefer to work alone but only because I know that I will get the work done, I am not a big advocate of “free loaders”. I will get the work done, on time and in fact I will get work done with time to spare.

I am extremely committed to a task when I put my mind to it. Yes, many people perceive this as bitchy or snobby, but actually it’s neither. I am simply not a procrastinator. Once again people can find this tough attitude a turn off, but the truth is when people work with me or for me and they are hard workers I am incredibly supportive and easy going.

There are so many studies for and against collaboration. Does collaboration necessarily create better outcomes than individuals “going solo” on a project? In an attempt to become more “collaboration focused” I decided to do a little research into the subject and ascertain what the pros and con’s of collaboration are.

So here are some of my findings:

1) One of the most important elements existent in collaboration is the desire for the same outcome/goals as those you are involved with. If you and those you are collaborating with do not share the same set of goals then naturally you will not view collaboration as a success. When there is disagreement about creative goals, then working as part of a group requires some compromise on the part of each individual.

2)Compromise: being part of group always requires a level of compromise.

3) Communication is paramount in collaboration. Collaboration requires an open dialogue both at meetings and between them.

4) Recourses: Collaborating on a project provides more information. The more people there are the more recourses and access to information exists.

5) Connectedness - members of this collaboration are connected and have established informal and formal communication.

6) Collaboration is to make the group, more than the sum of its parts.

The reality is that most artistic projects nowadays involve some form of collaboration. It is virtually impossible to make a film with out collaborating with others. Sometimes we collaborate as equals and other times we collaborate in different positions of power.

Some famous collaborators where “The Beatles”. They were some of the first to pioneer such a form of collaboration in the current media climate “a group of relative equals, all sharing creative responsibility, and working together synergistically, thus elevating the group as a whole to the status of auteur.” The groups name “Beatles” only added to this new working arrangement

Artistic groups involve both synergy and compromise. This recipe however does not preclude the desire for individual expression and the cohesion necessary to form a group.

The question remains, Why Collaborate? The answer is simple when the right synergy exists, the group becomes more than the sum of its parts.

Resources:
Collaboration

In response to T.Sutherlands blog entry “Old Man Time”.

Mr. Sutherland, I to know the feeling of the pinch in the wallet. When you want to create something that you believe in, at the end of the day you are the one that has to pay the bills! But, I must say I am extremely happy for you, its sounds as though everything went really well, and its fun to hear about your trials after listening to your initial pitch in class.

Anyway, I thought I too would share some of my thoughts from shooting. Like Travis, learning about different camera equipment, media tools and production techniques in class is a necessity but nothing prepared me for doing my own film. Learning to negotiate all the separate aspects involved in creating a production was an incredible opportunity.

Furthermore, I must admit at the start of this entry I will never produce and direct at the same time again. The pressure was immense and the actual job simply too big for one person.

In my personal life I can get stressed over mundane tasks, but in my professional life I know that I keep my cool no matter what. And, I must admit I felt I held true to this. We often had 5.30am call times, and I was up at 4.30 preparing, tea, coffee and equipment for everyone. I felt as director, it was important for me to be the most positive person on set. Being the Producer and director means I had to worry about every little thing, and if an actor did not feel they were getting enough attention they had no problems with letting me know.

On the other hand, my crew was some of the most professional people I have ever had the privilege of working with. Jacob Simkin, the DOP, and I spent many hours prior to shooting discussing the style I wanted to achieve. Consequently, he always new exactly what look I was going for, and the soft ambient lighting he created further enhanced my vision. My two female Gaffers were the least experienced crew on the film. However, their incredible work ethic and “can do” attitude would have made you think they were seasoned veterans. Voula V, was in charge of “continuity”, her professional attitude made us all step up our game.

My dear friend and first AD, Dechantel Green ensures that the set ran smoothly and actors were firmly put in their place if they arrived late. This allowed me to play the “good” guy so that I could still achieve great performances from everyone involved.

