little end of term review

right, another term gone, time to do a little review so I dont forget where to look when I need to reference.

Mainstream lectures and seminars
all lectures and seminars this term had been based around the project - 4 minute non-fiction documentary production. I found all the lectures and seminars really helpful as it reassured me that I was on track doing the right thing, and to be fair, not much chance of going off track and going wrong at all!

Voluntary group meetings to aid project production
those were fun - it helped put into perspective what it is like working as part of a team - especially from a producers' point of view. Prior to this term I had little knowledge of what the role of a producer is. Sure I knew what they do, but I didn't know know what they do if you get me.
I had always thought it was pretty easy but turns out it was a demanding role - so much so I felt I was smack in between the directors' orders and the rest of the team who're disagreeing to the director.

External amatuer jobs
for PhoenixPlus.co.uk - two videos this term for them - however I will no long be violating music copyrights as all videos for next term will use music from a different source.
I felt I have benefitted from the external amatuer experience - though it may not be the real deal, it is still practice and improvments happens with practice and reflection.
this will be an on-going battle

Books I've read to aid study

1/The Technique of Documentary Film Production by W.Hugh Baddeley
a useful book for me as it put into perspective how a production of a documentary is managed. Though some details are slightly out of date(such as sycning audio with visual) the basics are evergreen and fundamentally they will never change.

I thank god for this book - this was my Bible for the term - this was the book that kept me a step ahead of the game and kept me organised, whilst raising questions that otherwise nobody else would've ever thought about. Key to my sucess this term I think.

2/Lighting for Digital Video & Television by John Jackman
an extremely technical book explaining all the physics I once aced in back at college but have forgotten. Volts, Watts, basic Physics theories like the Kevin scale (which to be honest I have never thought about prior to encountering the chapter in the book). Real useful technical background stuff that just fills all the gap in your knowledge and all that I've ever wondered about lighting and the science attached to it.

In the duration of reading this book, I had many 'ahhh I see now' moments.

3/Making Short Films by Clifford Thurlow
Lots of useful resources, plenty of 'reflection' sections at end of each chapter and in between to aid self learning - such as '10 things you should ask yourself when writing a script'.

Personally I found it a pretty general book of how it's done, but there is not much on how to do it.

I've just started out on a new book too
In the Blink of an Eye - A perspective on Film Editing by Walter Murch
awesomely interesting - made me realise things I never thoght about before, bringing me a brand new perspective of how to look at it. So far so good. A full review will be included at the end of all this definately.



Pretty good term i think. Productively fun and actively enjoyable.