2.1       Explain the working culture of the film industry

What is it like working in the film industry? (Consider hours, travel, freelance, working on set and budget. What are the pressures? What are the positives and negatives?)

Working in film industry is fun, its hard for sure because you have to move from place to place all the time, you have to work for hours without rest because working in film is a team work and needs to be done in organised way, if you don’t finish on time you are not the only one who is waste your time and money, your team also waste their time. So, the pressure is high but its fun at the same time, because if you can work in high pressure situation, you can develop a problem-solving skills and creativity skills.

What qualities do you need to work in the film industry? (E.g. Showing initiative, taking responsibility, good time management, knowing your specialism)

Working in film industry needs absolute dedication to it. Creativity and flexibility are the most needed qualities in film industry, because sometimes you must change and update your ideas on set or in post-production. You also must be responsible for your own work, if you are not responsible the result is going to be horrible. As I said earlier time is very important in film industry because film is a team project and if you don’t use your time or if you are not good in time management you can dismiss all team’s plan and you can easily fail. The other important quality you need to work I film industry is knowing your specialism; if you really know what is good and bad about you you can focus in your good side and improve your specialities, but if you don’t know your good side you try to improve the wrong one and its really hard because you are not special in it and you cant be creative in your weakness.

What have you learned about the working culture of the industry from masterclasses and working on your own film production?

I learned that communication skill is the best skill in film production from masterclasses and from working on my own film production, because all you do in film is perfect with communication. When I was taking masterclass, I learned that time keeping, creativity and communication is make a film great, and when I worked on my project I prove these things.

2.2       Describe a range of key job roles and responsibilities in the film industry

VFX Art; VFX required creating images or sequences on a computer using computer software. VFX artists create realistic visual image using software. VFX also needs green and blue screen skills. Drawing and illustration is most needed skills in VFX. 

Director; to become a film director, you must be creative and imaginary. The Director instructs cast, director of photography, crew and everyone involve in the production to visualize what he imagines.  Director focus in details from beginning to the end of the production. 

Screen writer; Screen writers write screenplays for film or Tv. Their role is to create a story based on fiction or real story.  Screen writers writes their screenplay in very dramatic and artistic way.  To be a screen writer you must have very high descriptive writing skills, and you must be creative to manipulate your ideas into successful story. Screenwriters understand the emotion, plot, setting and the way it will work into screen. By writing your own screenplays you can improve your writing skills, you don’t have to get a degree for screen writer.

Director of photography; Directors of photography are responsible for the photographic side of a production. They read the screenplay and work closely with the director to discuss the look and feel of a film. On each day of filming, DOP’s and their camera crews arrive early to set up and prepare for shooting.

DOP always discuss with the director about every move of the camera. DOP is always responsible about the composition, camera setting, and camera angle and camera movement.

DOP are good at how to tell a story using a camera, know how to build an emotion using a camera, good understanding of camera techniques and composition. DOP are also good at understand editing because the raw footage is affecting the editing. DOP is good at understanding lighting and sound techniques.

Editor; Editors are work with the director closely to decide how to finish the result.  Once filming starts, they look at the rushes each day, checking technical standards and the emerging sense of story and performance and editing it into a series of scenes.

Editors are good at story telling by using cuts, pictures, rhythms and tension. Editors also good at making sense by adding music and sound effects. Editors are good at Using edit software: be adept with tools like Avid Media Composer, Adobe Premier, Final Cut and Lightworks.

These all roles are work together from pre-production to post production,  the director contact with everybody to accomplish his vision, first the writer and director plan the story then a director of photography discus with the director to plan his shot and the director sit with the editor and they do the editing part, finally VFX artist add some effects and if the director satisfied everything is done.

2.3       Outline the potential progression routes into the film industry and wider sector

I have learned a lot about potential progression routes into the film industry. There are many ways to involve in film industry, firstly you can learn the basics of media, especially film and TV and this could lead you to   apprenticeships or any film related courses. You can find Entry level jobs as assistant or Crew in any studios or films, and this can help you to progress. If you apply for apprenticeship you can improve your knowledge and you can learn the work ethics of film production, and the best thing about apprenticeship is you can go to University or other upper courses.

If you are in college learning level 3 film and TV, you can easily go to university. While you’re studying at university you can work with friends or you can produce your own work so that you become a film maker and start introducing your films to people in festivals or websites, this is the way to communicate with actors and filmmakers and in general your audience. If you start creating your own work you can hire actors and other filmmakers to help you in your project, or you could work in other projects.

BFI Film Academy also give a great opportunity to reach your goal and to show your talent, so you can see what you can do and what BFI film academy could help and that is effective progression.

Personal Progression Plan

I would like to work in cinematography and editing, because I am more capable in practical work. I would like to go to University and study Film, TV and special effects, because I am studying Film, TV and special effects, and I want to continue with this course in university. The real reason I want to be a cinematographer and editor is because I am passionate to create new things using a camera and editing softwares.

I am interested in working with BBC, ITV and 3-mile studios, because this companies are very big and working with this companies will help me to produce my own artwork, and this is absolutely a dream.

The options for making my own content is to involve my friends in my work and creating something that help me to progress, creating my own portfolio also an option to show my work to people, for example; a website, YouTube channel or any social media  platforms.

I would make a short film or a music video with my friends, because I don’t have enough budget, but I would make a short film or a music video by few bucks. The options for funding and distribution is as I said earlier, I would make my product or I would create something fascinating before I ask for funding, when I make something good with small budget for my next project somebody could trust in me. If I distribute my own work in social media platforms and people like my work my next option would be working with small production companies which they fund me and distribute my work. Another option is showing my work in festivals.

I will join film festival networks big film companies and actors. I hope to improve my abilities and I hope to gain experience, the most important I hope to gain a teamwork experience and meeting people who can work with me. I am interested in workshops or short time courses in writing, directing, cinematography and editing. My next step is going to University and I am going to focus in creating my own short films.

Learning from Masterclasses

Industry Speaker: Daren Eagles, Rob Speranza, Catherine Cooper-Charles, Sally Cancello, Rebecca Mark-Lawson, Jim Wraith, Paul Fraser

What is their job? What does it involve?

Their job is filmmaking, they are producers, cinematographers, writers, directors, editors and more.

How did they start working in film/media?

Most of them started filming with their friends when they were young and they develop their skills, studying and with all this experience they become a filmmaker.

What have they done in their career?

In their career they made a film, they worked with big companies, they produce their own work and they become professionals.

What have you learnt about working in film/media?

I learnt a lot about working in film, for example, I learnt that communication is the key in film making. Teamwork also very interesting thing; a film is nothing without teamwork. One and the best I learnt about filmmaking is creativity, with all this technology I can create anything; I mean anything.

What opportunities for your own progression have you found out about?

I found out that I can create a video and I found out the opportunity to meet people who can work with me. I involve in one documentary film as an editor and I am about to make a short film in the next 4 months.