RS FILM

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The Mechanic: A Short Film

I’m working on a new film! For the course this time…

This term has consisted of putting a portfolio together to display a film idea that has developed through the past weeks, and it’s been reasonably enjoyable. I think just having come from shooting a short film it felt somewhat difficult to come up with anything fresh, but I think I got there in the end!

“An introverted boy’s passion for building bicycles shelters him from the violent family life that has plagued his upbringing, but can his passion allow him to escape?”

The film aims to give the audience a view into the lives of someone who could live on their street. Doing this will allow the audience can question the behavioral impacts of isolation as a child, and why disturbed family life can force children to mature at a faster rate than their peers.

Rob Searle and Recount Archives are back on board again to help me with production, which I’m really looking forward to. We will be using a Sony F3 and 552 sound mixers, which is a reasonable step up from the HPX-171’s from last year.

All in all it’s been a good term but I’m glad to be on a break, I am finding the practical and independent film work a lot more enjoyable and satisfying than sitting and writing essays for hours, I imagine most agree with the sentiment but it deserves to be said.

The featured photo was taken during the production of ‘One Small Step’ while I was directing a scene crew were watching intently.

Roland Spencer.

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Back Again: Nous Progress!

Apologies for being away again, I’ve been plagued with my own health issues lately but thankfully it’s all fixed up now.

The shooting for Nous went extremely well, we shot with actors Callum Brown and Aaron Ward who were both spectacular, it was a really enjoyable weekend and everyone on set was amazing.

This shot is of me and Aaron blocking through a scene outside a corner shop, he was amazing to work with and it felt like he was constantly aiming to achieve the best possible which made it a lot easier running through shots.

I’ve finished editing the film and it is now in the hands of Recount Archives, sound design first draft should be done by mid December! I’m really excited to be working through this film as it feels like something to truly be proud of.

I’m back at university now as well, which means the work quickly piles up, I may not be posting for a while but I will be making it my mission to update more often once the winter break begins and my assessments are done.

Roland Spencer.

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A New Camera, A New Short Film

It’s about that time again!

My original aim was to shoot twice this summer, and I believe I will achieve that goal by the end of it!

I’ve slowly gathered equipment through the years, but have been borrowing and renting cameras for a while now, it’s difficult to shoot without using full frame cameras nowadays considering how readily available they are, and it truly stands out when you don’t.

I’ve bought a Canon 6D.

Using the money I pulled together from my previous job I have bought that along with a 50mm prime lens and a 24-105mm zoom lens. I’ve gone with this set up rather than the popular 5D mark 3 as it was significantly cheaper, and the shoots I do tend to focus less on the pros of the 5D so it won’t be too much of a worry.

I have been working on a script for a new short film which I aim to enter into festivals, about two men meeting under a tunnel. It aims to be a homage to La Haine and Sergio Leone westerns, and I’m really looking forward to shooting it!

I’ve got Rob Searle back on board to do cinematography, and Recount Archives are looking at sound design! The shoot will hopefully take place in the coming month as we have the majority of pre-production finished. I’m not going to disclose scripts this time and but will release these once the film has run its course, instead here’s a shot of the tunnel we will be shooting in.

All in all I’m really looking forward to the next month!

Roland Spencer.

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A New Idea, A New Short Film

I don’t want my holidays to be a time where I’m not working on film. It has felt to me that to succeed in the industry I need to be using all of my spare time pushing my career forward as best I can.

The idea for my next short film, ‘One Small Step’ came to me one day after finger walking my hand across a table. It seems really silly now, and the diagram I used to demonstrate the idea to Jack Spring seemed even sillier, but he actually really liked the idea, and so has put me in contact with some extremely talented people to get the film produced.

I’m really looking forward to working on this next short, but I’m aware there will be a lot of work involved in creating the sets and costumes! I’ve got a few creative minded people on board and I’m really excited to get to work with them to make this idea become a reality. I often worry that I can’t achieve films because I cannot pay people yet, but honestly the amount of kindness in the industry seems to make these films possible. I have come across so many people in the past year that are happy to get involved purely because of their passion for filmmaking, especially Jack, who help not for any immediate gain. I really appreciate it and I will make sure to return the favour.

