Before you say "ACTION!"

“LIGHTS!”

“CAMERA!”

“ACTION!”

Wait how do I start?

I can just pick up a camera and go from there... right?

WRONG!

The youtube video that I have posted below discusses the importance of planning out your film before you say “Action!” This video spoke of how one must find a purpose for the film. Any form of film or movie is a form of communication. If you do not have a purpose then what is the point? The video also talked about having a “clearly defined beginning, middle, and end”.

These are things to ask yourself BEFORE you say, “Action!”

 “What are you trying to say?”

“What is your message?”

“How does everything come together?”

“Who are the characters, how do they grow and change?”

This is the same in writing a story. Essentially that is all you are doing, is writing a story; but now you must create it visually.

Forms of communication are all the same, find a purpose for what you are writing and go from there!

How to Make a Movie. 2011. Web. 30 Oct. 2012.

To view the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mequu1ARufg 

The Roial Players

Recently, I have been looking for a club or an organization that is related to film, theatre, directing or producing on campus. I found a group called the Roial Players. This group is for the “performing arts community” at MSU. Their members have a variety of majors and different years of experience. This organization is a group of student actors, make-up artists, costumers, improvers, visual artists, musicians, writers, theatre technicians and more. Every semester the Roial Players put on two full productions. In November they will be performing, “Mrs. Warren’s Profession” and in December, “When Lilacs Rest.” They also have improvisation shows every month and one “creative showcase." (Roial Players).

Below I have posted a link to their website and a link to a student made film of “Macbeth”.

I would also like to thank Haley Carr, Executive Director of Roial Players for helping me to answer my questions for today’s blog.

Roial Players . N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2012.

Their website: roialplayers.weebly.com

Their fabulous video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dhsgn3uDQHQ

Interview Plans

If I am able to, the professional that I plan to interview is Carrie Heeter. She is a professor at Michigan State University with a Ph.D. in Mass Media and a B.A. in Communication.

To prepare for an interview with someone in this field here is a list of questions I plan to ask:

1.      What made you choose to enter the field of Telecommunication Information Studies and Media?

2.      What do you write on a daily basis?

3.      How frequently do you write?

4.      How do you write?

5.      How would you describe your writing process?

6.      What do you enjoy about your job?

7.      What advice would you give to someone just starting out in the field?

8.      Who do you communicate with daily?

9.      How do you communicate daily?

10.  What was your first job in the field?

11.  What do you do on the job on an average day?

 

Finding What I Have Been Looking For...

 

Through researching this field that I am still new to, I have found a new major that may fit what I have been looking for. I found this major by looking through the various options that Michigan State offers. The College of Communication Arts and Sciences contains Telecommunication Information Studies and Media. At first while I was looking into this major I was very close to ignoring it because I had not wanted to look into doing research with media but then I happened to find a page that I was intrigued by. The site lists several concentrations within Telecommunication Information Studies and Media. TV, Cinema, and Radio Concentration caught my eye. The webpage lists:

Who is this concentration for?

·     "Students interested in producing and directing fiction and documentary film and video"(TV, Cinema, and Radio Concentration).

·   "Students interested in shooting, lighting, and editing film and video, as well as audio engineering"TV, Cinema, and Radio Concentration). 

I was amazed at what I had just seen! A major that is offered at Michigan State University and fit what I had been looking for! I am excited to explore more now that I know my options are not as limited as I once thought.

"TV, Cinema, and Radio Concentration." tc.msu.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2012.

Delivery and Style Analyzed

In this blog posting I am analyzing a blog post, scholarly article and a newspaper article. All three are centered on film but have very different styles and deliveries. The film blog posting begins with a film, “Twin Peaks.” The blog then analyzes the film. This posting was styled more analytically about the actual art form than either the scholarly article or the newspaper article. The newspaper article spoke of an upcoming local event. This article was informative and targeted a specific audience that would go to the film event. The article also has a persuasive tone. The blog was not persuasive but was aimed towards an audience that knew much about film. There were also personal opinions and quotes contained in the blog posting. The blog had a serious and intimate tone. I believe that the tone was meant to start conversations between viewers. The Film was analyzed thoroughly. Readers could relate in how they viewed the film and what the meaning of the film held for them. This made the piece intimate. The scholarly article focused on the history of film. This article was dry and informative. All of the articles are informative but differ greatly in content; although the main theme is film. The blog was honest, the newspaper was persuasive and the scholarly article was dry.

