FMP Reflection

Brief description in a paragraph of what your FMP was/what did you decide to do?
I decided to make a concept website that would aggregate all the major on-demand video websites (Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, etc) and provide each user with a personalised internet video guide.

List 3 things you did particularly well:

• I created a virtual website tour 
• I pitched in front of my tutor and head editor of the Bath Chronicle 
• I was able to Adobe Flash to create my product 

List 3 things you will not do this time!:

• I will not leave all the work to the last minute 
• I will not try to 'wing-it' 
• I will not get a pass 

Were there any struggles throughout the project?
I struggled to export that flash file into a video, as It wanted to export it as a 40GB video! I also had a hell of a time getting the video teaser for 'The Flash' to play on queue! I spent the majority of the time trying to figure out how to get it to work. In the end I was able to get it to play properly.

Did you do anything to surprise yourself?
I was surprised at how well i was able to grasp Adobe Flash, and so quickly at that! From have no prior experience in it, to producing the level of work I did. I was quite proud of myself.

What research did you conduct?
I conducted a vast array of research, such as focus groups, interviews, questionnaires, and opinion polls. I had great fun doing this as I enjoy collecting data, especially questionnaire polls.

Were you happy with the overall piece? And why?
I am happy with the overall piece, because I created a product that I would actually like and love to use. And something that I think could really benefit people across a wide age range. I hope that one day it is able to be a reality!

SWOT ANALYSIS

Scribes Short Film

Strengths - My strength was my ability to organise a team to work together. Having a crew that works in harmony with each other can really make or break a film. Making sure that all the actors were in when we needed them and that they were look after, and that we filmed all the scenes in the appropriate lighting is integral to the film. I was also able to organise the use of an alleyway in Bath with the Bath film office in ample time before the shoot.

Weakness - My weakness was nervousness. I tend to get very nervous in the lead up to a big event, Which can affect my work. This happened again for the lead up to production day, but thankfully I got better as we day progressed.

Opportunities - I got the opportunity to go to a set design company with my class based in Bristol. This was a great experience as it really gave us

Threats - 

#LIfeGoalz

I have just accomplished my goal of having my own eye-catching business cards an a bespoke, gallery-like website. www.jamesmarcelle.co.uk 

My Goal for my FMP is produce a short film/music video that will really move the viewer emotionally, to tears even! I also want it to be a great portfolio piece.

By next year I want to have a thriving media production business, traveling mainly between England and St. Lucia the wider Caribbean, but also throughout America and Europe too! And if I get the chance to have a job at JW Broadcasting I will take it!

In 5 years time I want to be settled down and content with life.

The thought of creating my own business is terrifying but also exciting too. It's much much harder than having a job with an established company. But I'm willing to take the risk and see how far I can get with it. 

James Whetherley

The media students at Bath College had the pleasure of being visited by Grammy nominated producer, James Whetherley on Tuesday (24th November). He talked them through the whirlwind of a life and career he’s enjoyed so far. From the day he was born and flunking high school, to his major successes like making music videos for Oasis, Beyonce and Robbie Williams. Even to producing at the Glastonbury festival, a series of Later… with Jools Holland adverts starring Daniel Craig.

He gave the students many pointers from his hands on experience. Such as advice on making music videos, to working with a crew and a tip to always getting jobs: Always be nice to everyone. After his presentation we opened to floor to questions, here are a few excerpts:

Q• What inspired you to get into this industry?
A• That would be my passion for music and for film. And I guess this is how I merge them together. I've always dreamed of being in a band, but I can't sing or play any instruments so that wasn't going to happen!

Q• What piece of work are you most proud of, and why?
A• I am most proud of the series of Later… that I produced. I had a great office to come into every morning and I got to meet incredibly talented artistes from all around the world.

Q• What would be your dream artiste to make a music video for?
A• I think that would be Disclosure. Because they're young, modern and relevant. I think they’re really talented and I can't actually believe how they make such genius music yet they're so young!

Q• What was it like to be nominated for a Grammy?
A• Oh it was one of the proudest moments of my life! I remember it vividly. I was working for a huge architectural firm not too far from here in Bath. At that point I had drifted away from the film and music video industry. But my dad got a letter through the post (my mail still gets delivered to him) which he thought looked important. The letter had ‘Grammy Nominee’ typed onto it. I was so confused and excited all at the same time! Inside it said that I was nominated alongside Madonna for a music video that I had made quite a while back for an alternative country singer in America. Of course Madonna won, but I'm still incredibly proud of what I achieved.

Role Pitching

I will pitch myself by speaking to the class without the use of a powerpoint presentation. It will be very natural, I will only have a few visual aids by means of a slideshow projected behind me.

5 Roles of a Producer

• Organised
• Networking
• Business Minded
• Communication Skills
• Efficient

5 Roles of an Editor

• Long Attention Span
• Focused
• Organised
• Creative
• Motivated/Good at Problem Solving

Skills I already possess that suit this role:

Organised: I demonstrate this skill 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! I’m always organised. I make sure to have everything written down in the cloud, i have a reminder for everything in my life.

Communication Skills: I demonstrate this each day when I pick up my phone to text or call someone. Also when I speak to people throughout the day. I make sure to speak clearly and get what I have to say accurately across to the person.

Efficiency: I demonstrated this when I built a website for a business owner, in 2 days and that website was infinitely better than the first one they had that was made by a professional, which took a year to make and £2,000.


