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1.1 Describe areas for development in your current knowledge, understanding and skills

What is your current knowledge and understanding of film? (For example: watching film, reviewing, photography, making your own films, Youtube channel, film or media course, work experience)
I understand film as an art form: there are many different types such as short film or documentary which can all fall into their own genres meaning there is something for everyone.
To expand my knowledge I have completed an online work experience course which covered the basic aspects of filmmaking, as well as taking A-Levels in Film and Media.

Do you have specific areas of interest or skills in filmmaking? Include links to film work, photos, music etc.
My main area of interest in filmmaking is hair and makeup: I have been teaching myself how to do this for a few years and have been practising on friends and family.

What role(s) would you see yourself taking on your Academyy film? What do you hope to gain from the BFI Film Academy?
I hope to gain more knowledge on filmmaking as a whole to gain a better understanding in how everything works and the different roles that are available, as well as getting experience doing makeup on a film set.

How would you like to improve your skills or knowledge of film? Give reasons. Do you have plans to further study and work in film?
I am planning to take a university course in special effects makeup and hoping to work in the industry in the future. I would like this course to give me a better understanding in the overall aspects of filmmaking and what actually goes into making a film.

1.2 Take a role in the production of a short film

What is your production role?
My production roles on our short film included being a makeup artist and being part of the art department doing production design.

What planning will you do?
We will need to draw sketches of what the makeup on the characters will look like and then plan what products we need and who will buy them. For the production design we will need to plan who has props that we would be able to use or if not, plan where to buy them.

What will you do in pre-production, production and post-production? What specific skills do you need?
In pre-production, we will need to sketch what ideas we want the makeup to look like to know exactly what we will be doing on the day of filming.
During production, I will need to work on the actors doing their makeup before we start filming. Throughout the day, I will need to do makeup touch ups to keep the film looking consistent.

What equipment will you use?
Will we need to buy the equipment we will need to use such as the makeup as well as brushes to put the makeup on. For the production design we will either need to buy or bring in props to be able to dress the set.

What documents will you use and how?
For the makeup, we will need to complete face charts after we’ve done the makeup, as well as taking photos, to make sure the makeup stays continuous  throughout the production by having something to refer back to. This will also be useful for the production design, taking photos of the set before we start filming in case anything gets changed during filming.

What other resources are needed to make a film?
Include any planning and pre-production work you have been involved with.
Other resources we will need for our film will include a script which will need printing out and given to the director and actors. We will also have a storyboard and shot list to help us visualise what the film will look like before we start filming. These will be made during pre-production so we can use them during production.

What other resources are needed in your film production? (For example locations, actors and anything else you will need)
We will need to use the park and the Tuned In building for our locations that we need to film out. We will also need to choose our actors who are going to be in the film, and send out a call sheet before filming to make sure the actors know what to bring to the shoot day.

1.3 Gain feedback on how you performed your role and share the feedback

Ask tutors and/or other Academy participants the questions below, you can write your answers, film them or record the audio

Can you tell me what I did well?
“I think you did well observing the makeup artist at first, learning what she was doing, and then practicing what you learnt on the actors”

What were the challenges and how did I deal with them? How did I work within my team?
“The challenges you had to deal with were probably time management, especially when getting the makeup done for the actors before we began filming.”

Do you have any advice or areas for my development?
“You could develop your skills overall more by getting involved in different roles such as the clapper board or camera operating”

1.4 Review own technical skills and use of equipment

What did you do in your role?
Do you agree with the feedback? Give reasons for your answers.
I agree with the feedback, especially in the areas where I could get involved in different roles in production as I feel as though during filming I wasn’t doing as much as I could have.

How well do you think you carried out your role in production? What were your strengths and what were your challenges?
I think I carried out my role as a makeup artist pretty well as I was able to create different horror characters on multiple actors, learning how to use different products and new techniques that I have never used before to achieve the look we wanted. However, I think my challenges were trying to figure out how to create similar looks on lots of different features on all the actors, as well as trying to get the looks done in the time that we had.

In what ways did your technical filmmaking skills develop over the course of film production?
My technical filmmaking skills developed as I learnt about all the different aspects from lighting to how a camera works which are things that I probably would have never learnt.

