Personal Critical Reflection
A lot of the problems in which emerged with our group was largely based around effort, contribution, communication and preparation. Throughout of the module there has never been one group meeting apart from the opening meeting that occurred straight after being assigned into these groups that we have never had full attendance. The same people have failed to turn up constantly, and because we are a small group anyway, this has made the production very difficult. However through the remaining members including myself, Jess, Abbey, Jack and Rob Knowles and Dutton especially we have been able to construct the production together and not let these issues threaten our production. This module seems more independent than it should. I feel that because of the size of our group and the attendances in which we having, that a lot of the work was done by individual contribution.
Unique Contribution
This included the script, the character profiles, the shooting schedule and group meetings. I feel I contributed to the group to the maximum of my ability. Inputting a lot of my personal time to write the whole script and edit it until it became finalised as well as creating the characters and their histories for the show. In terms of teamwork, I felt my judgement and control was largely acceptable due to the definition of my role. I felt it was my duty to direct group through the production process and not just in through the recording sessions. I often to the lead on group meetings and tried to communicate with everyone respectively on a individual level rather than constantly communicating to everyone on a whole. This allowed me to build individual relationships between my production team and make my directorial intentions a lot clearer and precise – making my communication skills between the group as a team and independently as pristine and functioned. During this module I have always felt that I was not solely a director, but a range of roles. Including producer and scriptwriter. Although Jess and Abbey have been brilliant throughout the module, I felt because of the size of our group and the minimal communication that existed between members, that I have had to take the role of acting and producing more elements to the show rather than my directorial input.
Personal Development
The module this year has been a lot more challenging for me compared to last year. I felt that the brief was a lot stricter, which was understandable due to the progression in ability in which we should be for filling. But because I feel the stimulus has got harder, that I have been challenged as a director and as a team worker to the a new level. I have experienced greater worries this year than to last. This is due to our show being a different format, where last years was one live take, this year we have time to edit and perfect. Which adds a different type of pressure physically. Yes we don’t have to record in one take, but it also means that we are expected to polish our show. As a director it has been much more of a experience. I felt working on various locations such as corridors, inside the studio as well as the gallery was much more comforting. It allowed me to express my past experiences more where being in the gallery, its quite hard to convey your perspective.
Shooting this style of show has taught me a great amount. Researching various other shows from the past, present and over seas including radio and television have opened me up more to the world of broadcast and the non existent boundaries in which it contains. Last year we were very limited and as a first experience you are then focused on working in topical television, where this year being given that opportunity to have more flexibility about your production makes you think of more creative ways to succeed. In which I believe my self and my group have done. The idea came from myself and after researching a lot of American shows such as ‘Studio 60 on sunset strip’ or ‘Sports Night’ in which before I never knew of and I found that the genre was famous over there but in Britain it was extinct. Allowing for me to manipulate and interpretate the show a lot more for a British cultural audience. Thinking about how they would consume it including the language, the behaviour, the family relationships and the actions that take place within the pilot episode.
The module has defiantly opened me up to broadcast a lot more. Instead of being fixed minded on television I feel I am also suited to radio broadcast, after experience with Mercia FM and tutorials with Paul. However my heart still lies in directing. I feel I have improved a lot more in this role due to the experience in which this module has given me. I have had more freedom and aspect of creativity allowed for me to use rather than being focused on one particular genre, I have been allowed to explore and experiment with my ideas and directorial intentions. This applies to in the studio, in the script and filming off location. The module has a more free aspect to it in which I preferred and I think adapted to rather well. Although my group at some times looked weak and maybe less confident, that my belief and efforts in wanting to succeed and make this piece and my script come to life was largely due to the aspect of boundaries in which we was no longer tied too.
I was given the chance to explore my creativity as a director and this is what I preferred and think allowed me to feel more comfortable in the role.
My communication and leadership skills I have also improved. Although our group was not a large group, it was still a new group to me and a group that needed immediate directing; in meetings and in sessions. I felt my belief in the individual was much greater than last year. I knew a lot of people have improved in their technical, practical and theoretical aspects that helped the production a lot. It gave me the chance to talk to each individual about their ideas; each giving there perspective based on what they learned in which I collected to receive and realise the broad experience within the group. It was through my communication skills between the group in which was my strongest factor as the director.
I felt that my verbal and oral skills will at a maximum and it helped the production construct in the way it did. A production in which I am very proud to have written, produce and most of all, direct.