As for my CAST!!! I have to comment on the performance of the two lead actors Brett Kay and Prag Bhatia. Although Brett found film acting a little difficult on first day of shooting, by the final day, he was a pro. His final performance was a truly memorable piece. Prag, was immediately comfortable in front of the camera, and the camera “loved her”! Every performance she gave was perfect. I would love to fault something about her acting, but I was overwhelmed with her presence in front of the camera. In one scene where she confronted family members, her performance was so strong that every member of my female crew was crying by the time she stopped.

As for my performance! I have to be honest if I started I would write pages and pages of criticism. I am after all, my harshest critic.

Musical Short Film:

For the last six months I have been working on a Short film “Bollywood” musical. The reason I decided I wanted to work on a Bollywood musical is because I wanted to do something “fun”. I know that may sound lame, but it is the truth. I wanted to work on a film that both cast and crew would enjoy collaborating upon. Something that would inspire happiness in both those working on it and those who watched it. I have always believed that people go into the film industry so that they enjoy their chosen profession.

In an attempt to create a Bollywood meets Moulin Rouge flavor I started to research not only Bollywood films but also Hollywood musicals. I discovered that the first ever film to incorporate sound was the musical “The Jazz Singer” As musical films progressed there was a big inclination to simply re-create stage musicals into film musicals. This is a technique that Baz Luhrman has since developed. However, re-creating musicals on film allows the director to highlight and present the production in a different manner. The use of space is dealt with very differently, giving the audience a different experience to what they would have if they saw the musical as a stage production. Thus, the clear progression and beauty of film are highlighted.

One of the techniques used during the big musical film era was that the actor would treat the camera as the audience. He or she would play to the camera as thought it were the audience, often looking straight into the camera. Once again this is a technique that Baz Lurhman uses in his three works, Strictly ballroom, Moulin Rouge and Romeo and Juliet . It is a technique, which he referred to as the red curtain. Furthermore, his blatant use of it is something I love watching. I started working in theatre before crossing over to film, and consequently the “over the top” nature of stage is something I also try to recreate in my film projects. While filming, some members of my crew (classically trained in film and TV) could not understand why I would ask my actors to look into the camera. Although I was hesitant at first, I really liked the stylistic shots created when they would treat the camera as the person they were confronting or singing to. It allows the audience to feel as thought they are apart of the action and not just a fly on wall observing the action.

What I also appreciated about Moulin Rouge, and what made it different to Bollywood musicals is that the stars sang their own songs. For some reason, regardless of how real it may look I wanted my lead actors to be able to sing their own songs. I did not want them lip sinking to someone else’s voice. I think it was a personal hang up of mine, but nonetheless, it was something I wanted to achieve. All but two of the actors I ended up casting sang their own songs, however, I did compromise some acting ability to get people who could sing and act. Where I could not make an exception was that I needed two Indian dancers who could sing and dance. As this proved impossible to achieve I had two Indian dancers mime to two other singers. I must admit I liked the results more than I thought I was going to, and if I had the chance to do some things over I probably would have chosen more actors to mime.

Another film, which inspired me, was “Chicago” . The Broadway hit adapted to the film screen made use of genre of film. Re-creating the musical allowed much of the action to be represented through the leading actors imaginations. It was wonderful to see how the person would transport themselves from their real location to where they viewed themselves. In my first draft of my screenplay I made lots of use of transporting people to different places, making use of ones imagination. However, due to logistics this was an idea I was not able to carry through.

I would not want to finish this blog entry with out highlighting that I did also watch many, many Bollywood films to study their techniques and get ideas, but that is an entry yet to be written.

Line Producer

In a previous blog I highlighted the different types of producing roles that exist “ Different Roles Of Producers” . I did it for myself to clarify the issue, and also because I was tired of people believing that the only thing producers did was attain money.

Consequently, it was of particular excitement for me when Line Producer Elisa Argenzio was scheduled to give us “workshops” on the art of producing.

From what I ascertained in our first workshop the “Line Producer” is the glue that sticks a film or television project together. A Line Producer is one of the first people who join’s the “Producer” in the project. Once the L.P is hired their role is to immediately find an office location, put a working office together and hire many of the crewmembers. The line producer then consistently oversees the process, including receiving detailed reports during the actual filming period.