How far has your knowledge and understanding of film production developed?
My knowledge and understanding of film production has developed as I now know what goes into the makeup process for a film.

Give examples (consider your knowledge of: technical equipment, on-set processes, production documents, post-production)
For example, before we did the makeup, we had to make sketches of what we wanted our characters to look like, as well as complete a health and safety sheet which covered things such as the actors allergies etc. During filming, I had to make sure that the makeup on the actors stayed the same throughout, carrying makeup with me in case the actors needed any touch ups. I also had to complete a face chart for each of the actors after the makeup was complete, as well as photos, so we had the original makeup look to refer back to when these touch ups were needed.

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Understand professional development opportunities within the film industry

2.1 Explain the working culture of the film industry

What is it like working in the film industry?
(Consider hours, travel, freelance, working on set and budget. What are the pressures? What are the positives and negatives?)
The positives of working in the film industry is the amount of creative freedom you have behind the films you make. You can also meet many people who have different interests that can combine these interests to create one big film of many different art forms. However, it is very time consuming and can be quite expensive at times with very little pay, meaning it isn’t always that accessible.

What qualities do you need to work in the film industry? (E.g. Showing initiative, taking responsibility, good time management, knowing your specialism, having good communication skills)
Give reasons for your answers.
Some of the qualities needed to work in the film industry are:

taking responsibility - to work well in film, things need to progress quickly and smoothly - taking responsibility can help this as it helps you realise both your positive and negative actions which you can work on to improve your overall behaviour.

good time management - in film you have to work quickly to keep on track - having good time management helps as it means you are less likely to run over schedule which may ruin your overall film.

knowing your specialism - this is important as the more knowledge and understanding you have on your role helps you to perform better which will keep the process flowing.

good communication skills - this is important as in film everybody has to work together to achieve the final goal - you have to agree on things and hear everyone's ideas to make sure you get the best possible outcome.

What have you learned about the working culture of the industry from masterclasses and working on your own film production?
The working culture in film requires a very sociable and practical attitude - communication with others is key and you have to put yourself out into the industry by taking risks and getting out of your comfort zone. However, the hours can be long and tiring and the pressure to create a project and get everything right can be hard. Also, being a freelancer in film means that you will most likely have inconsistent work without any job security and work schedules can be unpredictable. That being said, you will ultimately have more control over your career and you can choose which jobs you want, as well as being able to meet lots of different people with different backgrounds.

2.2 Describe a range of key job roles and responsibilities in the film industry

Research 5 different roles in the production department and summarise them. Explain how the roles work together.
Make-up Artist - the make-up artist works closely with the actors and costume designers / set designers to perfect the make-up and make sure it blends in with the outfit / surroundings. The director would also weigh in on what they want the actors to look like.

Gaffer - the gaffer is the person who oversees anything electrical while on a set and takes care of lighting. They work closely with the cinematographer to make sure everything looks goof as well as the camera operator so they can see if the lighting looks okay.

Camera Operator - the camera operator is one of the most important people on set as they record what the director wants. They work closely with the camera supervisors, director, producer, and cinematographer.

Director - the director oversees everything that goes on during the set, if a smaller department makes a decision, they need to approve it through the director first.

Producer - the producer works closely with the director and works on sourcing key things like the script, hiring other roles, arranging finances, etc.

2.3 Outline the potential progression routes into the film industry and wider sector

What have you learned about potential progression routes into film and connected creative industries? Research the following routes:

Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships are available in film which help you gain first-hand experience, developing your skills, usually for a specific role such as directing or screenwriting. They're a great way to gain experience doing actual work in the film industry while still being educational.

Entry-level jobs
Entry-Level jobs are smaller jobs that give you a direct way into the industry. Some jobs can include: writing assistants, lighting consultant, boom operator, etc. With these jobs, you can progress onto the main heads of department and work your way through the hierarchy.

Studying at university
Studying film at university can help you gain knowledge and understanding on film through a theoretical and critical lens. They provide the necessary skills and experience which are needed to create a career in the film industry. It will also help you meet people your own age who will have the same interest in film as you.