Roland Spencer.

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The Little Spoon: Short Film Script

We’re now working on our end of year shorts for our BSc in Film and Television Production! The process seems to consist of letting you loose and then asking for specific paperwork at the end. We’ve been given access to a 552 Sound Mixer and an HPX-171, so the film could be quite interesting.

I was sent away by our group at the beginning of easter with a treatment and have had to write up a short script for us to follow when shooting. This is what I came up with! Kinda weird, kinda whacky but it works for what was asked of me.

I have been really enjoying the practical assessments for the course, it has been really educational and has pushed me to make more moves in regards to linear narrative filmmaking. Hopefully this will pay off in the summer too when I plan to start making another short or two!

Roland Spencer.

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Dream: A Short Film

So, I was working on a new short, and I suppose it didn’t go as planned – to cut a long story short our course got very busy and the contacts I had to get involved in the project had independent projects to focus on! Better luck next time I suppose.

I’m going to place the script up here so you can view the story, I was really excited to make it, but I’m going to focus on the next project instead! We have our short film making coming up next term so we will have that to focus on, and I have been writing a lot of essays. I have been surprised by how much of our work on this course is theory, BSc makes it sound like the course in production would be more practical based and scientific but unfortunately it is not. Our ‘science’ section culminates with a single science of film exam at the end of the year, and that is your only obligation in regards to the science of film and television.

Otherwise the course has been good, I was working with Jack Spring on this film and he has been an immense help, teaching me a lot about the film process and how to network. I believe he is moving to produce a feature film now and I wish him the best of luck.

Roland Spencer.

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Headshot

‘Speaking through film’

Along with the new logo comes a new headshot. I want to move away from a traditional formal headshot, and aimed for something slightly different. If a little pretentious, it still works and the film works as a way of being eye-catching. I noticed that traditional headshots use vertical lines and wanted to emphasise horizontal lines and the aspect of movement, standing out on websites such as LinkedIn.

I also feel as an artist it’s not necessarily as important to stick with suits and ties, and probably better to show a level of personality and thought in the photo, even if that means being more casual.

The photo itself is a play on words, ‘Roland Spencer – speaking through film’ I had originally liked the idea of covering my eyes as well but it’s an important part of the face to be able to see someones eyes, so I scrapped that idea. I have stuck with my usual monochrome as it pushes the shapes out of the image better and I think it holds up well.

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Peugeot PX8-M

  A 2 month project I started at the beginning of August has finally come to a close. I bought an old 1978 Peugeot PX8-M from a reputable source in Brighton, it came in the state you see at the top, a randonneur class bicycle, typically used for long distance 1000km races, a perfect bike for University! The frame is designed to be extremely comfortable and the metal racks will fit pannier bags for my shopping.

The biggest challenge was redoing the frame, I had it sent out to a sandblasting company in Newhaven and had a raw steel finish lacquered over to protect from rust. Each metal item on the bike including nuts and bolts were derusted and polished using aluminium paste, I also rewired the brakes and gears and cleaned out the chain. New lights, new tyres, new seat, a large portion of parts were replaced as they were defunct, but I tried to stick with the original style as best I could and also keep the cost low.

I’m really happy with how it has turned out and have done a few long journeys with it already and have really enjoyed it. The project was hard work and took a long period of time to get finished but I’m satisfied with the results.

If you’ve acquired your own Peugeot PX8 and want any information on were to find decals/replacement parts contact me using the form on the homepage and I will do everything I can to help.

Roland Spencer

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New Logo

It’s getting close to the beginning of a new academic year, and it felt like time for a ‘spruce up’. I’ve been quibbling with the design of my logo for a while, it felt slightly unpolished and didn’t represent the image I feel like I’m trying to convey.

The new logo went through many iterations but this was the design I settled on, the shape keeps with the original RS design but has more of an emphasis towards film cameras. The new logo is more compact and sleek and uses diagonal lines rather than curves to convey a more energetic and forward thinking identity.