As Elisa continued to lecture us, I began to wonder what a line producer does not do? The role appears to be very broad and incredibly demanding. I think the best type of line producers would be people with incredible interpersonal skills and organizational skills. It seems that the L.P is also required to do PR work and HR work.

Furthermore, an LP needs to be a person who is very organized. A consistent set of checks and balances would need to be in place to ensure that nothing slips through. In all honesty, this is not a position I would wish to attain. It is an incredibly meticulous job. It does not allow any room for creativity, which is something I really enjoy. On the other hand, a Line Producer has a hand in everything else.

Elisa was able to give us a detailed understanding of everyone’s positions.

One area Elisa also handles is that of “Contracts”. As a former law student I must admit one of the most interesting areas of the law to me was “Contract law”. Contact law and copywriter law are to very important areas of the law for artists. However, as artists we tend to want to believe that such mundane issues do not affect us. Nonetheless, the reality is if we do not protect our “ideas”, which is all we posses as artists then we shall be left with nothing. Contracts are one of the most powerful tools artists may learn to use.

The following are some points I found interesting raised by Elisa:

∑ Gaffers should have their own insurance.
∑ Location agreement! In the location agreement there should be a stipulation that if the owner changes their mind they need to notify the producer seven days prior to the shoot date.
∑ Most crew in Australia work fifty-hour week, which gives them ten hours a day to film.
∑ You have to purchase rights to artist’s performance.
∑ There are different contracts for feature films and TV shows.
∑ AFC will look at you more highly if you have a known consultant on your application.

Great quote from Elisa “Who ever is the hungriest will go the furthest!”

As we continue to pursue our Jewish Singles project. We are faced with many different avenues and information to decipher.

Although monogamy is on the rise, people are entering I into marriages much later in life. If young people are enjoying all the benefits of marriage with out the added “piece of paper” why should they tie the knot? For an increasing number of couples, pregnancy and childbirth are becoming key factors behind the decision to get married. “Despite the emergence of more liberal attitudes towards matrimony, the institution of marriage itself remains extremely popular. There are presently few concrete signs that marriage is losing any of its appeal and surveys indicate that the majority of people wish to marry.” Resource

Consequently, what is occurring is that marriage is still a desirable institution to many, however what is different is how people are entering into relationships, why they choose to get married and what age they choose to marry at.

At Stanford university a study revealed that “. On a whole range of measures of mental health - suicide, depression, nervous breakdowns - single men do worse than married men, but single women do better than their married sisters”( Resource ). I have to be honest as a single women life is starting to look a lot better.

Another point highlighted is that there is a correlation to women in the workforce and women receiving equal pay to that of the increased number of divorces. It seems marriage was a far more desirable institution when women were expected to simply stay home and look after the kids and men were expected to provide financially.

The question then arises whey is marriage still such a desirable institution in small communities. I understand two people living together, caring for each other and building a life together. To support and love oneanother. But, is it necessary to have a big celebration, spend too much money on the celebration and walk away with a piece of paper claiming you own the other person as a property?

Two movies come to mind when I think about the importance of marriage related to small community minds. The first is “My big Fat Jewish Wedding”. Wow what a great film. As a young Jewish girl, who apparently should be married by now, my heart truly went out to her. But, once again the values that we were taught in the film are that she needed a man to be whole. Another film of similar substance was “Suzie Gold”. Once again the story of a nice Jewish girl who was only happy once she was with her prince charming. Not to mention every single girl was sold out by “Sex In The City”. The so-called single gal’s best friend! Every single character was happily paired off in the last episode.

With so many pressures from the media facing young women is it any wonder that the institution of marriage is still held as such a prize.

DAY ONE OF SHOOTING:

Yay, 5am call time. I made day one an early call time because I was worried about the weather. The shoot was all out doors and I wanted to get everything done before the streets were too busy or the rain came.

My make-up aertist was a wonderful person, but he likes to be early!!! The moment he arrived he began setting up and the house immediately became overrun with crew and cast.