Online opportunities (e.g. entering competitions, sharing work, networking)
Online opportunities, such as entering competitions, sharing work and networking, help you build up on your skills in film. Working online helps you to interact with other filmmakers, which is helpful especially if you come from a smaller area.

Film festivals
Film Festivals are a great way to network within the industry but also it gives you access to watch films from different people that are like you and could create some inspiration. You could get in contact with them if you like their work and produce something together / have them on your team.

BFI Film Academy progression (residential courses, BAFTA mentoring and Future Skills)
The BFI run several courses for young people which include specialist  residential programmes, BAFTA mentoring, and future skills traineeship. These are designed to help young people gain knowledge and experience in the film industry by learning from professionals and meeting new people.

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3.1 Be able to develop effective working relationships with film production team members

What are the different teams in your production?
Directors, Set Designers, Sound team, Lighting team, Actors.

How do they work together? For example, how did your team work together to prepare for the shoot? Also, during production and post-production?
During pre-production we all worked together by bouncing ideas off each other and adapting from one another until we all had a final idea in mind we all liked.
During production, we all worked together by having our own department that we worked in, and then swapping the roles so everybody got to try out different things.
During post-production we all edited together at one computer, working out how we wanted the final film to look, making sure that everyone had a say and everyone's opinion was heard.

Why is it important that production teams work well together?
It is important that the teams work well together as if we didn't, it would create a bad environment which will become very messy and disrupted. It's important that all teams are working together to ensure that everyone is on the same page and that everything will go quickly and smoothly.

Give an example of when your production team/s worked well together.
While filming some of the scenes in a different area, some of the team members remained to set up different set designs for the scenes that we were going to film later, working together to create a believable set and making sure it stuck to how we wanted it to look in pre-production.

What can happen if there isn’t good teamwork?
Many people can get confused with what people are trying to do if there isn't good communication amongst the teams. This could make filming slow, wasting time and possibly throwing us off our schedule.

Was there an example of when teamwork could have been better on your film production? How did this affect the production process?
While some people were set designing, we didn't have any contact with the rest of the team. This meant that we didn't get any updates with what was happening during the filming but also, because the directors were filming, we didn't officially know what they wanted the set design to look like and the camera angles that were going to be used meaning we didn't know which parts of the room needed to be decorated and which parts were going to be hidden. This could have been fixed if we had more communication between us when the group was separated.

3.2 Identify the qualities needed to work well with others

What are the most important qualities for working well as part of a film production team?
The most important qualities for working well as part of a film production team are good communication skills (including active listening and sharing your own ideas), positive attitudes, being open to learning new things, and being able to identify both yours and each others strengths and weaknesses.

How did you show the following, give examples:
Good timekeeping - we had someone who's job was to keep track of the timing schedule, giving us updates on how long we had left to shoot the scenes. This really helped as it helped us keep on track on schedule and making sure we didn't run out of time at the end of the day.
Being reliable - some of us had to bring things in from outside the academy to use in our films such as the actors costumes and props etc.
Sharing ideas - during pre-production we all went round the table, bouncing ideas off each other and making sure everyone's ideas and opinions were heard and considered. During production, we consistently had people swapping the role of the director, meaning everyone who wanted to got a turn at directing so it wasn't just one person taking charge.
Good communication - we all discussed ideas with each other to ensure that everyone was happy with the final film. We also pointed out to one another if something went wrong during filming that the majority of us didn’t notice.
Safe working - we ensured a safe working environment by completing a risk assessment before we started filming, highlighting all the possible hazards that we might have on set and how we were going to keep them under control.

3.3 Describe how you worked with others collaboratively on your film production

How did you work with others in the crew?
As my role as a make-up artist I had to work with my group during pre-production as well as the actors during production.
Give an example of when you worked well with your team.
An example of when I worked well with my team was during pre-production was when we were planning how each character was going to look. We all contributed to this as well as creating drawings of each others ideas for me to recreate during production.

Were there any problems you needed to overcome? Give examples: How could you improve your ability to work with others?
I could improve my ability to work with others by making sure I communicate more as a group and make sure that I share my own ideas instead of listening to everyone else's as I am naturally quite a quiet person.

