Saturday, November 26, 2011

TCF 312 :: REEL & ARTIST STATEMENT

This week I want you to consider what makes a good Director and DP reel. Watch lots of reels and determine which Director or DP you would hire? Why?

Blog Post Prompt:
What makes a good DP / Director of Photography / Cinematographer's reel? Search reels online (google, vimeo, youtube, etc) and visit the links below to see what work is out there. Embed or link your favorite and your least favorite reels and explain what is compelling (and not so compelling) in the reels that you viewed.

For our final class meeting: Edit all of your footage into a reel (short 1-2 minutes, 3 min MAX) representation of who you are as an artist (at this stage in your career - even if that means you are at the very beginning, or if you having been filming for some years)...

Keep in mind lots of folks have many different reels for different kinds of jobs they pitch for but for this assignment, choose your favorite shots and put them together in a way that represents your style and skills.

You are encouraged to browse old 312 sites and see what your peers have put together. Here are a few:









Additionally post a short ARTIST STATEMENT (at least 350 - 500 words) with your embedded video clip, see below for some examples of reels and artist statements.

Some sample DP reel links:






































Sample Director Reel Links:

















ABOUT ARTIST STATEMENTS:

When faced with a blank page, the best thing to do is write down words that you would use to describe your work. Do the same for the process(es) you use to make your work- list out the processes you use. The next step is to start to link the words into sentences. After you write the sentences, see if you can put them together into paragraphs. If you have several bodies of work you might do this process for each body of work.
- from the Artist Foundation on how to write an artist statement

THINK ABOUT:
your vision
your visual style
your influences
the impact you desire to make with your work

When you want to apply for grant money for filmmakers, you will often be asked to submit an artists statement.
IFP Center for Media arts asks you to
Provide a written discussion of no more than one page describing your creative journey as an artist and your creative filmmaking process and vision.
IFP Center for Media arts asks you to See here.

Here is documentary filmmaker Chuck Olson's artist statement
Amazing filmmaker Yvonne Welbon's artist statement
Filmmaker Dominic Angerame's artist statement
Painter, poet and filmmaker Rajaa Gharbi's artist statement
Filmmaker Tara Krause artist statement
Filmmaker Ronit Bezalel artist statement
Filmmaker Valerie Soe calls her artist statement her manifesto
Keith W. Cunningham shows his influences in his artist statement
Feminist Filmmaker Alex Juhasz artist statement
Scott Snibbe's is here