I served everyone breakfast, with lots of coffee. Then the crew set off to Carlisle Street. Our first shooting location was at the Grocery store, they were lovely and even allowed us to plug in our lighting equipment.

We were set up and ready to go by the time the cast arrived. The first shots looked good, and I started to relax. John Saffran had a cameo performance in the second scene we shot, and we found ourselves constantly having to stop while admirers approached him. I would also like to make a side note to anyone thinking of shooting on Carlisle Street, if you don’t know what you are doing. Don’t worry everyone else does!

Anyway, it was a blessing that we started shooting so early because by 4pm it started to pour with rain. The final scene of the day needed to be re-located to home instead of north beach where it was supposed to be filmed.

DAY TWO SHOOTING: And The Rain Shall come.

Day two of shooting was our big Bollywood dance scene. We intended to shoot at the Hari Krishna Temple in Port Melbourne. Once again we had a 5am call time. This time I not only had crew at my home but also additional male and female dancers.

I have to mention I live at home with my family, and not one person complained when the doorbell started to ring at 4.30am! It’s true our families are our greatest assets.

Although everyone came to my home on time to get dressed they did not show up at the Temple until 10am! This was the only day I almost lost my temper. Consequently, we were rained out, and the shoot had to be postponed. We did however; still manage to do some shooting inside the temple.

DAY THREE SHOOTING: Unprofessional Dancers.

On day three of shooting we filmed at the Toorak Synagogue. The Temple was built in 1929, it is elaborate and ornate. The very size of the temple made it a perfect venue to film inside. Furthermore, the people who work at the Temple were so obliging and easy going. Brining so much equipment and people, often makes location managers nervous so the Temple’s easygoing nature made the shoot so much easier.

The day was very trying. We needed to shoot a large dance number with untrained dancers. By the end of the day everyone’s tempers were wearing thin.

Day Four: Re-shoot
We organized to re-shoot the large Bollywood dance number at the Hari Krishna temple. The day flowed like a well-oiled machine. We were done ahead of schedule and professional dancers made the day a breeze.

Day Five: Last Day
This was the most taxing day emotional for my lead cast members, not to mention long. We had four location changes, and everyone had to stay on the move. My darling mother helped prepare a large lunch to serve to everyone to keep moral high. One of the things I thought was most important on my set was “food”, everyone was working for free. Consequently, I took the role of providing decent food very seriously. I always ensured there was extra food and that everything was fresh and healthy.

DAY Five was a success and we toasted each other with a some hard wisky at the end of the long day.

Okay, okay so I am skipping a few steps like postproduction. But, once my short film is complete….”where to next?” its not good enough to just make a short film or documentary.

The documentary and short film I am creating will ultimately be my resume. Consequently real time needs to be invested into how best to distribute my resume.

I think it’s very much a marketing related endeavor. So I decided to do a little research into this. I wanted to think about the future, it keeps me motivated and focused. So where better to start my education than with Edward De Bonos new book “The Six Value Medals” (published 2005)

It is very important for me, when thinking about my projects to think about what is different and unique about them. But, I am also aware this will still not be enough. It is not enough to simply have made a short film; thousands of young filmmakers every year make great new short films. If they don’t spend the time marketing and selling their products (which is most likely themselves) then their time spent on the project was wasted.

“To forge ahead in careers we need to add value to what we can offer. So if everything is becoming a commodity available to everyone what can we offer that is different?”

How can I stand out in an industry where there are so many talented individuals? How can I make my project of interest to future employees? More importantly how can I make “me” of interest to future employees?

I know the most important thing to do is first get my foot in the door. I have already begun to research places where I would like to work, or with whom I would like to discuss future ideas. I have spoken to many producers in the industry and have attempted to start to create relationships with them Relationships which I hope in the future will allow me through the door. I also know that we are often only given one shot by people. Meaning we are given one opportunity to sell ourselves, as viable and profitable commodities.

“When everything becomes a commodity what is going to matter is the ability to design and deliver value. That needs creative and design thinking”.

At this point I have to hope that my ideas are different, or at least that I present them differently. I also know that after doing this course; I view “emerging” media trends in a different light. The potential of new media ideas is paramount. Where the entertainment industry is going, and my knowledge of this is something I do believe can put me a step ahead.