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4.1 Understand film industry working practices and legislation

Demonstrate good health and safety practice when working on film productions

Why is health and safety important when working on film productions? What are some of the key safety issues relating to film production?
The film industry involves various high- risk activities, such as stunts, practical and special effects, and the use of heavy equipment.

How did you apply good health and safety practice when making your film? Include your risk assessment and explain why this is important.
Before we started production, we created a risk assessment. This highlighted all the health and safety concerns we had while filming. These included the use of heavy equipment (such as the cameras etc), being aware of long wires, and the risk of drowning as we filmed next to the sea.

4.2 Explain why copyright is important in the film industry

What is Copyright?
Copyright is a type of intellectual property that gives the creator of an original work, or another owner of the right, the exclusive , legally secured right to copy, distribute, adapt, display, and perform creative work, usually for a limited time.

Why does copyright law exist?
Copyright exists as it protects your work and stops others from using it without your permission.

What kind of work is covered by copyright?
Copyright covers work such as literacy works, musical works, artistic works including drawings and photographs, and films, videos and broadcasts.

What might happen if you were to use copyrighted material in your film? How can you make sure not to infringe copyright law in your film?
If you use copyrighted material you can face claims for significant damages from the copyright owner, as well as large fines and possibly even imprisonment.
To make sure you don’t  infringe copyright law, you need to have a good understanding of the copyright laws, check your work for plagiarism, and avoid taking over projects started by others.

How has copyright law and other IP regulation affected your film production?
When we were first planning what our film was going to be about, we watched other films in a similar genre for inspiration. We had to make sure that when planning our own films that they were different to the ones we had watched. There was a point during our planning when our film was starting to sound like a short film we had watched, so we had to make changes to ensure that out final film was completely our own.

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Be able to review film productions

5.1 Review and critique at least one short film production

Lights Out, David Sandberg, Sweden, 2013.

Lights Out is a short horror film that focuses on a young woman who is about to go to bed when suddenly she starts seeing an unusual entity that only appears when she turns on the light. The creature keeps getting closer throughout the film, ending with a jumpscare of the creature close up.

The film fits in to the horror genre, shown by the build up towards the final jumpscare, seeing the dark silhouette in the distance get closer and closer with the light getting switched on and off, as well as the actual reveal of the creature and how it looks. I like this effect as it creates a sense of suspense and tension for the audience. However, I think the most important feature in this film is the use of sound. There is no dialogue used throughout the film, instead the sound relies on sound effects and the music, keeping us on edge as we can only rely on visuals, there’s no speech to explain how the character is thinking or feeling.

However, since the film is so short (3 minutes long), it is only effective the first watch. After you have seen it once and knows how the film plays out, the jumpscare start to lose the suspense. Saying this, it was adapted into a feature length film in 2016, which will surely create more jump scares and expand the idea.

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After each session answer these questions and include any photos taken:

Date:
1. What did you do?
2. What have you learnt?
3. How have you worked with others?
4. What do you need to develop?

OR Write or film your SHOOT DIARY for your portfolios.
Please include production photos, any behind the scenes footage, scripts, storyboards and other key production documents and a link to the finished film.

What was your role in pre-production and what did you do?
My role in pre-production was helping develop our ideas with each other, researching into the horror genre to help with planning what our film was going to be about. I also helped create storyboards for our film, so we knew the order of the scene and how each scene was going to play out. As I was in charge of makeup, I bought the products that we were going need, planning how each character was going to look to know which products I had already and what I needed to buy new.

What was your role on the shoot?
My role on one of the films was being part of the production team, creating a set for an office. My second role on another film was a makeup artist, creating horror characters.

Briefly explain what happened each day of shoot.
What equipment and skills did you need to apply to your role?
While filming one of the films, me and a few other people part of the production design team created a set to be used later on in the shoot day, while everyone else was filming other scenes in a different location. To create the set, we needed to use props to decorate the scene, which we brought in ourselves to help lower the costs. This role included teamwork and time management skills.
On the film where I was a makeup artist, I worked on different actors, making them into horror characters. This also required teamwork skills and time management as we had to work quickly under pressure.

