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!

Blog Post #6: Inspiring Lighting Styles

There are many beautifully lit scenes that I could think of from movies, but I decided to pull just a few of my favorites out from many different movies to discuss!

Not only is Mary Poppins one of my absolute favorite classic Disney films, but this is a shot from one of my favorite scenes in the movie! Since they are standing on the roof of the house, I love how the deep amber tones help accentuate the fact that they are watching a sunset. I also love the background and the composition of the frame, placing the center of the clump slightly off center so as to give the characters more looking room and show off more of the background lighting.

Although Sunset Boulevard was shot in black and white, I love the lighting in this scene! The back lighting is so striking, and to me it symbolizes the fame that Norma Desmond once had and how her film career is now behind her, even if she won't admit it to herself. This scene shows how effective lighting can really be both artistically and symbolically, even in a black and white film!

This shot is so beautiful, sometimes it's hard for me to remember it's in a movie! The iconic water scene in Flashdance is not only remembered because it's awesome, but for me, the lighting in this shot makes it so much more powerful! With the use of the light to create a silhouette of Alex on the chair, the light reflects off of the water and makes every droplet stand out, which is something I think is so hard to capture so beautifully!

Another iconic dance scene from a movie, "Cell Block Tango" from the movie production of Chicago. I loved the lighting in this scene for many reasons. The red lighting keeps true to the mood of the piece, especially with the red silhouettes in the back. At the same time, they kept true to the fact that Chicago is originally a stage production by using lights on the ground that are typically used for theatre (particularly the gobos on the floor) and made it work for film. The ability for this piece to maintain theatrical lighting but use it in film is a skill that I would love to perfect and use later on in dance films.

I mean really, who doesn't love The Notebook?? While it is my favorite romance movie ever, the lake scene truly amazes me every time I watch this move. The beautiful amber cast makes every shot in this scene so beautiful while keeping true to the beauty of nature. I love this shot because of how natural the lighting really looks, showing how it's important to light scenes as they would be in real life, but to also do it in a beautiful way.

Black Swan was such a creepy movie, but that doesn't stop me from loving this scene. For one thing, it's hard to capture dances on a stage from behind the dancers because of all the stage lights; they often produce glares on your shot, which is a problem I have come across a lot. However, in the final dance scene, not only do they prevent the lens flares, but they also use the lights to enhance the shot and make her stand out from the audience in a beautiful way. 

It is so hard to shoot scenes in the dark in terms of getting the lighting just right, but I thought Silver Linings Playbook did a wonderful job with this, as you can see in this shot. Not only is Jennifer Lawrence's face lit well, it doesn't take away from the fact that it's a night scene. However, I also love the use of shallow depth of field to use lights in the distance in artistic ways. Altogether, it makes for a beautifully lit night scene.

Blog Post #5: DSLR Pros and Cons

Up until this class, I had never used a DSLR camera before. Of course I had heard a lot about them, but I never had the opportunity to use one. As a non-DSLR user, it was good form e to not only realize the many pros this camera has, but it also allowed me to be open to the problems I could potentially run into when using a DSLR camera.

Pros:

1. One of the major pros of the DSLR for me was that it was fairly simple to use. Once I figured out my way around the menu, I thought it was easy having everything so conveniently placed for you. I also found that things that can be difficult on some cameras, such as setting the camera's white balance and, were easily accessible and really efficient when it comes to time usage.
2. Because it is a small, lightweight camera, the DSLR is really accessible in terms of carrying it around. Since it was originally made for still photography, it's the size of your average camera, which can be a lot easier to deal with then lugging a big camera bag around on location. Also, it's a lot easier to shoot a DSLR handheld then it is to shoot other cameras because it is so light, so this could be taken into consideration when deciding what you are shooting.
3. I love the fact that the DSLR allows you to rack your focus so quickly and easily. It is able to create such a shallow depth of field, which can make really interesting and artistic shots. This is something that I would be interested in experimenting with when filming dance.
4. What may be the most popular pro of the DSLR is it's price. For a beginning filmmaker with a low budget, the DSLR is a great option to invest in that still creates good quality shots. 

Cons:

1. One thing that I've noticed about the DSLR is that because of it's ability to create a shallow depth of field, this can mess up your focus during a shot if you're not careful. For example, if you set your focus on the subject and the subject walks towards the camera, chances are they will be out of focus as they get closer to the camera. Because of this, this makes the camera not as efficient to use.
2. While there are perks to having a small, totable camera, the DSLR isn't the most professional looking camera. Since it was originally made for photography, it has the body of a still shot camera then a video camera. If you want to be taken seriously, then a larger camera like the EX3 or even the JVC is more appropriate.
3. Because the camera body is so small and the chip is so large, the DSLRs tend to overheat easily. This could cause your camera to stop working in the middle of a shot or it could possibly damage the camera completely. Because of this, the DSLR isn't the best to use for filming for long periods of time without giving it some time to cool down and rest.
4. To record sound on a DSLR, you are going to have to use a zoom mic. This is because the only mic attached to the camera is extremely small and doesn't pick up much. Using a zoom mic requires extra work in post-production, which is something to think about when you are deciding whether or not to use a DSLR.

Overall, I think the DSLR's are a very convenient camera option. They are easy to use, easy to handle, and they have the ability to create some interesting shots. However, like all cameras, there are some major limitations to using them. That's why it is important to consider your subject and what you are filming before deciding to automatically use the DSLR camera. There is a time and place that is perfect for each camera, so if the opportunity to use a DSLR is there, I can say that I would definitely consider using it.

Blog Post #4: What I learned from the Documentary Storytelling Assignments

I loved getting to work on our documentary storytelling assignments. I thought it was a great experience to not only direct, but to get behind the camera. More than anything I loved being able to choose our own topic and see our classmates and where they went with it, especially since it was our first big project in the class. There were several things that I learned from this project as a whole.

1. You're only as good as your weakest shot. This was a big one for me, because I feel like as a dancer, I had a specific shot in mind for a specific spot in the music, so I used shots even if the lighting wasn't perfect or if there was a part that was out of focus. Through this project, I learned that sometimes your original idea isn't going to work, so it's better to be open to options that make your project the best that it can be rather than what my idea was.
2. Be passionate about what you are filming. After watching all of the projects, I found that when people were excited and passionate about their topic, their projects came across better as a whole. For me, dance is something I am really passionate, so it made working on my ARDT project enjoyable and fun rather than like work. Obviously, we don't always get to film things we want to film, but it definitely is nice when we can.
3. Filming dance isn't easy. From quick, drastic light changes to constant movement, filming dance was hard. It was definitely a process trying to get the camera to work correctly without getting the time to white balance and find your focus. However, it was a great learning experience for me, especially since I want to film dance after my professional dance career. Through the course of show, however, filming the pieces and working the camera came much easier as a whole. Now I'm interested in experimenting with other cameras and seeing how they do under the circumstances filming dance brings.