I wanted a new logo that I felt I could be proud of when handing business cards out as it is an image that represents my identity and my values. The design is one that I believe will be easily remembered, and it also transposes well into different colours, so I will aim to use this logo for the future.

Roland Spencer

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Film Focus

I’m moving through the pre-production stages of my first film of 2015, I’m waiting for a reply from arts college.

I think one of the best and also weirdest parts of creating films is the small research projects you have to take on to make your ideas possible; with Group Eighteen I needed to know what paint types worked best on Morph Suit fabric, with Disposable I needed to design a suitable case for my ‘camera’ prop that would allow it to be thrown about without deteriorating or causing too much noise, with The Leak I had to design prop blood and a disposing system that would give an authentic looking wound on camera, the list goes on. With this current film I have spent some of my time working out the best way to place a teabag into a mug so that the brewed tea doesn’t mix with the clear water, which really has no purpose outside of the very specific needs of this current film.

It’s made me wonder about the needs of being a film maker, or a photographer. I find it interesting when I see people close to my age already finding the ‘success’ I would like to obtain, and how they have achieved that. It makes me reflect on my own decisions, and although I can be quite doubtful, I know that if I continue to focus and work hard that results will come.

Unfortunately I can’t be out filming/photographing all the time because I work a lot; and that work is just as important as doing direct film work. I wish sometimes that I could have the spare time to do projects (and thankfully I will have more time moving into the summer when the hours of light are longer) but sometimes you have to trust in the judgement of people more experienced in life than you, in this case my parents, and stick to the guides that they think are best. So focusing on work is my priority, but I am still doing a lot of art work, including watching films, writing drafts and producing films.

I’m in the process of finishing the advertising board my workplace asked me to design, which includes a large portion of my own photography. Hopefully the current film can be finished by the end of next week, it gets me down when I don’t have things to show the effort I’ve been putting in, because if you can’t communicate it, nobody knows it’s happening!

– Roland Spencer

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Running

By a total fluke, I was asked to work as a runner on a film set in London while I had some time off from work, something I agreed to do with no hesitation.

I think the two days I spent on set made me think about a lot, I’ve been on sets before but not with so many people close to my age. I was still the youngest there, but the crew was comprised of a mixture of professional, semi-professional and people who were working for experience, rather than pay. This meant that a portion of the crew had either just left university, or are currently attending. It was interesting hearing about how they had got into film, what types of film they enjoyed creating/watching, and where film making had led them so far. One of the reasons I love film is because it has a fairly unbiased bracket for who it attracts, which means you get to meet a variety of people who all have interesting stories to tell.

Obviously I learned a lot of practical film knowledge while running on set; I’ve always found lighting daunting and difficult, but working underneath the lighting crew helped me understand how different lights where used, and how different gels/diffusers could aid a scene. This will hopefully mean that next time I create a film there will be less confusion about how I should set up my lights!

– Roland Spencer

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Frank.

A fairly basic part of film viewing hit me today. I’ve been watching two films a day, with the help of netflix, and have just finished watching ‘Robot and Frank’ (2012, Jake Schreier). I really enjoyed the film, and the last 20 minutes were brilliant, it was effectively a heist film but the big reveal was, the protagonist, Frank’s mind state.

I spoke to a few people straight after watching it, as I like to share films with people if I enjoyed them, a few suggested they’d be interested in watching it, and others said it sounded moderately boring from the synopsis. Fair enough, people have different tastes! However, it made me realise, often ‘boring’ films contain intricacies that an average audience can’t grasp, such as subtle acting, cinematography and audio. That’s why blockbusters are often action packed with plot pieces pushed into the forefront and made very clear, anybody can understand it, and that’s brilliant!

So perhaps the best films contain a mix of both subtlety and clarity, allowing all audiences to take something from the piece? Films such as those directed by Quentin Tarantino (although I am not a huge fan) tend to contain a eccentric over arching plot, with subtle pieces underneath that film buffs and perhaps more empathetic people can enjoy.

