Final reflection on making videos - Andrea
I did want to wait to write this until after I had the experience of working with a pro crew. Wow, exhilarating and exhausting at the same time - I had to take yesterday (and some Toscanini's mimosa sorbet) to recover.
Out of the entire experience, from ideation to script writing to shooting to editing to repeat, it would be easy for me to stick with the part I feel most comfortable with - the script writing part. But we only get growth when we throw ourselves at the things we suck at. It was reiterated when my sister-in-law (an artist) posted something on Facebook that was a riff on the Ira Glass piece that Elizabeth showed (here: http://m.omeleto.com/188186), namely that when you create art, often it's pretty bad when you first start out. And because you have good taste, you *know* it's bad. And often, that's when people quit, because of that gap between what you want to accomplish and what you did accomplish.
I'm so glad I didn't quit this class. But it was close there for a while...
As for the parts that I didn't do well (camera work in particular), I did enjoy editing. The advice to wait overnight before working with the clips was especially relevant. Often after filming, I thought stuff was great. Then the next day, I was able to view it more objectively. This also applied to the editing I did. While I was editing, it seemed to go well. But when I viewed the final product the next day, I could more easily see how it could be improved. While I can't say I'm happy with my final product (I think I went a little crazy speeding up my speech - should have backed off from 115% to maybe 110%), I can say that it was much improved over the rough cut. And looking back I'm somewhat proud of what I have learned.
I'm also super-impressed by my classmates! You all have great taste, and came a lot closer to realizing that than perhaps you believe.
Back to working with the pros - I didn't see any of the clips they filmed, but I did gain an appreciation for the importance of lighting to set a mood. It's more important than the physicality of my movements, and rivals the impact of tone of voice. I also thought it was ironic that I was called "the talent" - it seems to me that all of the talent is in the script, camerawork/direction, and lighting (and editing!).
And finally, just one more confession: I had always dreamed of hosting a science/natural history show since I was in middle school! But sometime during high school, I got it into my head that I was too unattractive to even be on camera. Nonetheless, I loved watching PBS (Crockett's Victory Garden, This Old House, etc.) and I especially loved how the hosts were such approachable people. They weren't drop-dead gorgeous, but they had a kind of authenticity and gravitas (leavened with humor). I struggled with my camera-phobic block during this class. But then I read an article on the defense lawyer for the Marathon Bomber. The lawyer, Judy Clark, has the kindest face, almost sad. The article talked about how she is very effective at gaining her clients' trust, and in conveying her clients' humanity to a jury. That power lies partly in her appearance and demeanor. And I thought I wouldn't mind having that kind of power - the power to make people trust and understand. I hope that I managed to convey just a little sliver of that in my video (and the one for Science Out Loud as well).
Thank you 20.219 for making me feel more empowered!