This will be my final
blog posting. I have learned a great deal and would like to summarize what I
have learned by reflecting on the research process and look back on all that I
have learned about the field of film within the last two months.
Section
One: Looking through the lens
While researching film and
the film industry, I have learned that the industry’s rhetoric involves communicating
through the medium of the field, through film, to impact society through an
unwritten code of ethics.
Many of my open blogposts consisted of “how to” explanations. The ways that these were presented
were in the form of videos. One video entitled, “How Make a Documentary Film” explained the lighting and angles for how to conduct an interview
in the best way to explain possible, through the visual medium of film. If this
concept was explained using any other medium ,the effect would not be the same
nor would it be thoroughly explained.
While researching
by typing “film” into any search bar, it became obvious that film is used as a
form of rhetoric for many other careers. Film impacts society greatly; this is
why this medium is useful and effective. In one of my blog posts,
the article I discussed, “The Role of Film in Society”, focuses on the
importance of film. Some benefits listed include economic, health and social
benefits. Film has been found to be therapeutic. The article states,
Those who never
attended the cinema had mortality rates nearly 4 times higher than those who
visit the cinema at least occasionally (Konlaan, Bygren, and Johansson 2000).
Their finding holds even when other forms of social engagement are controlled,
suggesting that social engagement specifically in an artistic milieu is
important for human survival.
Film has
become a social past time and a useful tool for a variety of careers across the
nation.
In some
ways, film is like journalism. The goal is to report the truth or to tell the
real story. But having said that, some filmmakers are accused of being “sellouts”
who only make films that will appeal to the masses and don’t have any redeeming
value to society. They make these films for pure
entertainment. This brings up the idea of a code of ethics. One article that I found
while blogging tells of a code of ethics, “Be courteous to
your contributors (give appropriate credit where it is
due). Whenever possible give copies of the finished program, a copy of a long
edit of an appropriate scene, and/or publicity photographs to the people who
helped you” (Code of Ethics). Giving
credit to those that deserve it is important. Originality is as important in
the field as the impact of the art on society is to the industry.
A competition that
remakes films was meant to inspire the new generation to look back on old
technology to create new art forms. The Celluloid Remix competition’s theme for
this year was modern times and the film-maker’s perspectives on modernity. The
most effective way for film to be explained is through film. Film is necessary
to society and impacts our culture as a whole in a variety of ways.
Section
Two: Sharpening the focus
My blogging experience
has revised my thinking of obtaining a career in film. As I was learning more
about the industry, the less interested and passionate I became.
Currently I am studying to become a
teacher, but I wanted to explore film and theater. Within the past few years I
have created a vision in my mind that I have wanted to bring to life through
film or theater. In order to make this happen I would need to learn the ins and
outs of the industries. I have always been intrigued by careers within the visual
arts and I used this research opportunity to find out more about them. I also
wanted to acquire the knowledge of how I could come closer to making my idea a
reality. At first I thought that I was interested in theater but then I found
myself veering towards film. Before researching, I was unsure of what I would
learn. I was naïve about how difficult the process of making a video was
because I was new to all of the aspects of film. Researching forced me to see
how inexperienced I was and still am.
As I began my research,
I decided to utilize the special blogs for posts about the physical act of
making a film. I found the answers to be long and tedious. I am not
technologically inclined; I would much rather work with people than machines.
It was difficult for me to comprehend each video I saw on making films because my knowledge was so basic; this compelled
me to do more research on the topics. The questions and answers never ceased.
I realized how much
work it is to create a film when I tried to make one myself . I read and saw how much is put into making a film such as the equipment,
lighting, angles, audio, acting, actors, and scenery just to name a few, but
the complexity of it all hit me when I tested the experience out for myself. I
needed better equipment and knowledge that I could not obtain or learn simply
by researching on the internet.
As the weeks went on, I
grasped the fact that before this project I was only interested in the end
result of what filmmakers, directors, and producers create. I had romanticized
what these jobs were. When you learn about what happens “behind the scenes”,
you see all the dirty work behind the beautiful art. I now know that I am not
cut out to become a filmmaker anytime soon because I am not passionate or interested
in all of the components of film, only the final product. When I began to look at all of the schooling
needed and the difficulty of starting up a career, I knew that I had neither
the motivation nor enough preparation for this job that I would hope to do for
the rest of my life. I could not see myself being happy struggling to find
motivation. If I was interested, shouldn't the process of blogging have been more entertaining?
One
thing that I have done well is showing all of the different aspects of film
that led me to realize that this will not be the career pathway that I take. I
explored the majors for film, the different ways to create a
film as an
independent filmmaker and how film is relevant to our culture.
One
thing that I struggled with specifically with researching for this project was finding
research to answer the questions for the “special blog posts”. Many times I found myself morphing the
question being asked to make apply it to my field and to fit the research that
I found. Many of the “special blog post” questions could be applied easily to a
more conventional job, possibly one within the medical field. One example of
this was the controversy blog. It was hard to research film because
my field is a medium of communication that many other careers and our society
utilize.
I will use what I have
learned through researching a field to help me research in the future. Possible
research I may do in the future would include finding answers to the last questions
I have about my topic. Question I have yet to answer include: Is there
something I can do with my basic knowledge of film within the field? How are
the careers within film and teaching similar? Although I found out that film is
no longer what I want to major in, I am happy that I found an answer for this
possibility. It closes one door but gives me an opportunity to open others.
"Code of
Ethics." Filmmakers for Conservation. N.p., 30
July 2008. Web. 31 Oct. 2012.
"The Role of Film
in Society." Thought Economics . N.p., 19 June 2011. Web. 6 Nov. 2012.