5 Skills I Will Develop Whilst in this Role:

• Better People Skills
• Better Paperwork Skills
• More Networking Contacts
• Better Directorial Skills
• Better Communication Skills

Encounter's Trip

We had the fantastic opportunity to attend the Encounters international film festival in Bristol this year! It was held in the beautiful and iconic Watershed theatres right on the harbour in Bristol City Centre. 

It really was a phenomenal experience. We attend for two days, Thursday and Friday. Those days were filled with thrilling speeches and workshop master classes by leading industry professionals, with vast wealths of knowledge.

But I think my favourite class was called 'Directing Actors'. It was taught by a lady started started off from young as an actress, and then transitioned into directing when she was older. Because of that successful background she was able to give hands on experience on how actors act, what their process and insecurities are, and how to direct them to get the best possible performance out of them. 

I also really enjoyed the short film screenings. I did however notice a trend to show male genitalia in the films. I think this is because 'back in the day' woman's bosoms were shown to give films a shock factor. But no they've become commonplace. So penises are used instead. 

I also got to attend a cinematography master class held by a highly acclaimed cinematographer. Working on films such as World War Z! It last a couple hours and we got to see him expertly light a set for a demonstration all short film. 

Idea Pitch

We were tasked to our short film ideas in front of the class and our tuto, Tom Gray. My film
was to be called 'Minius'.

Minius is a henchman in a human trafficking ring, preying off vulnerable migrants. But his heart grows heavy with the guilt of seeing these migrants being treated poorly. He eventually snaps and kills the head henchman just before he killed a poor migrant woman. This causes the migrants relief, however temporary. But it just adds more guild for Moses. He now has the emotional burden of having blood on his hands. And having to run away for the human trafficking ring leader.

In my short film idea, I take inspiration from the account of Moses killing an Egyptian slave driver to protect an Israelite. I want to focus more on the emotional impact on himself due to his actions. I want it to show how a normal human being would feel after killing someone, because after all Moses was just a human, and felt the same emotions we feel. So the film revolves around the themes of compassion, anger and guilt.

It follows the story of Minius who is a henchman in a human trafficking ring. Their aim has been to fool vulnerable migrants who are in desperate need of a better life into think they’re going to get one with them. When in fact they’re being trafficked as modern day slaves.

Although Minius works for these horrible persons he can’t help but feel guilt when seeing these migrants being treated worse than animals. He eventually snaps and kills the head henchman just before he killed a poor migrant woman.

In the story, this head henchman, who is a really horrible character deserved to die, and everyone knew it. But it is said that no matter how much they deserved to die it still changes you forever, killing someone. And Minius find himself in turmoil over this, having blood on his hands on top of everything else.

His act caused the migrants relief, however brief. But Minius now has to run away to the authorities to get help to uncover the human trafficking scheme before the ring leader finds him. And that’s where I plan on ending it, with him running for his life under heavy gun fire.

Bible Connection
This short film is takes inspiration from the account of Moses killing an Egyptian slave driver to protect an Israelite. He hated to see the Israelites being treated horribly and even though he was raised as an Egyptian he had to take action. The ending focuses on Moses’ guilt of killing the Egyptian slave driver, and then Moses running away for his life.

How It Went
I think the pitch went fairly well. I was able to be myself which I think is important and also incorporated pictures to help the panel visualise the universe my film is set in and it's characters. 

What I Need To Work On

For my future pitches I need to work on being more comfortable on stage. I tend to get very awkward when in front of people and I think that showed, especially in the beginning.

Also I need to work on giving a fluent delivery. As a few times I stumbled over my words, mainly because I was just talking faster than my brain could output words!

Position Pitch

The other day I pitched to my class and tutor for the roles I wanted to pursue for our upcoming IMP, a producer & an editor. I pitched myself by speaking to the class without the use of a powerpoint presentation. I tried to make it very natural, and only had a few visual aids by means of a slideshow projected behind me.

5 key responsibilities of a film producer:

• organised
• networking
• business minded
• communication skills
• efficient

5 key responsibilities of a video editor:

• long attention span

• focused

• organised

• creative

• motivated/good at problem solving

Organised

I demonstrate being organised 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! I’m always organised. I make sure to have everything written down in the cloud, I have a reminder for everything in my life.

Communication Skills

I demonstrate this each day when I pick up my phone to text or call someone. Also when I speak to people throughout the day. I make sure to speak clearly and get what I have to say accurately across to the person. I also take a weekly class in public speaking which trains me in all the skills needed to be confident, fluent, and engaging in front of a crowd. Something in front of thousands!

Efficiency

I demonstrated this when I built a website for a business owner, in 2 days and that website was infinitely better than the first one they had that was made by a professional, which took a year to make and £2,000. I never take the long way to do things. I think it's my impatience that makes me so efficient, as it drives me to very quickly think of an easier, quicker, and more efficient way to do something.

5 skills I want to develop whilst in this role:

• Better people skills

• Better paperwork skills

• more networking contacts

• better directorial skills

• better communication skills

In my pitch I was able to keep calm and collected despite being very nervous inside. I was also able to express my passion for the roles which I think really worked in my favour. Having a good introduction I find really helps with this. If I am able to nail the introduction, once I get that out of the way, I find I'm much more relaxed.