Huaco, George. "Toward a Sociology of Film Art." Berkeley Journal of Sociology 7.1 (1962): 63-84. Sociological Abstracts.Web. 14 Nov. 2012.

"Lights! Camera! - Film Festival!" The Tennessee Tribune: E4. Apr 19 2007. Ethnic NewsWatch. Web. 14 Nov. 2012 .

"Twin Peaks." Art of the Title. N.p., 11 Sept. 2012. Web. 18 Oct. 2012.

10 Questions Answered

In my previous post I aimed to answer 10 questions. Unfortunately, I was unable to do this. In this posting I have answered the remaining questions to the best of my ability.

1. What is stage management?
The stage manager coordinates the theatrical production. The stage manager accepts the responsibility that the rehearsals go smoothly on stage and backstage.

 2. What does a theater director do?
The director helps actors excel at finding their characters. They conceptualize the play and have final authority in matters related to the production.

3. What does a film director do?
A film director works closely with the producer and screenwriters. The director must help to determine the best way to visually present ideas. The director also works closely with the actors on set for interpreting their roles. Towards the end of the filming process it is essential for him/her to work with the editor to supervise the editing of the end product.

4. What is the difference between what a director and a producer does?
Over time the lines between the two have blurred. The director directs the play and the producer plans the theatre’s performances. Producers envision a concept and negotiate approval to market the show for an audience.

5. How does one become an individual film maker?

Steps to become a film maker include to get experience, freelance, build your name, hire your lawyer, make a business plan, and to find investors.  

6. What equipment is used to create a film?

Equipment needed includes a portable audio recorder, editing software, microphones, muffs/windscreens, steadicam, lighting, and a boom pole.

 7. Has anyone else created the image that I want to create?

After looking back at asking this question I do believe I was naive in thinking I could find the answer. Many have had their own images brought to screen and onstage but there would be no way of knowing of every possible film and play ever “produced.”

8. What major is best for what I am looking into?

Majors that may be the right fit: aesthetics, creativity, technology, stage management, dance, theatre, graphic design, film production, digital/electronic art, directing

What Michigan State University has to offer: Theatre, Telecommunication, Information Studies and Media

 

9. Is there any relation between teaching and producing/directing?

I have found that teaching producing and directing is a possibility.  

10. What does putting on a show in theater entail?
To put on a show the stage manager must give cues, time curtain calls, walks the curtain and checks lighting.

Luere, J., & Berger, S. (1998). The Theatre Team. Westport, CT: Greenwood press.Stern, Lawrence.

"Being an Independent Filmmaker is like Opening a Restaurant." FilmmakerIQ. N.p., 31 Aug. 2010. Web. 11 Sept. 2012.

"Indie Filmmaking Basics." Indie Filmmaking. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Sept. 2012.

Stage Management a guidebook of practical techniques. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1978. Print.

"Study Abroad Programs for Visual Arts Students." Globallinks Learning Abroad. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Sept. 2012.

"Visual Arts Studies ." UNT. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Sept. 2012.

"What does a film director do?." Curiosity.Discovery. Web. 9 Sept. 2012.

10 Questions

1.      What is stage management?
The stage manager coordinates the theatrical production. The stage manager accepts the responsibility
that the rehearsals go smoothly on stage and backstage.

2. What does a theater director do?
The director helps actors excel at finding their characters. They conceptualize the play and have final authority in matters related to the production.

 3. What does a film director do?

4. What is the difference between what a director and a producer does?
Over time the lines between the two have blurred. The director directs the play and the producer plans the theatre’s performances. Producers envision a concept and negotiate approval to market the show for an audience.

5. How does one become an individual film maker?

 6. What equipment is used to create a film?

7. Has anyone else created the image that I want to create?

8. What major is best for what I am looking into?

9. Is there any relation between teaching and producing/directing?

10. What does putting on a show in theater entail?
Based on what the stage manager do some things include giving cues, timing curtain calls, walking the curtain, and checking lighting.

Luere, J., & Berger, S. (1998). The Theatre Team. Westport, CT: Greenwood press.Stern, Lawrence.

Stage Management a guidebook of practical techniques. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1978. Print.