Final Post: Auteur Is Live

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SshcumFcyao&feature=youtu.be

My short film 'Auteur' is finally up on youtube to view!

This experience overall has taught me a variety of different things about myself and film production.

I think that my film has successfully portrayed a variety of themes by Baz Luhrmann in a way that fills the scenes with vibrant colours Designing these characters has been so enjoyable and I feel that I have successfully created each character with the aesthetic of Baz Luhrmann combined with exaggerate design but still kept in a film genre.

As a makeup artist I feel that my confidence is slowly building and I am only becoming more creative within my work. I still feel like I have a long journey ahead of me to help progress my confidence though, but this project has helped me communicate much better with other people and I am much more self-assured with the decisions I make throughout the process. I think my makeup skills have improved by the fact I taught myself how to be less controlling when applying certain aesthetics of makeup. I also recreated Design 6 (Moulin Rouge) with confidence in understanding the difference between the first model and myself and what would better suit my face but still portray this character just the same. I think that I still lack in being organised but I have definitely improved by handling the delayed schedule and still finishing the film before deadline. I understand that to keep myself organised the best solution is to write checklists in preparations for shoots and this will help me look professional on set too.

Within directing I think overall my skills in this developed very rapidly because I was able to adapt to the repeated process of each shoot. I do have a couple issues with how I speak to someone but I think if I continued to pursue in direction this will improve. Reflecting back on my film I think that if I could change anything within my direction it would be to do with the use of props, specifically the cigarette because I was not able to use smoke and could not find an effect when editing. I would have changed the direction by shooting in a different studio where this is possible. Of course I had a budget so this is a conflict. Even so, I don't think my not including of smoke is a terrible thing as it may have taken the attention away from the rest of the scene.

As a cinematographer it has been intriguing to take on this role as it was not part of my original plan. Filming every scene myself in comparison to the test shoots was a much better solution to speeding up the process. Each shot was done using simple techniques which I knew I was capable of doing. As one shoot went to the next I could tell that my skills in filming cinematography were improving as I was coming up with different and better ways of recording each scene. I think this part of the project showed my experimentation and that I wanted to see the possibilities of pushing limits within filming but still keeping it simple.

Editing was the most difficult part of this process, specifically finding a song but I was able to resolve this by getting advice from my mentor and the outcome is much better than the first song I chose. I am relieved to have formed my film in a way that smoothly goes from one genre of reactions to the next. Being an editor has given me access to being experimental with how I want my film to look but at the same time there was too much of a choice which left me confused. I needed people with better experience in this to help me structure the film and I am glad I asked for advice because this has really benefited the outcome. I know that it would not have looked as professional if I had not asked for help.

Article: Top Ten Fashion Films of the Season

This article is about how the Business of Fashion have noticed how artists have recently been using the idea of projecting images and colour in their work. Photographers, Tim Walker and Mads Perch have pursued within projections by using vibrant colours and shapes against models. They discuss further into the fact that fashion brands are not taking the opportunities to create artistic films advertising their collections/clothing.

This article shines positively on my project because I am an artist that is striving in creating a film in a creative perspective. I am doing this with the use of projection as well as the combination of creative character designs.

 Tim Walker

Mads Perch

http://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/fashion-films/top-10-fashion-films-of-the-season-supreme-gucci-calvinklein?utm_source=Subscribers&utm_campaign=a8bd65c0aa-&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d2191372b3-a8bd65c0aa-417004685

Post production: Editing Film

The most difficult part about editing a film has been choosing what music should be part of it. I think I struggled with this the most in editing because there was too much choice and what I wanted was unclear. I chose a song but knew I still needed some guidance with this and spoke to my mentor Sharon. She explained so simply what type of music needed to be included and afterwards I went ahead and knew exactly what I needed to do next. I think this experience taught me that when there is a struggle, asking for help is a positive way forward. I just hope that I am able to dig deeper within this type of research and understand further how to match music to the mood of films or anything for that matter. I chose 4 songs to go into the film as adding one sounded too boring as these are repetitive tunes. I chose two that matched the romantic and sad emotions of the film and another two to match the Baz Luhrmann theme as he likes to use old music at the beginning of some of his films e.g. Moulin Rouge and The Great Gatsby. I think these song choices match the film so well to give it that silent film aspect to it as there is no speaking but only actions and emotions.

I want to include smoke to the characters with cigarettes but have also struggled to create this effect. I took the initiative of asking a film student and professional on how to add this effect. I went through the process as I had been instructed but when the overall look of this was still not realistic. I decided to cut this out because it was also so distracting and not subtle within the scenes. I do think the cigarette smoke does hold the film back slightly but at least I have done a trial and error within adding the effect and know that it will not work. I think in future if I want to have cigarette smoke I should find a studio that allows cigarettes to be lit or the use of a green screen but this simply was not possible in the studio and the set up I was using.

Reshooting Moulin Rouge Design 6

Before going into this shoot I knew I would need to make a few adjustments to this character because of the difference between myself and the previous model. I felt quite confident in doing this because I have explored the character design and understand how I need to alter certain parts of a look in order for it to look better and more adaptable to my look. Reshooting the Moulin Rouge character, I needed to re-style the outfit due to the sizing differences between myself and the original model. I did not have time to order a new outfit and tried to resolve this problem by choosing a top I already I have. Doing this, I was aware that the styling needed to suit the Moulin Rouge character I created. The top I chose was black and I felt that a better thing for me to do was alter the makeup as it was too light coloured to match the black. I also thought that by using black eye liner too, this would the tears I needed more clearer to see when film. I tried to alter the makeup in a way where it was similar to the style of the original look but with a darker tone to it.

