Introduction to the Direction Unit

So after completing our first unit 'story-telling', it was time to begin the next unit - directions. This unit was slightly longer than our first unit (10 weeks) where the deadline was around the end of February. It was split up into 3 sections:

1. A 4 minute dramatic film - here we were all given the same 4-page script called 'A journey through…' which was then split into 5 sections focusing on the stylistic approach for the script, which were:
     - 'A Journey Through…' Sorrow
     - 'A Journey Through…' Loneliness
     - 'A Journey Through…' Love
     - 'A Journey Through…' Anger
     - 'A Journey Through…' Freedom

The idea of these approaches is so that we direct the script dependent on the approach. Because there are 25 of us for this course, we were split into groups of 5 dependent on the theme. The theme I chose was freedom - my first thoughts were that it would be the easiest. For example, 'freedom' can be quite vague - it could be the metaphoric or literal freedom of someone or something, etc. However, when I read the script I started to become concerned. This is primarily because the 'home' location must be the same as the ending which I found very complex to portray freedom if the start and end location is the same.






2. Director's statement - following on from the short film, we were also assigned to develop a statement outlining our approach on the script. This basically covers our intentions and the way we are showing the script, focusing on devices such as tone, style, visual approach as well as all reference material and research we used. In other words, explaining what we used and why.

Generally, I don't really have that much of an idea on what a director's unit is - i've never wrote one swell as seeing it, thus leading me to research examples to help me gain an idea on what it is, and how to write it.

This is the handout we were given providing information about the 4 minute film and the director's statement:

3. 1 minute sound design film - for this part of the unit, we are assigned to create a theme using sound only from one of Gregory Crewdson Photographs. Basically we have to direct what we see from an image and the story it creates. It should have opening and closing titles and CANNOT use music, however pre-recorded sounds are allowed.

Here is the handout providing information about the sound design:

Overall, my opinions on this unit were generally quite worrying however it is proving to be a challenge which is keeping me motivated. It's something completely new and different and by the looks of it seems like a lot of creativity and concentration will be needed!