Film and Media Theory - Tutorial 26 February 2007 Thomas Bowen

For this tutorial we disscussed theories of Copjec. Which explore the idea of a world behind the screen instead of the screen being a mirrior on which we see our reflection, Lacan's theory which applies on a far too broad personality. We are told that the prime ideology of film theory is of a subject that misrecognises itself as the centre of the represented world. Film theory in notion turns out to be different from Larcan's theroy. Although misrecognition is supposed to mean that the subject fails to recognise there true relation to the visible world. It is questionable why the subject takes its position perspective bids it to take. Why?.
Copjec wants to know more beyond the screen where dose the subject come from and why are they the way they are. I recently watched a short film one that I can't relate to in a realistic world, but found myself asking questions which the film did not reveal on screen I was looking beyond the screen maybe. I wanted to know why things where the way they where and how the the subjects found themselves in this arena. Silent city contains a lot of trompe l'oeil(if I am interpriting this theory correct) Lacan says the imagery cannot itself provide the means that would allow the subject to transend it. Idon't belive this as I find myself go beyond the repesention in my own mind asking questions and imagining the answers myself.

13 November- For this class we learnt more about our upcoming project in the RTE studios. We specific spoke about the floor managers job and how it can be one of the hardest. Things such as safety on in the studio e.g having all wires taped down to prevent crew tripping up and making sure the lighting is hooked up properly to stop fires from occurring. We also talked about how the floor manager can improvise in case anything off screen happens. He has to keep to the schedule and make sure all the equipment is hot and ready to go. If there was an audience present the floor manager would be the one to orgaize them to clap and cheer. We where organized into our groups which would be visiting the studios in preperation for our project

8th November- For this tutorial we had Steven Murphy come in a speak to us as a guest lecture. He first of all spoke to us about the steady cam which we have recently been studying. He used one of our steady cam to give us a run down of how it works and how best to operate one. He felt the steady cam junior was completely inadequate for learning how to use a real steady cam. The whole class had a go of using the steady cam junior. Then Steven talked to us about the industry and how he actually started in special effects. He told us about his work experiences and different situations he had been in on a film set. He showed us some of his work which was very good and he ran through it with us while we watched. He gave the whole class a great insight into his line of work and how to get yourself working in his line of work. A great guest lecture.

5thNovember- For this class we where informed of our next project. This is to be a studio based production no less then five minutes long. We will be using the local RTE studios here in Dundalk. We have to organize into groups of 5 or 6. 3 camera operators 1 floor manager 1 vision mixer and 1 operations director. We where also informed in this lecture that we would be having Steven Murphy come and speak to us for our next camera and lighting tutorial. He is a famous steady cam operator and director of photography. We where given his site address to get some background information before the guest lecture arrived (www.stephen-murphy.com). I organized a group of us for our up coming studio project. James Carr, Karl Collins, Jeri Jang, Laura Cullen, Nacho and myself formed a group for the project.

Tutorial class (wholly dolly) For this tutorial we where shown how to use a wholly dolly which is a cheap light weight version of a big production dolly. We where first shown how to assemble the dolly tracks. Our lecturer layed down a protective stabilizer material which the tracks would lie on top of to prevent bumps from showing up on camera. Then we where taught how to attach the poles together which act as the tracks. They screw together and are put threw hoops on the protective lining for extra stability. The carridge that holds the tripod legs is a T shape, put together using screws. Stoppers are put at both ends of the track on the side where the carridge has two wheels. This prevents the dolly from leaving the tracks.The tripod fits into holes on the carridge T shape. The tripod is tied down as well for extra stability.
We where shown a special tripod head that is used for low angle shots looking up. We all went out to do some on location shooting with the dolly. This was good practice. I did a shot of the stairs from a side view. I filmed a class mate walking down the stairs using the dolly. I instantly saw how much potetial this piece of equipment had. The dolly can create some amazing shots and is an essential piece of equipment to have for film making.