How well prepared do you feel we were for the shoot?
Explain. What changes had to be made and why?
I feel like we could have been more prepared for the shoot. For example, we didn’t make a call sheet until the last minute. If we had done this earlier, it would have helped both us and people outside of our group to know what we needed to get before the shoot, what type of costumes actors had to show up in, and a filming schedule to keep us on track throughout the day.

Did you have any feedback or advice from tutors / others on set? In what ways did you improve your own knowledge and skills?
The advice people have given me on set is that I could get involved more in different roles. I could improve on this by during post-production, I could get involved more during the editing process and maybe even do some editing myself.

Who did you work with on set? How do you feel you worked with others on set?
On set I had to work with the actors. I feel like i worked well with the actors when putting makeup on them, I made sure to ask if they felt comfortable and if they had any opinions on how their character should look.

What did you learn about how a film crew work together on a shoot?
Film crew need to work together well while filming. This includes teamwork skills, such as having good communication with each other and actively listening to others and their opinions.

Briefly explain how you followed good working practices for filmmaking? (Time management, health and safety, being reliable and coping with on set demands.)
One of our main things we relied on was time management. For example, some of our scenes were set outside and we wanted to film at dusk to link with the horror genre. However, as we were filming on the afternoon during winter there was very little time between dusk and total darkness. To deal with this, we made sure that while filming these scenes we stuck to the initial plan, making sure we didn’t change anything in the moment like we were able to during the other scenes. This helped us film in the time we had as we were able to get on quickly and film the scenes we needed.
Another thing that we practiced was being reliable and trusting each other. For example, people needed to bring things in that we needed to film, such as the actors needed to bring in their own costumes and I had to make sure we had all the makeup. To make sure that we didn’t forget anything, we made sure to message each other during the week before we filmed to ensure that we had everything we needed.

Overall – How do you feel the shoot went? What went well/ didn’t go well? What would you improve on?
I feel as though the shoot day went really well - we managed to successfully film all the scene we need for the final edit. One thing that I feel we did well on was definitely time management - we were able to film everything in the time we had, including the outside scenes with the sun setting. However, one thing I think we could improve on was equally sharing out the different roles. For example, we had a few arguments over who was going to direct each specific scene and it was hard to agree on everybody’s ideas. Although, in the end I think we worked on this and made sure that it was everybody’s piece of work.

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(It’s worth briefing the industry speaker in terms of giving detail about their role and their personal progression.)

Industry Speaker: Laura

What is their job? What does it involve?

She is a writer/director, this involves her writing scripts, watch films, put together mood/story boards, camera plans and communicating with members of pre production and crew on filming day.

How did they start working in film/media?

She did work experience in the research dept at Hart Ryan factual production company. She was a runner at Kudos Film and TV, then eventually got a position and salary there which led to many job

What have they done in their career?

Having been a freelance reader at the BBC, development, being apart of lots of writer/director opportunities with funding. She has also been a director of music videos, funded by record labels.

What have you learnt about working in film/media?

What opportunities for your own progression have you found out about?

Industry Speaker: James

What is their job? What does it involve?

He is a children’s author, an actor, and a work-shopper.

How did they start working in film/media?

He went to university and studied model making. However, he has wanted to work in special effects since 1996 and first started his journey with special effects with his friends when making short films as it was his first SFX gig.

What have they done in their career?

He has made many short movies such as Curse of Jeff, Space Time Envelope and many more. Working with places like the BBC, ITV and Channel 4.

What have you learnt about working in film/media?

Industry Speaker: John Noble

What is their job? What does it involve?

Production Designer - this role includes designing sets, using different props and pieces to put together a scene.

How did they start working in film/media?

John went to the University of Sunderland to study film and began doing work experiences on sets. His first major production he worked on was Batman Begins.

What have they done in their career?

He has gone on to work on various different shows and movie sets in which he decorates the rooms provided and designs the props that will be used.

What have you learnt about working in film/media?

It's a very observing industry, you need to stay focused so you don't miss anything but also be very mindful of the area around you - all the departments on a film set do different jobs and it's important it flows so you can't get in the way.

Industry Speaker: Lana

What is their job? What does it involve?

