Over the course of this semester, I’ve genuinely enjoyed writing about something I have a passion for. However, it is now time for it to come to a close. This was never going to become a big blog with thousands and thousands of followers, but if even a few people got something positive out of this, then I feel the mission was accomplished.
I learned a lot about journalism and writing as a whole from this experience. One big thing I’ll take with me is preparation. Much like a movie, the more you can prepare before hand, the smoother the production will go. In the context of Journalism, that means reaching out to many people for interviews as opposed to just a few. If those few people say no or give no response, then what? Having tons of options open increases your chance of success. Always have back ups, and always know what you want to discuss with your interviewee. I also learned the importance of linking. In the beginning of this blog, I sometimes would talk about or reference certain things without realizing that I could link my content with other content from another site in order to give the viewer more material.
I do feel I made some great content along the way as well though:
So let’s say you’re studying media and content production in general, whether it’s film or TV or Documentary etc., and you’ve been developing skills, finding what you like, and gaining real experience. Perhaps you’re wondering where to go from here. Where do you go with what you’ve learned and the resume building skills you’ve acquired? Maybe that’s even been something you’ve been worried about because you’re unsure what’s out there for you? As my friend, Taylor Forte, Host of Rowan Television Network’s RTN Tonight as well as an intern at Center City Film and Video, once said, “there’s a lot of opportunities that most people in this major just haven’t heard of.”
I’ve taken what he’s said to heart because it’s true. A lot of students in Departments such as Radio/Television/Film here at Rowan aren’t aware of the places they can go, let alone people outside of it. I am guilty of this too. I recently scored an Internship with Center City Film and Video as well and yet the only reason I know that they exist now is because I heard that Taylor was interning there. It can be daunting trying to figure it all out, but getting insight from the veterans can be a big help, which is why I sat down with Professor Jonathan Mason
People fight, they make up, and they go through stuff. It’s normal. People often feel obligated to take care of their family members who are sick. But what if that sick person isn’t quite a person?
All Tomorrow’s Parties is a film focused on the story of Emily, a woman who lives with her boyfriend Victor. She feels unhappy with her life because Victor is unable to bring their relationship forward due to his commitment to his sister, Sarah. There’s just one issue. Sarah is something else. Something monstrous…
I was the Director of Photography (DP) on this film. My task was to aid the director in translating his vision into shots on camera. I, along with my co DP, DJ, would decide camera placements, how the lighting was set up and would plan out the entire shot.
I interviewed Director Shaun Pierson about the aesthetic choice he made, and the story he wants to tell
A few weeks ago, the 5th annual Rowan Radio/ Television/ Film Media festival occurred in Bozorth Hall. It was a two day event that showcased the works of Rowan students, Alumni, as well as High School students from local towns. I attended both days of the event and will go over some of my favorites from the fest.
People Like you by Blake Rice
The heir to a late billionaire returns to his family’s Beverly Hills estate, where he finds a woman, a corpse, and the keys to a fortune that hangs in the balance. What I really loved about this film is the color and the lighting. The lead actor is often partially hidden by shadows, making him appear mysterious. The film uses a lot of warm colors like Orange and Yellow. The performances given by the lead actor and actress are very good. The actor plays a character who seems very detached from humanity, and even narcissistic. His calm and nonchalant demeanor throughout sells it as he feels the actress’s character is below him. It is revealed in the end that HE killed the person, who was his brother, to inherit the fortune. He planned to frame the woman and tricked her into having the body while he got away.
Silence by Jack Swiker
After an accident leaves her without her hearing, a young woman is challenged to accept her disability with the help of her ASL instructor and the support of the hearing impaired community. The film is, as the name implies, completely silent as the story is told through the point of view of the now deaf woman. Call it gimmicky, but it makes the audience sympathize with her immediately. The shots were also very well composed.
Midnight Broadcast by April Spotts
When an insidious radio drama makes her struggle to overcome her fears, Aria turns her reality into a nightmare. This one falls under Horror, and the film adheres to the genre really well. dim lighting, creepy music as well as scenes without music at all which can enhance the terror, numerous close up shots that give a claustrophobic feel to it. With a plot twist at the end, Midnight Broadcast is a spooky thriller that demands your attention.
While there were certainly many more good pieces of work at the fest, these three were certainly my favorites. The Media fest is a great way for students to get their first festival type experience which can give them the confidence to submit more work for even larger festivals. That is something I highly encourage and is the best way for an up and coming filmmaker to get their name out there.
I sat down with Sean Kelly to hear his thoughts about Rowan Television Network, what it means to him, and words of wisdom about the skills needed to pursue a career in the field of Film and Television Production.
Managing a blog about film making can be exciting, challenging and fun. The most important thing you need though, is passion. I am certainly not the only one out there and it is interesting to speak to others who also share in that passion.
Sheraz Farooqi, a 24 year old New Yorker, runs a blog centered around movies of the comic book variety known as Comic Book Debate.
He’s an experienced blogger who was kind enough to allow me to interview him and give me some insight into his world and the world of blogging in general.
Just yesterday, the cast and crew of RTN Tonight filmed the second episode (here’s the first episode of this season) in studio 2 of Bozorth Hall. A lot goes into bringing the show to life. There are numerous moving parts that all need to be on point to create the best show possible and when one part isn’t there then it can throw off the entire production. So let’s see all those components
The control room. In here the director can see all that happens and manage the entire show (photo/Tom Fanelli)
The News Cycle, a recurring and never ending…well, cycle of investigating and reporting the news associated with the fast paced lifestyles of today.
