Blog Post #10 - Course Evaluation

      I have thoroughly enjoyed TCF 312 Advanced Videography with Dr. Raimist. I fought all summer to get this class on my schedule for the fall and I succeeded. I did not know what I was getting myself into, but I just knew I needed some of Dr. Raimist's teachings before I left the Capstone. I heard through other students how good of a teacher she was and I wanted to know for myself. I can now say that she is. She is very knowledgeable about the material and equipment because she has worked with it on numerous projects. I think teachers should have firsthand experience with the material they teach and Raimist has that. I appreciate firsthand knowledge.
      Although the course required a lot of time and energy, it was useful. I feel like I have a better understanding of the work that is required to make a film. I have a better understanding of all the positions and how things operate. I also learned exactly what it is that I want to do and what I don't want to do in the industry. 

     The class time was used wisely, although at times I felt it was too long, but it is necessary considering the amount of material that has to be covered and the fact that the class only met once a week. I think my favorite and most enjoyable parts of the class were the blog post, scene assignment, and portrait of the place. I think the blog post were helpful because they reiterated what we learned in class and helped us grasp the language of filmmaking. I also liked the projects we had to work with other people on like the scene assignment and portrait of the place. It allowed us to be creative and enhance our communication skills.

     I think the least enjoyable parts were the days of actual lecture. I love being hands on and lecture sort of took away that vibe. I have little interest in camera specs and lenses, but it was material that we needed to know for the final so I listened and grasp it anyway. I love the fact that Dr. Raimist allowed us to take our written exam home and use our readings and other material to fill it in.

     TCF 312 was a challenging course, but because I love film I enjoyed it and took a lot from it. I think Dr. Raimist is an awesome teacher filled with knowledge and I am appreciative that she shared it with me.   

Blog Post #9 - Reel and Artist Statement

Artist Statement

“When I embark on the journey to make a film, my goal is to visually bring alive an authentic story.” – Brittany E. Walton

            That statement is what I am in the pursuit of. I believe as a filmmaker it is my responsibility to bring words to life, furthering the vision of the script. Films should engulf the audience, grasping their attention from beginning to the end; giving the audience something to believe in.

            I love movies, well great movies at least, and for as long as I could remember I’ve been watching movies. I would find myself flipping through the television only stopping if something caught my eye. I would catch myself watching the films very closely from the beginning to the end and even reading the credits; I wanted to know who directed, produced, wrote and even starred in it. At a young age, I did not understand how my love for movies would play a role in my life. For a long time I wanted to become a sports analyst and eventually work for ESPN, but it wasn’t until my freshman year in college that I realized that’s not what I was called to do. After that epiphany, I changed my major and never looked back.

            I have a love for an array of movies from action films, love stories, urban films, history, sports movies, science fiction, and the list goes on. If it has great dialogue, relatable characters, jam packed action, delivers a message, or extravagant scenery it has my attention. I am not just a specific genre film watcher, so I most definitely am not a specific genre filmmaker. I believe people should not limit themselves in life and I carry that same belief over to filmmaking. Why limit myself to just making only one type of film when my imagination is not limited to one type of dream; stories can be told in a billion different ways. Spielberg did not limit himself; in fact he has produced and directed films in many genres: science fiction, action & adventure, war, history, animation. He inspires me.   

As an aspiring director and producer, I am setting out to deliver to my audience authentic visual stories that will make them laugh, cry, scared, anxious, and even stimulate and inform them. Making a film is a journey in itself and watching a film should be an adventure too.