intellectualautobiography

[intellectualautobiography]

Introduction:

Hello Everyone! Welcome to my Tumblr page which will explore a little bit about who I am, what I'm currently studying at university and my passions, interests and goals for the future. This page will essentially be an Intellectual Autobiography Project to share with you my life as a 3rd Year university student. I am currently 21 years old and living in Sydney Australia studying a Bachelor of Media and Communications with a major in Screen Practice and Production at Macquarie University. I am interested in Film and Television production including cinematography and production design as well as the creation of social media content, and the use of a variety of digital and creative platforms. Following graduation from my degree, I hope to begin working in the media industry to gain valuable experience and insights into the world of film and television production. I intend to use the practical and theoretical skills learnt so far in my degree to strengthen my skillset and act as the building blocks for my career. Please follow along this exciting journey with me!

[intellectualautobiography]

[intellectualautobiography]

So, what's a Screen Practice and Production major anyway?

Throughout the duration of my degree, I have been asked multiple times by people of varying degrees or not studying at all, what is a screen practice and production major and where do I see myself after graduation? This question, while seems straightforward and simple, I believe can be subjective to the student and answers may vary depending upon their own interests. For me, a screen practice and production major explores my two favourite roles within the realm of film and television production- cinematography and production design. These two roles help to bring the story world to life through lighting, camera angles and shots, and a variety of visual design elements which are all crucial to the overall look of the film. However more broadly, this major focuses on all aspects of production including cinematography, editing, scriptwriting, sound design, producing, directing, design and the ethical and moral dilemmas involved in the creation of film. Furthermore, throughout the course of my degree, I have taken a number of units that have allowed me to not only use industry level equipment and facilities, but have offered me the opportunity to fulfill these roles in action in the creation of film.

[intellectualautobiography]

Why Screen Practice and Production?

I chose this major as I have always had a fondness for photography and videography since I was of a young age, capturing a variety of different types of content and editing and manipulating it into a final product. Film has always been a passion of mine and I enjoy watching a variety of different genres including classical old films such as black and whites as well as contemporary films that reflect modern issues of todays society. Therefore, this major has allowed me to put my passion into practice and take advantage of the opportunity to freely create short fictional films and documentaries. It has allowed me to strengthen my cinematography and production design skills through the access to industry level equipment and facilities. Additionally it and has also provided me with theoretical skills through readings and film/ documentary viewings as well as lectures on film history, techniques, themes, scene and script writing, performing research, genre study, and other fundamental concepts which have then been transferred into practice when creating film.

[intellectualautobiography]

[intellectualautobiography]

University acquired skills:

One particular skill I acquired while taking a screen practice and production major was a greater understanding and awareness of the operation and functions of a film camera. Through the offering of practical workshops hosted by the universities camera technician, I was able to learn about the key concepts and functions of the camera which allowed me to fill in the gaps of my knowledge and strengthen areas I needed improvement in. By learning this valuable skill, it set the building blocks for the remainder of my degree by allowing me to have greater competency in being the cinematographer in other upcoming semester productions. Furthermore, it is a transferable skill that will be advantageous in future years to come as I work towards a career in the film industry. A second skill I built on during the course of my degree was my production design skills which have strengthened with every production I've worked on.  By taking online courses and watching tutorial videos I have learnt how to better convey the story and key themes of the film through crucial design elements such as makeup, hairstyling, costuming, lighting, props and setting.

[intellectualautobiography]

[intellectualautobiography]

Internships:

My recent internship at The Sydney Morning Herald significantly improved my personal and professional skillset in helping to prepare me for employment in the media industry following graduation. At the newspaper I worked as a video and audio intern where I got to develop my videography skills by using the Sony FS7 film camera as well as a variety of other complex recording equipment which expanded my knowledge of the technologies. Using the equipment, I got to create a variety of content including shooting B-roll footage of local commuters, public transport, traffic on the harbour bridge, and hotspot areas in the North Sydney area. These clips can then be used for online news stories for the company and also provided a great pathway into developing my video editing skills. Following the creation of video content I used the Premiere Pro editing software system to learn how to edit clips, graphics, audio, transitions, animations, apply LUTS and use a variety of other editing techniques to achieve my desired look. This allowed me to further appreciate the production process from beginning to end and have creative autonomy over the work I had produced. By completing this internship, I became more confident in my cinematography skills and how to edit footage in a way that delivers the best possible result. In addition, I had the opportunity to socialise with other video and audio producers in the department which allowed me expand my professional network circle and create connections that will be useful for future employment opportunities.