I also changed the hairstyle by not creating plaits and only curls. This was because I didn't think the head accessory was sitting nicely on top of it. Recreating the hairstyle without the plaits looked much better with the head accessory and I think having longer hair also suited this look more.

During filming I had someone else record the camera for me and help make sure that I looked presentable for the film on set. When filming, I felt that it was hard to know if what I was doing was correct as, obviously, I can not see it until after. I got a variety of shots including close ups. I also decided to change the handkerchief idea to just using tissues. The handkerchief I used was a synthetic and did not really look like a handkerchief. I think that by using tissues instead will make the crying scenes look more natural than using a handkerchief. Putting this into action, I do think it came off better and more natural.

Shoot 10: Early 1900's Baz Luhrmann

Makeup, Hair, Styling

Preparing for this shoot, my model had to cancel so I quickly needed to find someone else to be this character as the deadline is in less than 2 weeks. I resolved this problem and re-arranged the shoot 2 days after the original time.

For this shoot, I felt that creating the character was very straight forward and found it quite easy to create this look. I wanted the hairstyle to be a similar style to Leonardo DiCaprio in The Great Gatsby and was a bit unsure on how to go forward creating this style so I asked my tutor for help. I am glad I did this as I followed the steps she told me and was really happy with the outcome. I think that this shows that when I am unsure about something, I am not afraid to ask for advice. If I did not, the style could end up wrong and take me longer to read just it.

I think the styling matched the hair really well as I had my character wear a suit including a bow tie. My model also had a beard and I think that this was a good reason to make him this character because it fits in with the Edwardian times these films are set in.

Before I had started filming I had made sure the battery was fully charged for my shoot so that it would not run out like the last couple shoots I did (I have been using the same camera for the last 3 shoots). After 10 minutes of starting my shoot though, the battery still ran out very quickly so clearly there was an actual issue with the battery. This made it more difficult for my shoot to go smoothly once again as I had to stop halfway through to charge it. I also had to do this shoot for a limited amount of time so I did not want to start rushing trying to complete this shoot. Luckily I was able to get the shoot done in time with a variety of video clips to use.

When it cam to directing my model, I think I did quite well in helping him understand how he needed to show different reactions. He a bit stiff on some actions but I was able to direct him in a way that made these actions look more natural.

Overall I think that this shoot went really well as I had managed to re-organise it in a short space of time. There were errors with the battery so next this happens, if I have time I will change the camera.

Mentor Session

This week I showed my mentor, Sharon the last two shoots I made - the modern Baz Luhrmann and second Moulin Rouge shoots. We went through what shots worked and what did not through the modern shoot. She was really pleased with the outcome of the shoot but some of the handheld shots I did were too shaky to be used for my film. I have learnt from this part of the session that I need to be careful when filming in a handheld technique and make sure the outcome does not look too shaky. I still like this idea though as it gives a raw feeling to the film but it looks too shaky to be part of the film then I will not include it.
When I showed her the Moulin Rouge look, I talked about how I was thinking of reshooting it and she agreed to this. I understand that everything about this shoot could be better other than the makeup. I have decided that I will be this character for the film as the deadline is less than 2 weeks and finding a model in time will be hard.

Shoot 9: Moulin Rouge Design 6

Going into this shoot I had a limited time to complete it so I did feel some pressure. Starting this shoot by applying prepping the hair, I had limited time and tried to get the styling done quickly. I was really pleased with the plaits I created but was unsure of how the curls looked.

With the amount of time I had though, I moved onto the makeup and this time round I had remembered to change my technique and start with applying the eye makeup before the foundation. I am so glad I had done this as eye shadow can get so messy underneath the eye area. In a previous shoot (the Moulin Rouge Design) I had felt that I was applying gems in a very controlling way and this time round I was using gems again but I managed to let go of that control and thought that this was the best I had ever applied gems with a really nice outcome. I am really happy that I was able to make some steps forward in my makeup skills by remembering to change my techniques and be less controlling with the way I apply makeup. Getting the makeup right at some points was very frustrating as I had made a couple mistakes but once I had finished the look I was really happy and thought this was the best makeup look I had done.

The bralet I used was too big for my model and I had not come prepared to bring safety pins with. Luckily the model had some and so we were able to fix the problem. Although I am not a stylist it is still my job to bring safety pins in my equipment when the shoots are my own. I have learnt that I need to remember to bring safety pins and any other equipment to shoot that helps solves these type of problems.

During the filming I did have a few concerns. Firstly I was still not happy with how the hair looked and I did try to fix it but I am not sure if this was portrayed well enough on camera. Looking back on it now, I am worried that I may need to reshoot it as it just looks too messy. I also am not sure of how the model came across on camera as to me, it looked a bit stiff. We did get some good shots but I do think the hair is what's holding the whole scene back.

If I do reshoot then I may just use myself for it as I am running out of time and finding someone to model will be very hard at this point. I will of course need someone to film but I will only need an hour or less of their time so hopefully they will not mind helping.

Another problem that happened while filming is the battery ran out as it did in the previous shoot. This put a strain on the shoot as I was running late on schedule and needed to pack up at a certain time and leave. I did manage to get all the shots I wanted in time but I know that I really need to remember these type of issues that can happen and check the battery charge before I start a shoot.

Going more into detail with my directing, the model did come off stiff but when we shot the crying scenes she relaxed a lot more which gave this shoot a much more natural feel to it. I am not sure if this was enough though because even though she looked more natural she was not exactly using the handkerchief properly. I am not even sure how I feel about the handkerchief in general as it does not exactly look like a handkerchief. I am starting to think maybe it would have been better if I had just used tissues.

Overall I need to think and act quick on how I want to take this shoot forward. I am going to ask my tutors opinion in the next mentor session and if I decide to redo the whole thing then I will need to plan and shoot it as soon as I can.