Uses 
Conference Highlights
| | Morten Watkins Homewood School and 6th Form Centre Click on the image to download the Homewood School Conference Highlights (download may take one or two minutes) |
I remember the first time I picked up a camcorder, I was about 6 and it was my Dad’s Panasonic video cassette recorder, the big kind that you had to carry around on your shoulder. Needless to say that everything I filmed represented a small ship in a bad storm.
That was 12 years ago and since then technology has advanced so much that it’s very hard to keep track of it. So many people are benefiting from today’s technology and that includes me. I’ve always been fascinated by movies and films and I always used to wonder what goes on behind the scenes. Now that I have had the opportunity to actually be in the position of running a film crew and editing a short film I can say how much fun it is and at the same time say what a great responsibility it is. But the rewards are wonderful and the process is great fun. It’s an awesome feeling to know that something you have put so much effort and time into producing can go on and benefit other people.
But what exactly are the ingredients you need to make a film or a documentary? Well, let’s start off with the obvious: a video camera! Great communication skills are a must, especially if you are coordinating a team or directing a film crew. An easy to understand and full brief, as it is essential that you know what you are doing. People you can trust to help you do the job properly.
There are always deadlines and timelines that need to be stuck to in order for your project to be a success. At the ICT Conference there was so much happening at once I needed a large team to help be in several places at the same time. Whenever you’re filming you have to be ready for anything. It’s important to keep one eye on what you’re filming and the other on what is happening around you. Filming is fun as you get to be creative and use your imagination. When I film I like to try and capture what I see or what someone else might see. I try and incorporate this into editing as well.
Editing is an excellent way to express feeling and emotion into your film. It can be brilliant fun but at the same time gruelling and time consuming. But that’s still okay because you know that you’re in charge of it and it will eventually be finished and presentable. There are so many different programs that editor’s use that it’s hard to decide which one is best. I used Apple iMovie for the ICT Conference edit. It is a program that I am familiar with and have used for the past two years for A Level coursework and other projects that I have been asked to help out with.
Well, to summarise then, making a movie isn’t easy and it does take time. But the benefits are very rewarding and if you’re lucky you could be set to make a lot of money out of it in the future. Who knows, maybe you could be the next Spielberg or Tarantino!