words

[rinue]

My new roommate does a kind of smalltalk that I find stressful, where she asks me questions that I have no way of answering, such as: should I buy internet for the next two weeks although my university is just around the corner and I can use the internet there?

Romie: Buying internet for a month is cheaper than two weeks.
Candela: But do you think I need internet?
Romie: Do you need internet?
Candela: I don't know whether I can be bothered.
Romie: Okay.
Candela: But should I get internet?

This normally continues for about a minute. Other common topics are "should I work on my dissertation even though I don't want to work on my dissertation" and "aren't you irrtated by the noisy people in the hall." It's all very friendly, and I appreciate her attempt to involve me in her life even when I am wearing headphones and typing furiously, but this is the exact sort of thing that makes me dread certain kinds of parties. I just don't know how to keep up a conversation with sensory-oriented people.

Which is perhaps why a certain percentage of the world thinks that intellectuals are a myth, as I was reminded during the critique of my term film. All I can say is: thank god for Howard, the head of the sound department, who studied literature and was a script writer for documentaries and then fiction before he got into sound. He came out swinging after the visiting DoP dismissed the film as incoherent, stating confidently that some people really do enjoy sitting around and thinking about things. Howard is my hero.

Comments

Yes, seriously...

[bluezybunny.livejournal.com]

Yes, seriously, Romie, how can you know my friends and not have realized there are people who like to sit around thinking?

Three hail Maries and an amen.

-Bluezy Bunny

Re: Yes, seriously...

[rinue.livejournal.com]

I think you missed the point here, in that I am well aware of intellectuals, and clearly am one, which is what makes it odd to be told during critiques that I don't exist.

Romie,

[verzamelaar.livejournal.com]

how do you find London Film School in general? Do you think it's worth trying?

Re: Romie,

[rinue.livejournal.com]

I like it very much, and would rather be there than any other film school. I like the emphasis on practical experience, and am consistently impressed by the degree of autonomy we're allowed (and at the same time, the degree to which teachers are willing to sit down at any time and talk about what you're doing).

Having said that, it certainly isn't for everyone - it's extremely chaotic. You won't know week-to-week what your schedule is going to be like, so it's very difficult to schedule jobs outside of school. That said, for me at least, if I'm not in class, I'm still usually working on something to do with it - outside reading, a script, whatever. Otherwise, I'm usually down at the British Film Institute. (Movies there are free for LFS students.)

You're expected to be able to structure your own time and to basically teach yourself, or to track down the person to tell you what you don't know. Classes are more to give you new ways to think about things (or to check you out on the equipment) than to turn you into a filmmaker. Because of this, the school turns out a lot of producers.

That's another thing - if you want to just direct, or just edit, or to specialize at all, this is not the right place to be. You have to be willing and able to do everything, even if you prefer one over the other. You also have to be willing to work with just about everyone, because you don't always get to choose.

I'd say the weakest area of the school is directing, mainly because it's not really something that can be taught. Also, it's in England, which means it can suffer from the British disease (stage acting with a camera pointed at it). However, this is also kind of great because it means as a director you can do what you feel like doing - as long as you aren't breaking the rules of the project, no teacher can step in and stop a project, even if they don't like it.

The school does bias toward writer/directors, although you're certainly allowed to direct scripts you haven't written (and to write scripts you haven't directed). It also pushes for subtle narrative drama - pretty much everyone thinks Kieslowski is the best thing ever (which is not a bad call) - although it also has an affection for genre (particularly the Western) if the approach is interesting.

I guess what I'd say is that the school is what you put into it, which is great for people like me who come from a self-financed indie background, but which is not great for people who expect a standard academic experience. If you don't come to class, nobody's going to make you, and if you want someplace that will take everybody and step-by-step turn them into brilliant cinematographers (for instance), this isn't it - LFS expects you to find your own approach, although they'll recommend books, let you sit in on other shoots, and talk with you about your ideas and how they might work better.

In summary, I guess I'd say LFS is more like an apprenticeship than a normal master's degree. If that's what you want, it's great, and if it's not, it'll drive you crazy.

Cheers,
Romie

Re: Romie,

[verzamelaar.livejournal.com]

That's so really fascinating.
Great thanks for such a full description.
I presume as soon as I will save money I will try. I think it will be easier since I have experience in movies. =)

Have a great day!

Ulita