“Human thinking is the most important recourse we have and there is a great deal of room for improvement. “

Its important to remember when entering a pitching session or trying to get a job, that we are shaping the perception of those inside. If you want people to see things in a certain way, you may need to shape perceptions.

We are all advertisers, just in this case are advertising ourselves.

Some Groovy Quotes To Remember: especially when in production mode.

“Never loose your head or you could end up looking ridiculous”

“There will always be someone waiting in the wings or lurking in the shadows.”

“Plan your course of action before you attend your meeting”

“If you are left to do the dirty work try and focus on the big picture”

“Don’t be afraid of falling you will eventually get the hang of it.”

“Be discreet and avoid gossip”

“Start early finish late.”

All the above Quotes came from “Soft Landings” by Margaret Polglase (published 2004 by Holland Publishers)

Jewish men In Melbourne

I believe the start of my collaborative project occurred in a truly organic process. My dear friend and I attended a short film night down in St.Kilda. She had wanted to see a short film on dating techniques…or something like that. As two single girls in Melbourne we like to compare our styles with others, and so the film sounded interesting. I am sad however to report that it was not that funny. It had some really good ideas, but lacked the ability to follow through with them. Nonetheless, it got her and I talking about all our little dating experiences and all the weird things that had happened to us in a six-month span.

Okay, this is where a little background information is needed. We are both in our late twenties, university graduates, from non-divorced families and not native Melbournians. Furthermore, nowadays we only date Jewish Men, in keeping with our cultural and religious beliefs. Consequently, what is apparent is that our recent experiences are only representational of Melbourne Jewish Men ranging in age from about 22-32. Some of the stories we have are simply weird and others sad. However, they are all interesting. No, we are not trying to be the new age “Sex In the City” chicks because neither of us gets laid as much they do, but I think this might be a more honest account of a single chicks journey. Besides who knows by the time this thing is finished one of us might actually be married……..you might not think so after you see the film.

Anyway, back to the collaboration element! Once the concept emerged our ideas began to flow.

Lighting And Camera Work

In our recent camera and lighting workshop with Matt Blackwood we had a discussion about the role of the DOP (director of photography). Having the conversation put my mind at rest regarding the separate roles of the DOP and director.

The DOP I asked to shoot my short film was much more accomplished than myself. Consequently, I was unsure where my role ended and his began. Furthermore, I was nervous to tell a person so much more experienced than myself what to do. What I ascertained from the conversations, which transpired in the lecture, is that each Director and DOP have their own unique way of operating together. The duo spend time both prior and during the work, understanding their joint positions. One should find a DOP that believes in their work, so that the collaboration flows freely.

“If people don’t understand visual they will not understand story. You must understand story first”. (Matt Blackwood)

Although many people do not realize the director of photography is as important as the film “director”. It is important to find a DOP who loves the script, and shares the same vision as the director. There are many great DOP’s (list) but if they do not suite the script they are not the best person for the job. Another reason the DOP is so important is because the director must feel confident in there abilities. Feeling confident in the abilities of those around them allows a director to focus all their energy upon the “actors”, and this is the most important element for a director to concentrate on while on set.

What I also found important in our camera workshops was some of the “fundamental ratio issues” Blackwood outlined. I think it is always important to know every rule, and then you can break them! As a student who majored in Psychology I found it fascinating to analyze some of the ideas as to where to put elements onto a camera grid. As Westerners we read right to left, consequently it is advised to put the “goodies” on the right and the “baddies” on the left. You want your audience to relate to your characters, so you ensure that the first character they see is the one they can relate to. What is also interesting about this theory is how it pertains to other cultures that read right to left or up and down. Clearly, it must change the positioning of their characters?

Another member of the team who needs to work closely with the DOP is the art department director. The art department might do a fabulous job, but if their work is not created to be positioned in the shot then it becomes a pointless task. Furthermore, the art department must work with the DOP to know what is in shot and what is going to be lit and what is not going to be lit.

