Failure Versus Success

I had a lot of failure last month. My script for the 2:30 minute narrative film didn't get chosen and the one I did co-direct turned out quite shit. Then I pitched my 10 minute narrative film which also didn't get chosen. It seems my year group don't like experimental films, something I find quite irritating. Next year we have to pitch our ideas to some people from HBO. Being from a television company I'm guessing they are going to be looking for commercial ideas, not experimental niche market stuff. So it seems I'm screwed next year too and won't actually get to make one of my own ideas/scripts whilst being at university.

The only outside the box thing I've managed to do is Dance Experiment I, which I go more into below. What I would call a success, but only just.

Following up from last months post, here is the soundtrack to Distant Donors composed by my friend Tom Law:

Distant Donors (Soundtrack) - Tom Law

I've finished shooting for Jessie Dyer's short documentary/music video, and am going to start editing it soon, so I can finish it for the end of the month.

I finished work on Waiting Room, which to be honest I've very disappointed with. But you learn from you mistakes so I feel I've learnt a lot.

On the other hand, I am quite proud with how my dance film has turned out. I experimented with camera movement and camera choreography within a screendance in an attempt to make a unique screendance that can not be seen live. Whilst my film could be seen live, you couldn't experience it in the same way, and I feel that the way I have shot the dance definitely improves on it. I did over do it a bit in terms of dancer/camera eye contact, but otherwise I think I've done quite well with the equipment/facilities/dancers available.

The music is actually twice as fast as it should be, because I wanted to slow the film down by 50%. However, since I didn't shoot the film at a higher frame rate, when slowed down by this amount it looked quite horrid. But also in terms of the dance itself, it just lost all its energy. I think they would have to dance twice as fast again and I would have to move the camera twice as fast in order for it to still keep it's energy when slowed down.

I've called the film Dance Experiment I because I'm hoping to make more dance experiments. My next one I am hoping to do after Easter and am thinking about playing with editing for this experiment, and filming a dance that is a cross between tap and flamenco. Seeing as my ideas never seem to get picked, I guess it's up to me to go and do something about it. The only trouble is making an experimental narrative film will take money, something that people on my course won't want to be spending since they will have already spent it on their 10 minute narrative films. Plus after we finish the 10 minute films, everyone will be going home for the summer, so no one will really want to hang around. And people is what I will need in order to create a set for the world my 10 minute experimental narrative film is set in. This is why I want to make Dance Experiment II, because the only people I need to make this film are dancers, who have all expressed a keen interest in doing more dance films.

The 10 minute film I am working on is called Forgotten. Since my idea did not get picked after what I thought was quite a successful pitch I am not directing this film, which has put me on a bit of a downer. But I have taken on the role of cinematographer and been given free reign with how the film is shot. Therefore, I'm going to stamp my mark on this film with my amazing shooting. Or at least that's the plan.

But whilst my 10 minute script, Masque, didn't get chosen I am still hoping to make it one day. Just like all my other ideas I guess. One day success will find me, or rather, I'll find success.