"Quiet on Set"

"Pictures Up"

"Camera Rolling" 

"Action"

As I write this, there is a film crew of 12 in my apartment making a movie. There are lights, wires, cameras, those white umbrellas that go with the lights, two directors, an assistant director, a producer as well as actors and crew. The film is an independent venture that my friend and her classmates from Tisch are creating. The plot: girl meets boy in Washington Square Park playing chess. Throughout their match, we find out that each move that they make mirrors a step in the relationship that they will have together in the future. The script goes from Washington Square Park to the future, and back again many times.  In the end, he wins the match, and she leaves the relationship.

Although its not a major production, all of the aspects of film making are present. Through this experience I have opened my eyes to the precision of film making. I have learned many things,  The lighting must be just right. There can be no shadows. Not a single stray sound can be uttered during filming otherwise the take must be done over again. The most eye opening part of this has been understanding what makes a good film. And that is for the most part, the camera work. If not for the crew and the camera men then the scope and perspective of the film could not be achieved. The breathtaking shots that emphasize a moment could not be as special if the technical work behind the scenes was not so precise. I never realized this before. I always thought that the camera somehow stabilized itself, and focused the lens itself. I never realized how much thought goes into establishing an angle or perimeter around a shot. I have stood by and watched these kids slave away for half an hour just to get the right angle and focus on an object. They had to do 50 takes of one scene because the camera work was not just right. Watching all of this action go on around me for the past weekend has definitely given me a newfound respect for the art of filmmaking.