Another point that I thought was a great “hint”, was that many of the shots the DOP takes are “safety shots”. They take the shot just in case the directors ideal shot does not work out or does not edit well.

For me the main thing I garnered from this lecture was that all DOP Director relationships are different, so I just have to do my own thing.

This blog continues my initial thoughts and understanding promulgated in my blog “Mobile Phone Movie Requirement“. After writing the post I also came across an entry by one of my MMP classmates titled “iPod Mobile Phone”. My classmate, Oyven, also highlighted the rise of the iPod, but he also commented on the monopoly that Apple has within the industry. Although I am a big advocate of the products and changes Apple has brought to the media industry I don’t believe in any organisation having a monopoly.

However, with regard to my phone movie the following are the main concerns I previously highlighted:
1) Size of image screen.
2) Sound.
3) Use of written or spoken English, re-target audience.
4) Size of file.

Prior to writing a script for the short film I wanted to do further research into ESL students and what types of films they might enjoy. ESL students vary greatly in their degree of understanding the English language. For example we have many ESL students in our Masters program. Some of them speak English better than most of the Australians in the class, while others appear to grapple with simple words.

I work at a school part time so I decided to talk to the head of the ESL department to find out what issues I should be most concerned about, and to run some ideas past them. I also chatted to my project partner, who is also an ESL student. However, the problem with her is that she is not a typical ESL student. Her spoken English and understanding of English are too good for us to base any research criteria upon. I think we were aiming somewhere more in the middle ground.

What I ascertained from research on ESL students:
* There is no one type of ESL student. Some can speak English but can not write it and others can read and write but are unable to speak English.
* Some ESL students can not read or write (since the ESL students the movie is catering for are in an ESL program, I am assuming they can at least read basic English).
* Avoid the phonetic alphabet.
* Try and use the three line system when writing, that English speakers learn when first writing. Capitals go all the way to the top and small letters only go half way
* Written words must be clear.

Once I had a basic understanding of what would be best suited to ESL students I started brainstorming some ideas. I knew I wanted it to be visually funny so that even if the words were not understood the message would still be conveyed visually.

I wanted the “sound” to be an addition but not a necessity. Thus, I wanted there to be music which enhanced the film but if the person was in a noisy area and did not have an earpiece they could still view the film.

With those parameters set I was inspired by early silent films, especially Charlie Chaplin. Chaplin was most known for his vagrant like character. He always wore clothes too large for him, which added to his physical humour. Chaplin’s over the top humour, which is still applauded, and laughed at by current viewers was my primary inspiration.

How could I create an over the top character in a brief period of time, with out the use of sound?

With all these facts, and ideas, the following is the film script which developed:

First Kiss Script:

Title: First Kiss.

Written words: The style the words are written in is similar to a dictionary style.

Kiss: Touch with lips esp. As sign of love affection.

Scene 1: A young overweight teenage boy standing by a door. The light further highlights the sweat dripping from his forehead.

Words:
Anxious: troubled, uneasy, causing anxiety

Scene 2:
The overweight boy is sitting next to a cute teenage girl. They are both facing foreword and we assume they are whetting a film. The boy pretends to need something on the opposite side of the girl and leans across her. When he is close to her he kisses her on the cheek! The girl appears disgusted.

Wording:
Pounce:
1. Swoop down upon and seize,
Make sudden attack seize eagerly.

Scene 3: The young girl slaps the boy across the face and storms off!

Wording:
Reject:
1) Put aside as not to be accepted

Scene 4: The boy raises his arm in excitement. He has a big grin across his face.

Wording Score you are the man!

Music: Simple operatic style music, to further intensify the comic nature of the short film

My partner down-loaded the short film to her blog, so feel free to view it “The Kiss”.

The final point I would like to add is that when creating a mobile phone movie is that the size of the file is all-important. I made a simple very short film, but the size still needed to be greatly condensed to be able to be sent. I recently read an article “A better browser for cell phones?“which dealt with the subject, but was more focused on Internet browsing on small screens. Nonetheless, its a great article which already highlights the move to small screen’s and the immanent battle for the best technology to reach these screens.