Blog Post #9: Maci Arms Film Reel and Artist Statement

Although I am somewhat of a filmmaker (amateur at most), more than anything I consider myself a dancer first. I have been dancing since I was three years old, so it’s become not only something I’m passionate about, but a huge part of who I am. I never thought that the day I picked up a camera would open the door to a new world that I didn’t know existed: the world of film.

When I am creating a film, I see it the same way I would choreograph a dance, even if I’m not shooting a dance scene. When I come up with an idea, I instantly think of the music behind it and how that will accentuate the mood of the scene. I think of how the movement will flow across the screen to create beautiful pictures and try to figure out the best way to create these pictures with a camera. It’s funny because through my work as a filmmaker, I have realized that filmmaking is very similar to dance. It’s an art form that requires a lot practice and experience to perfect, as well as the time needed to commit to perfecting it. In the end, dance and film are one in the same, art.

Both dance and film are beautiful art forms in and of themselves, but when put together, they can be a truly remarkable pair. The beauty in the movement of the dancers along with the added elements of a camera has the ability to create beautiful pictures overall and add another dimension to dance. Through film, a choreographer has the ability to direct the audiences’ focus exactly where they want it to go, and focus on the little details that could be lost on a large stage. They also have the ability to create a new, fantastical world in a very intimate setting, something that is not as easy when performing dance live. As I continue to explore the film world, I want to make films that are not only beautiful because of their choreography, but they are beautiful because of the videography as well. 

Film is quickly encroaching into the dance world, and I hope to one day be considered one of the filmmakers at the forefront of this movement.

TCF 312 Scene Assignment - Flashdance

Flashdance - Maci Arms TCF 312 Scene Assignment from UA, Telecommunication and Film on Vimeo.

Blog Post #8: Scene Assignment Pre-Production Materials

Flashdance: Final Dance Scene

Script

Storyboard:

 Location Photos: Clark Hall

Visual References

Clark Hall Floor Plan

 Shot List

 Shooting Script

Blog Post #7: The "Best" Cameras

It's hard to pinpoint exactly what the best cameras are because different cameras work best in better situations. So, I have decided to discuss what the best cameras are in terms of what I would use them for. So here we go:

I really loved shooting with the DSLR Canon 7D this semester! I thought the images were all so crisp and once I finally figured out the logistics of keeping focus, it produced some really beautiful images. I especially loved how easy it was to adjust the settings to create the exact look we were going for, as we did for both my final scene assignment as well as Chris'. Overall, for the right occasion, the 7D is a great camera that is not only affordable but creates beautiful images as well!

As far as shooting dance scenes is concerned, I loved the EX3. It was overall pretty easy to use, and it  created beautiful dance images without ruining the quality of the picture. I also felt like it adjusted well to the lights changing while still keeping the colors rich and beautiful. How could this camera get better?? Well with the larger screen it was easy to be sure the dancers are in the frame and in focus, which makes shooting constant movement of the dancers so much easier. It also has a built in shoulder pad and is relatively light weight, making it easy to move around the stage and at the same time keep steady shots. Overall, the EX3 was by far my favorite camera to shoot dance on. I would love to one day be able to use and purchase one of these for my own!