At the moment, Lana is a freelance film maker, she works with Smoggie Films, Film In Newcastle, In The Frame, and Terabitha Pictures. Specialising in the role of production designer which involves sourcing props, dressing the set during filming and ensuring continuity.

How did they start working in film/media?

She participated in a BFI Film Academy and BFI Crafts Skills course, this grew her love further for filmmaking. So afterwards. She began pursuing a career in film and TV production which involved going to networking events where she met local industry professionals and then began working with Smoggie Films on their short films and recent feature film as a runner and 2nd AC. This kickstarted her career in the industry building her experience.

What have they done in their career?
She has worked on a range of short films with Terabithia Pictures in different genres including romance, comedy and thriller which allowed range of experience in set design as each genre needed its own individual style. She also does BTS photography work, as well as some work as a supporting actor as a way to gain experience on more established productions such as Vera and The Dumping Ground.

What have you learnt about working in film/media?

Industry Speaker: John Kirkbride

What is their job? What does it involve?

He is an editor, adding his own artistic expression into the films he has edited.

How did they start working in film/media?

He started by asking local bands if they wanted music videos, as he would film and edit them for them. This then led to him being asked by other people asking him for different work whether it be editing or filming.

What have they done in their career?

He has worked with company’s like Paramount who he had connections with  who asked him to come and help film behind the scenes, SUBPOP and the BBC, where he has edited a project that is yet to be fund and released.

What have you learnt about working in film/media?

Industry Speaker: Mark Harrison

What is their job? What does it involve?

He writes reviews for films, whether or not he is commissioned and asked to write them or just writes them for fun.

How did they start working in film/media?

He originally just started making film reviews for fun, whether they were detailed or not to get his experience up as he enjoyed talking about films that he watched, criticising or praising them, and also just enjoyed writing.

What have they done in their career?

What have you learnt about working in film/media?

Industry Speaker: Scott Coulter

What is their job? What does it involve?

Director of Photography -

How did they start working in film/media?

What have they done in their career?

What have you learnt about working in film/media?

What opportunities for your own progression have you found out about?

What opportunities for your own progression have you found out about?

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Personal Progression Plan

What areas/ specialisms in creative media would you like to work in?

The areas in creative media that interest me the most is definitely the more artistic side of thing, specifically make-up artistry.

Would you like to further study film / creative media?

I have plans to further study film / creative media through a university course after i finish my A-Levels.

What courses interest you? Give reasons

The courses that interest me the most are either creative make-up artistry or makeup for screen and film.

Which local media companies would you be interested in working with? Give reasons

Candle and Bell

Sea and Sky

Smoggie Productions

Wander Films

Superkrush

Twenty Six 03

Blast Furnace

Freya Films

- Because these are local film companies that work in the area I live in, they will be easy to gain access to without having far to travel, especially when starting out in the film industry, helping me gain experience before moving on to bigger things.

What are the options for making your own content

The options that are available for making your own content in film in general are quite wide if you have a creative mind. You can easily pick up a camera and create a film no matter where you are and you can even reach out to people in your area you are interested in making a film with you.

For me personally, in makeup it's quite easy to create different makeup looks as you can do them from your own home and on yourself. However, it is quite expensive to buy the materials you need which limits the options.

What would you make and how?

For filmmaking, you can create a wide variety of films depending on the area you live in and what props / locations you have access to. You can create films based on your location or you can make your own locations using props and other materials - the only thing really stopping you from making a film is your own creativity.

In terms of makeup, you can easily create different makeup looks from home - it’s quite easy to get a range of different tools and products with a large price range meaning it can be quite affordable. However, the prices of these products can add up very quickly so you have to keep track of what sort of things you need.

What are the options for funding and distribution? What networks will you join?

I have only considered the BFI Film Academy, however I can find more networking by seeking out events and talking to directors, producers and writers.

For funding and distribution, the BFI has funding (linked on the website) where they award money from places like lottery to support the development of people’s films.

What do you hope to gain from these networks? Are there other opportunities you are interested in? What are your next steps?

I hope to gain the experience from having the opportunity to learn from people who work in the industry, as well as meeting new people who are at the same level as me. As well as this, I hope to gain practical experience while also learning about how I can start working in the future.