[intellectualautobiography]

[intellectualautobiography]

A moment that shaped me:

A few months ago I worked as the designer for the production of a short documentary called 'Snowy Labour' which followed the story of another film students Italian immigrant grandfather in his work as a brakeman digging tunnels to help construct the Snowy Hydro Scheme. This production had been in the works for months and involved a significant amount of financial and legal preproduction work and required a 5 hour car journey to Cooma with the rest of the cast to shoot the film. However, a few weeks beforehand half the cast including myself unfortunately all caught Covid-19 and therefore could not attend. And while this seems like the end of the story as your thinking how can it go ahead with half a crew absent, we collectively worked together to ensure production went on as we turned to the power of zoom. Whilst half the crew were away, I attended a number of zoom meetings with the director, producer and cinematographer to coordinate the interview setup, the usage of props, lighting, and costuming, therefore continuing to fulfil my duty as the designer- just through the phone. What this taught me was the importance of communication, team work, flexibility and having perseverance, which when doing a film degree are all important skills to have, and transferrable to a number other areas of my life.

[intellectualautobiography]

[intellectualautobiography]

A text that shaped me:

One class related text that has shaped me was a documentary I studied in MMCC2065 Forms, Histories and Futures called Fahrenheit 9/11 by director, filmmaker and activist Michael Moore which explored the 2004 US election and George Bushes actions while in office. The documentary acts as a political expose as Moore comments on the incompetent and infantile nature of the president as reflected in his actions during his time in administration. Fahrenheit 9/11 follows a sarcastic and comedic narration from Moore throughout to question Bushes motivations for war in Afghanistan and Iraq. The documentary creates juxtapositions through the use of comical imagery of politicians clowning around with the press with sinister music playing over the top to contrast the presidents reckless behaviour with a dangerous political climate. Fahrenheit 9/11 was a documentary that very much inspired me in shifting the way I view the genre of documentary as it combined comedy and politics to create new subject matter and reveal different perspectives. Furthermore, I appreciated the clever use of editing supported by Moore's narration to help create this perspective and cast the political leader in a new and controversial light. Through the power of my degree, it has also inspired me to create films and documentaries that disregard traditional genre conventions and challenge familiarity. 

[intellectualautobiography]

[intellectualautobiography]

The Industry:

Following graduation I hope to explore a number of different sectors within the media industry including paid internships and entry or junior level positions that will offer me fundamental practical skills to grow and develop in my career. I  would like to pursue a career at a film production company so I can further explore my two main interests of production design and cinematography that would allow me to not only learn crucial skills but also build up a strong portfolio to showcase my work to potential employers for future opportunities. Secondly, I would like to also explore working more specifically in the field of news and current affairs by working at a media organisation such as The Sydney Morning Herald, Channel 7 or Channel 9. This would allow me to also apply practical video, audio and editing skills, and contribute to the spreading and distribution of local and global news to the public.

[intellectualautobiography]

[intellectualautobiography]

My Inspiration:

One leader who inspires me as a media consumer and creator is film director and screenwriter Greta Gerwig, known best known for the coming-of-age films Lady Bird (2017) and Little Women (2019). What inspired me most about Gerwig is her energy and undeniable passion for film that translates so well onscreen through the actors that makes her films so enjoyable and pleasurable to watch. Gerwigs screenplays follow the teen-style coming of age genre which explore the unexpected and challenging world of young adults navigating university, relationships and the beginning of a career. Through this, the subject matter of her films reflect shared human experiences and are therefore relatable to me, making her work even more impactful. In addition, what ultimately inspires me most is her success in creating such powerful female driven films which roots from being a feminist and mother, as well as undoubtedly having to fight for recognition in a male dominated industry. She is a role model to myself and to a number of other young women,  as she writes incredible screenplays that address shared feminist issues and experiences that makes her an inspiration to filmmakers all around the world. The attached video reflects this as it captures Gerwig directing a scene from the set of Lady Bird.