Showlight

After coming back from Showlight here are my thoughts on the experience of the event. Well anytime I walk into that BBC building my first thoughts are always just 'waw' what a cool building. The atmosphere feels very relaxed and easy going, although I'm sure some people who work their will have a different view on this.
After being introduced to the BBC staff we would be working with and after Gareth's look of horror when he seen four students sat in his work area. He was a really cool guy but it soon became obvious that although his job is essential there is a reason the BBC have only one vision guy attached to that studio, because it takes only one guy to do. So for him to try and spread any work over four students was just never going to happen. Alot of it was waiting around for something to go wrong, even then if something did go wrong only he could sort it so wasn't a terribly exciting experience being absolutely honest. Although was good seeing how a studio control room operated. But being on vision for two days was a little bit too much.
After being in a darkened room for two days watching the event on a wall mounted television I was sent to the electrician to see how his job worked, but after an even more look of horror from him he disappeared on me so was back to the control room for me.

My next attachment was Sound, but having everything already been set up on day one, it consisted of standing at the side of the audience holding a microphone for the Q&A. But was alot better being on the studio floor than the control room at-least.

Overall was a good experience seeing how a studio worked, or as much as I did get to see in the time I was their. I would question the timetable set up. Some of us including myself didn't get a role on camera at all, which to be fair was the main role aside from VT operator. I do feel some of the other jobs such as Electrician and such where put their to make up the numbers of the class and didn't serve any real learning purpose.

Asides from this it has shown me the people behind the the camera and how their jobs work and what they do, which was such a learning curve, and something I won't be forgetting in awhile.



The dinner we attended was the scariest thing I have done in awhile, I knew in the back of my mind I was going to be sat in a posh restaurant sat beside important people then being presented with a meal I would have to force down. I am the biggest fussiest eater alive. Even with some tips from Paul who is just like me when it comes to food did help but as soon as we were made to swap tables, I was on my own. As soon as i entered the restaurant and just saw the level of 'posh-ness' was one of those 'Oh Sh*t' moments, how was I going to hide the fact I wasn't eating the food!

I sat their thinking, it won't be that bad...It can't be!? ... can it? Me hating fish with a passion, even just the smell of it makes me feel sick. And what do we get for starters? Prawns with smoked Salmon! I don't know but the look of horror on my face must have been a sight. But luckily Murdo bailed me out and I sneakily passed him my plate when he had finished his.
Then the sound that send shivers down my back, swap tables time! Yay fun times :l
Luckily seconds wasn't as bad...or well bad for me I mean to say. I did manage to eat enough to remain under the radar. Being sat on my own in a table filled with old men, was well plain scary. I sat in silence for a long time that felt like forever. Then Luke the saviour sat beside me after having his seat stolen. Well what a mistake that was, the man he sat beside then persisted on talking to him about stage lighting for the next half hour, which coming from a man who had obviously had a few glasses of wine was hilarious to see Luke trying to look interested.

But we soon bailed out after a short while and rdndevouded with the rest of the class who had similar horror stories. But as much as I have just seemingly slated it. It was an enjoyable night overall.


Overall a very good experience at Showlight and a good learning curve, and as much as it pained me getting up at 6:30 every morning I would do it all over again in a second. But maybe being attached to Editing this time :)




Charlottes script was the lucky script to be commissioned with a £1000 budget and double the crew, a good decision in my view to combine the crews and budget. Just seems to make more sense having one really good film than to average films. Me being one of the keen editor of the class put my name down beside being one of the editors of the script. But obviously having one or two roles attached for the filming shooting dates itself, which as surfaced as 'Continuity Photographer' With Phil the other editor being the Continuity Supervisor. So we will only have ourselves to blame if we have to cut around continuity problems in post. But me and Phil being awesome, this won't happen ... obviously

Nothing really else to report, other than Abigails production class today which consisted of watching 'Floating is Easy' a film we did a script break down on. I shall leave my thoughts on this movie for another time, as I may just feel the need to jump of a near by bridge. Asides from this we also went through the elements of production from a seemingly never ending checklist of roles and production elements. This was all very good but was a task to keep myself focused after role twenty.

Very much looking forward to filming date itself, and look forward to see a how the production crew find a 'Juggling Minor'