For this tutorial we where introduced to a new piece of equipment. The steady cam junior which is used to increase steadiness when shooting. At the beginning of the lecture we watched a short extract from a tape introducing the steady cam. This gave us the advantages of using the equipment and the art it requires to master.
We had a steady cam in class which we studied. We looked at all the features which included a spirit level, built in monitor, hand grip, the stage, battery compartment and battery weight compartment. We also looked at the Guide and gimbal which are vital to giving the steady cam its flexibility.
The most important thing to learn about the steady cam junior is balacing the weight this can be done in a number of ways. The two main ways of doing this are to adjust the upper and lower Spar which shift the weight in the desired directions. Another way to balance the cam is to adjust the side trims, this moves the stage which the camera is balanced on, one for side to side and the other for forwards and backwards. Stop blocks can be used aswell to change the angle of the lower spar. The battery and weight compartment located on the lower spar has adjustable weights which can be set for the desired balance.
Myself and Jeri Jang went out to practice with the steady cam junior, we took some shots of ourselves walking. We also used the steady cam for a shoulder shot. We found it difficult to operate sometimes. The cameras we use (the mini DV cam and the pd170) are either to heavy or to light and it has been difficult to find the right balance for shooting.

For this class we listened to reports on the new daytime television show we were studying. We discussed set design, lighting, topics discussed and the presenters and their characteristics the hold. All of these factors contribute to the general mood the show projects and how people will receive it. The back ground was a reddish colour it also contained blue. The lighting was not so good as it was far to bright and gave it a tense up tight feel which is not particularly the mood a day time chat show should be going for.
We read an article from the Irish Times which reviewed the show. It was all negative as the critique attacked the show for its characters which describes the female of the pair to be intelligent but with not warmth. It also described how the pair failed to connect on a level which the viewing audience could fell comfortable with. We compared the show to other day time shows (e.g. Richard&Judy) which we thought where successful in this category. We took note of points on which the show could improve on by mimicking these shows such as better relationship or vibe from the presenters and a less intimidating atmosphere e.g. more relaxed furniture and darker lighting

4th tutorial For this class we studied more funtions of the pd170 such as how to adjust the shutter speed, how to do a pull focus and how to acheive a sillouette effect. High and low shutter speed effects where achived by pressing the shutter speed button at the back of the camera and scrolling up and down. A pull focus effect is acheived on the pd170 by getting an object in the distance and focusing on it then using the focus ring on the lens to refocus on an object closer.
The sillouette effect was acheived by placing a person in front of a window with light entering from behind, light adjustments where made using the buttons the room was dark thus giving the sillouette effect.
Light intensity can be controlled by sliding the tint button up and down.

Brainstorm Class. For this class we where split into groups and given a product to study. My group consisted of myself Eammon, Keiran and Stephen. We were provided with an A4 sheet and a marker and told to brainstrom ideas for and advert connected to the product. We were given an energy drink.
Words such as sport, fast, ball, running water fish tank came to mind, after accumalating a number of words and phrases we put together a few ideas for an add.

Brainstorm Class. For this class we where split into groups and given a product to study. My group consisted of myself Eammon, Keiran and Stephen. We were provided with an A4 sheet and a marker and told to brainstrom ideas for and advert connected to the product. We were given an energy drink.
Words such as sport, fast, ball, running water fish tank came to mind, after accumalating a number of words and phrases we put together a few ideas for an add.

3rd tutorial Absent

2nd tutorial
For this class we where introduced to the new equipment. The new camera the pd170 and the new tripod. We were first shown how to set up the new tripods with the different leg attachments to adjust height. We then studied the pd170 and how to attach it the the tripod. Frist you take the plate and attach it to the camera then you gently slide the plate which is on the bottom of the camera onto the tripod, you press the red button on the side of the camera so the camera fits on releasing this will lock the plate in place. We then studied the latches which lock the tilt and pan options. We cheaked the spirit level to make sure the camera was balanced. We slide the battery into the back of the camera and where shown how to use the camera form hooking it up to the mains. We studied the slow zoom located on the top of the camera and the faster zoom located at the rear of the pd170. A unidirectional shoutgun mike is attached to the top right of the camera with its own XLR cable. There is a focus button on the lower left of the camera with the options of manual and auto zoom.

1st Tutorial
For our first tutorial we were told we would be working with new equipment, more advanced then last years. We where told that one of our assinments was to produce our own advertisements which would be entered into a competition for young film makers. The five best adverts in our class would go through to be entered into the competition. Our Lecture showed us adverts from other colleges such as Tallagh I.T. We studied them and after we disscused the good and bad points and what could be done to improve them such as better lighting and more dialouge.
We where told that our concept should be unique but oringinal and contain a clever catch phrase or pun related to the product/idea.