Captains Log Star Date: 3003

So we are seeing Adam alot more than I thought we would this year, after the first meeting were it was stated we would be seeing less of him this year, I could only think well we barely saw him last year so we won't have any classes this year. Well I think this was a exaggeration on some level.

Adam's classes are always fun and relaxed but at the same time still engaging and interesting. Fridays class consisted of watching an episode of life on mars which I really enjoyed. I had never seen the first episode before, only small glimpses when my parents were watching it back home. I never took much interest in the show. Although after watching a full episode on friday, its definitely on the box set order list [/Amazon]

After the show had ended we then went to analyse themes from Teachers and the Shameless Tv show, which we had completed a number of de-constructive sheets about what the shows key points were, such as themes. It was interesting to actually take a step back and do this to a TV show as we have only ever done it for films. The point from this was to allow Adam to show us what key themes are present on most successful TV shows so we can see which formula works, and which ones not so well.

I felt this was an obvious step to take, but one I would have never of thought of doing by myself. To sit back and see what themes make a good engaging TV show that the public can connect with. I will be applying this to any TV show package I think up of in the future.

Over all a brisk and fun class I felt, I took away a number of new key steps I will be applying to my ideas and feel I would be better prepared pitching an idea to commissioners as Adam put it, you just want to be able to give them the key points/themes of your show.


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Andy's class on Tuesday was a Factual Research Class.

I find myself warming more and more to these classes, I find myself understanding more and more on how to approach situations that arise in documentary making, and well I'm sure one day I will find myself working on one in some area or another. These skills such as moral and ethical decision making I find most interesting, as we all think we can make the right decision when a difficult one arises. But when you sit down and actually think about it more, its interesting to see that the decision you thought was right may not be the right moral or ethical decision given the circumstances.

I think these classes are arming us with the necessary tools in which to deal with those grey moral zones that pop up from time to time. Although I'm sure I will never encounter a BNP disabled children teacher with a sex offender husband in my life time, although at least I know how to deal with that if it ever arrises *RUN!*

I do like these classes as it does tell us stage by stage about the different aspects of factual film making and how to approach each area, which in the long run will make us better film makers. I am never going to be a person who can interview someone, its just not who I am, I could never push anyone to reveal anything they didn't want to. But this is just one aspect of this medium, I am definitely more interested in factual film making now than what I was at the start of the Academy year.