Kate Duffy at Film Oxford - Head on the Block!

Wow what a week to end on! Yes, can you believe it, my placement time has come to an end, 10 weeks gone in a blink of an eye. I've enjoyed my time here so much more than I could have ever imagined, and I say that in a good way of course. I was really looking forward to coming to Film Oxford, after all, I did apply here, but I wasn't really sure where I as going to fit in and what role I would play. On starting, it became clear that I would get the oppertunity to assist in lots of different areas giving me a wide range of experience whilst learning lots of new skills.

Anyway, last week was a busy one with the 2nd week of the Reel Women course running and then the screening night being held on the Friday. The Reel Women group worked on capturing, logging and editing film footage, pictures and vox pox's.  The group really worked hard pulling together and putting their ideas together about how the film should sound and look, getting it finished in time for the screening night. I really enjoyed the past two weeks assisitng Ali with the course, working with a mixture of women and making friends that I shall stay in touch with, and maybe work with in the future.

A screening night in conjunction with The International Women's Festival was held on Friday. Ali and myself went through the Film Oxford database and picked out some local women who worked in the industry to come and talk about their experiences in film making and working in the media. Hannah Vale, a local woman who is successfully achieving her goal with a career in the media, joined a couple of other women film makers showing their work followed by Q&A's. This group included myself and Sam McNern with 'Booty Call' it was great to see it on the screen at last!

I've always said no one is interested in the writer or who they are when watching a film, this point was proven when Sam had questions from the audience and I, none. This is the beauty of being the writer, if you were to become a successful writer, you'd earn the respect and credit, but you can still go down Tescos in your PJ's and no one knows who you are. Perfect! The night was a great success with a great audience getting the chance to network as well as make some new like minded friends.

Actually, it's been such fun at Film Oxford that I've asked if they will let me stay on as a volunteer and I'm pleased to say they have agreed! Must be my tea making skills. I hope I can continue learning through experience and I hope I can contribute to Film Oxford's fantastic team of staff. Who knows where it may lead me. I shall contiue to Blog if permitted so please keep reading!

I highly reccomend anyone out there who has thought about volunteering at what ever it may be to give it a go it's done me the world of good and I have noticed that my confidence is finally growing which is such a massive thing for me. It's definately worth it! Off now to sort out 10 tonne of college work for tomorrows dead line. They'll be some fretting and sweating in bed tonight! Oh Matron!

Kate Duffy Film Oxford - Reel Women On The Block!

 This week has been a busy one with it being the first week of the Reel Women course. I've really enjoyed it and have loved being busy out and about, meeting different people. A short film about the Lord Mayor of Oxford is the groups project and week one saw the group being introduced to the camera, lighting and  other equipment, planning the film, and the actual shoot day. When you look at it wrote down this is allot to get done in three days and Ali does a brilliant job of getting the group trained, organised and prepared.

DAY 1 - HANDS ON TRAINING

DAY 2 - PRACTISE SHOOT

On the shoot day we split into to two groups, one shooting the interview and one getting vox pox's and any other interesting external  footage that could be used in the shoot. I was in the group that filmed the interview and luckily we had a great subject Lord Mayor Elise Benjamin  who was interesting, funny, and very co-operative. The shoot felt good to do quite nerve racking and some times rather stressful but all in all a really great experience which all the group appeared to enjoy, I got quite a buzz actually and was pleased with how the day went.

                                                                  

DAY 3 - ON LOCATION

However, after watching the footage on our return to Film Oxford I found myself feeling disappointed at the mistakes that had been made which could have been prevented on the shoot.  Hindsight is not a great thing and I wish I had found my voice a little more on certain matters, I was left feeling disappointed and frustrated with MYSELF and NOT with anyone else in the group let me make that clear. I must add though that I am over it now and I realise that it is all a learning curve and in that respect I have learnt sooo....much.


            
On Friday I met with the Shadowlight Artist group which is always an inspirational and enjoyable experience. We heard about their different projects and how they are progressing, watched a rough cut of one of their films which looked amazing. The group also updated their web pages and I, after a quick training session, helped with this. Russell brought in his script with the re-writes he had made, he'd taken all previous feedback on board and had tightened it up nicely.

All in all I've learnt a great deal at Film Oxford this week and  have enjoyed it greatly. I'm really looking forward to editing the footage for the Lord Mayor film, I feel confident that a decent little short will come out of it ( I still think the film should be called 'There's Something About Mayory'  no one else agrees though, I don't know why?) Also, we have a screening night this Friday where we will be showing films and talking with local women film makers in conjunction with The International Women's Festival. We'll even be showing a short I wrote which was made by, Sam McNern a film maker who has also completed courses at Film Oxford. Nerve racking or what!

Looking forward to the week ahead after a full on weekend with kids where my 5 year old insisted on wearing her roller skates everywhere resulting in my dragging her along at top speed likened to Frank Spencer in Some Mothers Do Av 'Em when we got caught in torrential rain. I've never laughed so hard, you should have seen her face. I need adult company!


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