Hey Jennifer,

I'm not an expert, and as such won't adress specifically your concerns with lighting and etc, but I do have some points to bring up.

I think you're on the right track and really, like you said, since you only have one camera to work with collaborating with other students might not be a bad idea (at least it would be practical! 🙂 ). Don't freak out too much though, there's a ton of stuff to learn about with things like lighting (let alone film in general) and I really don't see a professor expecting complete perfection out of your FIRST reel.

In regards to editing, I'll get a little personal here. I love editing, and I've essentially completely taught myself so far (if there has been one thing I've ever been "taught," it was that I read or heard somewhere to "cut at the movement" and that just acts as a heuristic for me). As a budding filmmaker, I don't think I'd ever give up my experience and passion for editing. However as your focus is on cinematography (or so I assume?) I suppose editing experience is not completely pertinent. It's what you want to get out of it though, right? If you really just want it to "look good" then I guess hiring someone might be worth it. But if you want to learn and gain experience in other facets then of course it would be to your benefit to grab the bull by the horns and splice your reel together your self. Whenever I'm filming, always in the back of my mind is the thought "how well will it work to edit in this shot?" You could have the most beautiful shot ever (compositionally brilliant, poignant colours, etc) but if it's inconsistent or jarring compared with the rest of the film once you start editing it together or if it has a theoretical problem (eg. crossed 180 degrees, pan from a POV to a close-up, etc.) it is NOT going to be fun to edit and will probably be detrimental to the picture. Really, if on has never edited before, how could one film in such a way as to have a nice continuinity (or whatever other effect you're going for)? Now this might not be your concern at all and I might be ranting for no good reason, but I think my point to be somewhat experienced in editing to avoid innapropriate shots is relevant in any case.

Good luck though! Have fun with it. 😀

This is a class, right? The entire point of taking a class is to
learn. This project will give you your very first opportunity to
learn these answers by doing.

Sure, you could hire an editor. But then one, very important
aspect of your learning process is taken away from you and placed
into the hands of someone else.

You could get exact number regarding how many shots will fit into
3-4 minutes and do only that many. Or you could shoot the shots
you want, put them together and either come up short or have too
many.

A great learning experience.

Use tungsten lighting and see if you like it. Use reflectors and
see if you like the look. This is an amazing time in your
developing career. Dont look at it as if you need a fully
realized, professional, perfect end product. Look at this as a
learning experience. This is when you figure all these things out
by doing them.

So what if your lighting isnt up to professional standards? So
what if the editing isnt up to professional standards. Learn!

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

Well, my husband is actually going to help me with the editing. I am thinking I should have taken editing first, before cinematography but there were no prereqs for the class and I asked the instructor if I should take cinematography first. He said it would be fine, he did actually recommend that we get someone from an editing class to help with the editing. I have decide that since I have a copy Premier at home, that my husband (who is good with computers in general) and I will attempt editing together.

Actually, Corax my specialty is Screenwriting and hopefully directing once I learn more. That is why I want to use my story so badly. I am looking forward to the project and have already started storyboarding it.

The part that makes me super nervous is that I only have one day with the camera. The instructor said he wants us to experiment, but I want to also make sure I get a good grade. I also have that perfectionism flaw. It's interesting that in Film no one expects you to be perfect, in a lot of other areas people have always expected perfection or near perfection. This whole thing is new and exciting, yet so different. I wasn't even sure if I'd find it interesting, but I am so interested but I just know I have so much to learn. I feel like I'm in over my head. This project is due 12/7. I haven't even used the camera yet. I wish there was more than one! When I mentioned that to my husband he said it is a short time to do the project and I thought so too? What do you think?

I have also thought about purchasing a cheap digital camera in the 300.00 range to help me play with the editing program. I'm going to practice this weekend on an SD camera so I will have the opportunity to set up shots, with no lighting, but I will hopefully get the feel for what I want to do.

Thanks for the suggestions and encouragement.
?:I?

Having only one day with a camera will not allow you to be perfect
in all its features. Becoming prefect takes years of work. I
find it odd that you have the impression that in film no one
expects you to be perfect.

A class where you have use of a camera for one day cannot expect
you to produce a perfect end results. You cannot expect to be
perfect or near perfect after using a camera for one day. What
other areas do you know of where the very first time you do
something, perfection or near perfection is the expectation?

Screenwriting? Your specialty is screenwriting. You you think that
is an area that expects perfection or near perfection after
writing for one day?

Of course youre in over your head. If any aspect of making a film
were easy, everyone would be good at it and there would be no
reason to take classes. Or even practice.

Perhaps you have unrealistic expectations. As you said, you have
seen some of the other projects and they werent very good. Your
expectation that other students taking this class and using the
camera for one day could produce perfection or near perfection is
unrealistic.

Relax, Jennifer. Enjoy the class, do your best, have fun doing it
and above all, learn. Even one day with a camera making a little
movie will give you more experience than 100 days reading about
using that camera.

The very first time I picked up a camera (standard 8mm) I loaded
the film wrong. Got nothing at all for my first day of shooting.

So what?

=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

Certified Instigator's got it right I think. This is a class (a learning experience) and treat it as such. To further emphasize...

quote:

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Originally posted by Jennifer

Actually, Corax my specialty is Screenwriting and hopefully directing once I learn more. That is why I want to use my story so badly. I am looking forward to the project and have already started storyboarding it.
?:I?

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...yeah, if you want to direct you definitely should edit your stuff. It might be cliche to say it, but editing is essentially the only art form that is unique to film. I'd say just jump right in Jennifer. If you're husband (or his friend?) is "good with computers," why don't you let him show you some of the basics of an editing program to help get you started? Those would be my thoughts at least.

(post edited because filmmaking.net doesn't support accents apparently... hmm)