An Update You Say? Featuring: Raindance Film Festival, Black Peak & Life

Well to those of you who thought I had given up Blogging, think again! I'm back and ready to bring you my latest views and thoughts on all things film and television (with the odd bit of advertising). As some of you who follow me will know, I have recently completed my Masters in Producing Film and Television at Bournemouth University. With this in mind, I have decided to revamp the layout of the blog so that it doesn't give you a brain tumour when reading white on black.


The final few months have been the most hectic of my life, and I have learned so much much throughout this one year. It feels as though it was just yesterday I was picking up a Sony EX3 for the first time and wondering how to turn it on, whilst now I have worked on countless productions, not to mention having produced, directed and written a twenty minute film (along with the phenomenal people along the way who made it all possible, and to whom I am eternally grateful).

I am also delighted to announce that I recently received possibly one of my greatest compliments in the film industry to date, back in June of this year, from none other than the Raindance Film Festival. The fact that they have taken the time to acknowledge even a little bit of my work (writing or otherwise), is greatly appreciated.

I have always been an advocate of Twitter once I discovered its powers, and I can honestly say that my daily intake of articles published by Raindance, the brilliant Elliot Grove and other excellent writers has aided my progression 10-fold. I don't usually find myself writing about companies as such, but I just felt the need to almost show my appreciation by taking the time to compliment this great service, so thank you Raindance.

In other news, Black Peak is still in the edit. I'm still awaiting CGI integration, final edit, colour, and sound to be completed (not much at all!). Once that is done, I am hoping that those who watch it really appreciate the hard work, horrendous weather conditions and blood, sweat and tears we all endured to make it possible.

I will follow up this post with an ACTUAL movie post, however belated.

Hope you are keeping well.

James

1st Week Of MA Producing Film & Television

When I got accepted on my Master's course at Bournemouth University, I was extremely excited as to what the world of film and television would hold for me. The only experience I had encountered included working as an extra in my friends' minor and major projects for their BA Television Production courses.

As I mentioned in my introduction, my background is purely theatrical (from an acting perspective), however I still believe that this puts me in good stead when it comes to directing and guiding my actors and actresses in the direction I want my productions to go.

I have had friends studying their masters at this University from the first year of my Bachelor's degree, and on the most part I never really heard many having to do that much work in their first terms. After having a chat with the lovely people at the Media School's Support Desk (where we pick up our equipment) it turns out that for the first time ever, the MA Producing Film & Television course would be throwing everyone into the deep end to see what we were capable of.

Usually it takes 3 or 4 weeks to get into the swing of things, allowing room for the settling-in period to come and go, making new friends and maybe...just maybe enjoy a little bit of a social life at the beginning before being cast into the flames of gruelling work. Alas this didn't happen...

Our first day (Tuesday 29th September) included the usual fun of enrolment and welcome to the Media Academic Group, welcoming us to the University, life in Bournemouth and tutors etc. Apart from meeting my new tutors, most of it was irrelevant to me as it's not like I have had to move Universities. In a way I feel that, whilst I had apprehensions of staying on at Bournemouth at first due to wanting a new English experience, I'm extremely happy I have stayed on. I have not got new surroundings to learn, I do not have to worry about not knowing anyone as a lot of my friends have returned for their final year of their 4 year courses, and I can also help settle in new people where I can. In a way, I'm luckier than those who have just moved here, especially when it came to the first hurdle of the year.

The lecture introducing the Media School Masters students to their new tutors found everyone (bar the Radio Production and Multimedia Journalism students), having to be put in groups of 5. The task was to write, produce, film and direct a 2 minute soap opera webisode on the University due the following Thursday (8th October at 10am)...

Welcome to Bournemouth University people!