Digital film-making class under Marie Jamora is such a useful and practical class to take for serious film amateurs. Not withstanding the fact that we practically have to turn in a short film every 2 weeks, with treatments and techniques specifically taught to us in class. And it has been this way since November last year. Since this blog thing is open record, lemme just point out that there are instances where I just regret taking up this class for the mere fact that it ends late at night and there are days when I feel like my time could be better spent if I could review for this review for that.
But every once in a while, works of great and talented people, such as Marie Jamora and Jason Magbanua would just remind me why I've chosen to burden myself with all the workloads entailed by this class. Since I started finding videography as my calling, I learned to be willing to put in most of my time and effort in becoming an avid learner and practioner of this craft.
My junior year has been the hardest among my 3 years stay in the Blue Eagles land; but I've learned the most over the course of this year.
Such a meaningful year it's been. And that includes tonight's class. I've learned about film production tonight more than I've ever had in months. We had an artistic director and a production designer as guest speakers, and their portfolios and the way they conducted their respective talks show how much experience they've accumulated all throughout these years. ( Too tired to expound on this tonight..Maybe I will do so tomorrow. This is just something I want to keep on my journal before I'll be too old to forget. LOL)
One significant thing Marie Jamora pointed out tonight was that production design is truly a indispensable component in the overall effect of a film. It may appear to be a sheer tapestry in the background, but in reality, the presence of a good production set makes a world of difference from a poorly made one. It is, however, hard to turn it into a form of craft here in the Philippines, unlike in most European countries and the United States who pay great attention to the tiniest details of a set. Over there, people build their sets from scratch. But due to the grave lack of funds in third-world Filipinas, our awesome directors and prod designers learn how to make do with what is readily available (i.e. moving the furnitures around, among others). And that brings to light my hope that production design experiences the full bloom it deserves in our country soon, when my buddies and I are already out in the world for real to make our lives a tad easier! (haha) No one has to starve for being artists. Interestingly, my philo prof just mentioned something that relates to that in particular this morning. (taking it as a sign to fully become an artist - hahaha)
The production design department is an integral element of a tastefully made film. And it's high time that the knowledge and practice of this beautiful craft reach the ends of this wonderful archipelago, in relation to videography and film-making.
P.S. The script that I'm writing for my final film is taking shape. I just woke up today knowing exactly what the conflict is going to be. i just need to figure out how the character is going to respond to it and how the baking of cupcakes can fint into the whole picture. I'm so excited. I can't wait to shoot this.
Here's a demo reel of the commercials and mtvs Marie Jamora has done up to this date:
Here's a demo reel of the commercials and mtvs Marie Jamora has done up to this date:
I love production design but in my experience, most of the time it's really more work as compared to just graphic design. I'd get paid more by sitting down and working on my laptop or rolling around my bed trying to come up with concepts as compared to running around, looking for/making props (or even folding paper hearts). But the sense of fulfillment I feel from prod design and graphic design are different, too.
ReplyDeleteIn prod design I work with a team, like a lot of people--and I work with them closely. I need to express the director's vision perfectly. But in graphic design, I usually work alone which is just a little bit lonely. :( So for me both has its rewards but with so little budget given for prod design, I'm not even considering doing it most of the time unless probably it's with friends.
Surely. Here's the age-old dilemma of doing something you love that will render you penniless, as opposed to something that promises prestige and a whole bunch of cash.
ReplyDeleteI really don't know where to go from college :\