This Is Our Final Curtain Call...

Well, this will be my last post on this class, Appreciating Film: Making Movies. It has definitely been an interesting and exciting year, but most of all I'm glad I can look at movies in a new way. Some might say that this class ruined the pure entertainment value of the films they watch in the future, and looking at them in more detail might have that effect. Though this class has taught me to look at films more critically, I believe it enhances my viewing experience, instead of taking away from it. I've always been curious about how they made those magical worlds that I loved from my childhood, as early as my development of an attention span. Now, I've been given a peek into the "film-making world", much like a glimpse of something enchanting, and yet too complicated to fully comprehend in that moment; it's something that probably takes years of education and practice to achieve a good sense of expertise.

Actually being behind the camera while filming gave me a whole new perspective and idea how movies are constructed from random scenes, much like a collage, which the editor then puts together to make the scenes flow coherently. I must say I truly appreciate the job that a cameraman (or camerawoman) does, especially since the normal cameras for shooting probably weigh ten times more than ours. It takes a steady hand and a willingness to be directed and guided to get the needed shots. I also appreciated their talent with electronic devices, because I don't think I ever did, or ever will, learn the endless buttons and what they do or how to actually get the film off the camera and onto a computer.

We are now in the process of editing our films, for our film festival on Thursday night. Hopefully it will all come together in time and all our films will be great successes. Also, we'll be turning in production journals about our filming experiences, from the way the group worked together and scheduling to what you learned personally from it. I don't see an academy award in my future or anything, but I loved the class and learning about movie-making. The discussions on the films we watched and the behind-the-scenes details that Eric taught us were both educational and enjoyable, which is a combination you would hardly expect in a Film Appreciation class, except this one was on a whole new level. This class gave the tools I needed, if I ever considered it, to make my ideas come to life on the the big (or any, for that matter) screen. It's been a great semester, and I must say it's a little sad to see it end. Well, I've said my piece, and to all you future and fellow filmmakers, I wish you nothing but success in your future endeavors.