Back from the dead

R.E.D.

So here we are in the third year, more importantly my B.A. year. This is when I'm supposed to start demonstrating my technical ability, my knowledge of modern film-making  practices, my willingness to create, direct and produce my own work. To be honest I'm still not sure whether or not I can do that with as much ease as I would have liked. I see how others around me have grown and I don't see the same progression in myself. I still annoy the crap out of Stu every time I don't know how to work "Final Cut" but then I shouldn't be using final cut anyway apparently!.

At the end of last year, I presented what would be my major piece for the year, entitled " Chasing a Rabbit " and while it was a moderately successful it was a far cry from what I had intended to make. I had failed to create the work which i had originally set out to make, which considering i had so many nights waiting in the cold to interview people outside the nightclub where the film was set. after that was a break of almost four months where I could do nothing but reflect upon what I got wrong in the last few years. In this time, i feel like I lost touch with what i had learned during the last two years, I spent much of my time dealing with the politics of a horrible part-time job, the financial strains of a mortgage and the temptation to let my degree fall into the bracket of " Just get it out of the way ". 

I started this course because i wanted to be able to immerse myself in something that i feel passionate about, to create something, to discuss film with others around me and maybe achieve a qualification in a subject that I really love. the future prospects, the grades, the demonstration of technical knowledge was and still is an afterthought. I was so happy knowing that i would be able to get a break from my previous vocation which i had seriously, for many reasons, become disillusioned with. I never wanted this course to be all about me just meeting the learning outcomes and passing, I really want to have actually achieved something even if I just enjoyed my time taking part. 

Which brings me to the creation of my R.E.D. 1 project which to most people will go by the name of " Door to Door ". This was a chance for me to re-evaluate my position and truly try and see what I have done in the first two years that has dictated my approach to this first project. what have I learned?. What are my habits, What would I consider to the characteristics that inform my current practice?. Where do I go from here?, how do I develop and How do I get to a place where I can create a final piece of work next year that I can present as I prepare to leave my education behind, safe in the knowledge that i am happy with what I made?.