I know this is fairly basic stuff, but it’s something I’ve perhaps taken for granted as my film choices often are pieces others find uninteresting. What I’m trying to learn is how to mix both artistic subtlety and grace alongside more Hollywood style clarity and entertainment into a film successfully, but I suppose that’s a longer journey than a few Google searches.

I’m trying to keep myself busy while waiting on my college application, so I have a few projects in the works, one being a comedy script, and two others being visual art pieces. The art pieces are both dependent on light, one of which is something I can plan out, but can’t execute until the longer hours of the summer. In the mean time my mum found some old camera footage she took of me and my sister when we were young, and I’m thinking about a few different ideas I have that could use the footage itself.

– Roland Spencer

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Long Titles for Pieces of Artwork That You Find Almost Exclusively in National Galleries.

Taking a gap year from institutional education does not mean taking a gap year from education full stop! Since September last year my learning process has primarily been through actively creating art and film; but not this week.

I had a few vacation days left to take from work. It seemed best used by taking a few days off to visit my cousins in London, and to spend those days visiting the national art galleries found in London. I wanted to visit the galleries for a few reasons, those reasons included:

Broadening my awareness of art styles and artists

To inspire my own film making

To better understand my own view of art

To better understand what purpose I want my films and photography to have

I spent a large portion of my time at Tate Modern, visiting the permanent exhibitions on the first day, and seeing the Conflict Time Photography exhibition on the second day I spent there. The art was very thought provoking, and it was amazing how no item or subject appeared untouched by the various pieces in the gallery, but the one thing I took away from the visit was how a lot of young students seemed completely uninterested in the exhibits, which I completely understand.

Surely, however, Tate Modern: the most visited modern art museum in the world would have some art pieces that grabbed the attention of the people who didn’t want to be there? This didn’t seem to be the case, I remember going to visit the same gallery when I was in primary school, and I felt the same boredom that the hundreds of other students, I walked past on my excursion, seemed to exude.

So where is the art for this audience? Why aren’t these pieces communicating to the students anything of deeper meaning? How do we change that? What art installations would speak to the mind of someone disinterested in the intricacies of art? Those where a few of the questions I had after leaving the gallery and those thoughts reinforced my belief in the importance of forming strong communication with audiences when producing art pieces.

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Brighton Youth Film Forum

This is the letter I will be sending out to colleges in Brighton. I don’t find writing formal letters very easy; as you have to be careful with your wording, but it has turned out quite well! I hope this can bloom into something that young film makers can find useful, especially if they find the more mature communities daunting.

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An Update

With 2014 behind me, I’m focusing on progressing as much as I can this year, my priority currently is finding another part time job, or a full time job if I get the opportunity. Working as hard as  I can be and reaching my potential is essential to me, and I think another job would let me get closer to that.

I’m also in the process of constructing a letter to be sent out to colleges for the youth film forum, the forum is something I have been working on and planning for a few months and so this will be important to it’s success. I will try to upload a copy to the website for posterity.

It’s funny how visual art can pop out at you from unexpected places, I was using snapchat to message a friend and managed to take this iPhone picture. The light from the streetlamps laid interesting shadows and I decided to fiddle about with the photograph in GIMP and see what I could create from the base photograph.

– Roland

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The last photo from my trip to Yorkshire.

I think looking back on this year, it’s been my most productive year yet. The website has given me a lot of drive, and now that I’m able to focus on my film making it’s been a lot less stressful.

I’m currently writing a letter to send out to local colleges, in an aid to set up a community of young film makers in my local area. I’d like to see people receiving support with film making from like minded people, and gaining precious experience which is often hard to find in a constant stream. So we’ll see how that goes!

I got a few bits of equipment recently, some as gifts and some from money I have saved, I will try to put reviews up of them as soon as possible.

– Roland

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I’ve never really tried composing with orange in my photography, I think this turned out better than I had expected! The architecture in the seaside town of Whitby uses a lot of oranges and yellows, which is interesting as orange’s complimentary colour is blue, the colour of the sea.

– Roland