In today’s world, big events happen quickly, and journalists as well as news networks must continuously provide the public with quality and honest reporting about what’s going on in their area or even the world. Although on a smaller scale, Rowan Television Networks’s news show gives students first hand experience with what it’s like to be a part of that 24 hour cycle of news.
The mission statement on RTN’s website states that the goal of the organization is to give students experience in television production beyond the classroom setting.
RTN News records in studio 2 in Bozorth hall on Rowan’s campus. The studio contains all the bells and whistles of a professional studio, albeit scaled down. I’ve had experience with all the positions within it (and may expand on those in a future post) for mainly class projects, but also for being a part of the news. I first started out as the entertainment correspondent. I reported on all the performances, shows, galleries, and otherwise enjoyable things happening on campus. You can see an episode of that here
This time around, I came into it with more experience, as well as a much more significant role. I am a producer of the news along with my co-producer, Keith Cook. We both also have positions on the crew as well. Keith runs graphics while I direct each episode. It’s quite the step up from where I was before, but each go at it gives me more experience as well as the confidence in my own abilities as a director.
what the news reports on and how it does so is ultimately up to the director. Each year could mean different types of segments and different ways to use things like packages. The Rowan Television Network gives the producers and directors a lot of freedom to do what they want in the program, provided that the content has a focus on Rowan University and the local Glassboro area, although I have opted to add a segment about national news.
RTN News provides a lot of value to students. It gives them experience, emphasizes teamwork, and is all around a great time.
Making movies ain’t easy, and running the club that makes them can’t be either, but Danny Minshall, President of Rowan’s Cinema Workshop is up for it. He’s got film making knowledge, ideas and goals for the club as well as for his future.
What follows is an interview I did with him.
What made you decide to become president of the Cinema Workshop?
Well, I was Initially interested last year when it first became known that our current president at the time was graduating. I was like “you know what?Who wants to take up the role? I do!” and so I did. I was elected at the end of last spring, and I wanted to breathe a lot of life into the club. I felt like I had a lot of ideas that I could bring forth, so I did. I’m currently trying to do that.
What are a few of those ideas?
Increased amount of shoots. I know we’re kinda getting to that point right now. I have ideas for shoots, like doing one minute projects where you have to film a film within a minute. Scene fest, where we’re going to be creating actual movie scenes. Bigger shoots based on scripts. I plan on writing a few scripts, and a few friends have written scripts. So just really getting everyone hands on whether it be script writing, film shooting, member bonding activities, and different activities to do during the meetings themselves. I really want to switch it up too rather than just having a slideshow every single time. I want to do different activities in addition to the slide shows. Lots of hands on activities. That’s the basic theme this year.
Tell me about your experience with shooting films. What positions have you been in on or off set and which ones do you like the most?
I’ve done quite a few different things. I’ve been a Gaffer on one of the one minute projects we’ve done last year. I was an actor in one of the action thriller short films we’ve done. I just produced a one minute last night. I was one of the producers on that project for the first one we did this year. I’ve edited heavily. I’m a big fan of editing. I’ve worked on quite a few of our projects in Post Production. I like to stay well rounded and I try to encourage everyone else to do the same thing in the club.
What’s the most rewarding thing about being the president?
I guess just the feeling of excitement I get when I see other people get excited. When people get involved and they ask questions and they show up to workshops outside of meetings and when they talk during the meetings and everyone really gets into it. I love that togetherness that I feel. Like the comradery in the club because I know it’s important in the film world, to have connections and to know people and be comfortable with people. So I like seeing that in it’s early stage here.
What is one thing you try to do to keep people involved in the club?
Just promoting ideas. Just putting out “Hey! We’re doing a shoot. Hey we’re doing this activity. Do you guys enjoy this?” I like to ask questions, and I wanted to start doing more surveys, more feedback, like maybe doing internet surveys or an in person survey just to get more of what we might be lacking in or what we could do better or what we’re doing good that they want to see more of. So a lot of involvement is the key here.
What are you’re future goals or where do you see yourself going with Radio/Television/Film?
I would love to kinda continue what I’m doing now. I enjoy producing things, creating things. I want to be able to get more creative and I feel like the only reason why I have a hard time doing that now is being in between classes and everything. I feel like once I graduate I’ll have more time to really create and get more hands on, and being on that action thriller I was talking about, being the actor was a lot of fun. So I’d really like to get my hands more in there. I kinda want to be on all sides of the spectrum if it’s possible. I know a lot of people do it. Steve Carell acts and produces. Spike Lee has acted and produced. Everyone does it almost. Why not me? I’ll add my name to that list, I guess if I can.
There’s a lot of late night personalities on TV every night. Stephen Colbert, Conan O’Brian, Jimmy Fallon, and a lot more. Although they all generally do the same thing, each of their shows is made to feel unique and they are all able to differentiate from others. What accomplishes that task the most tends to be the personality of the host, co-host, etc.
Wanting to recreate that on the college level, the Rowan Television Network (RTN) created their own version of a late night talk show known as “RTN Tonight”.
The show, like other late night shows, takes events going on in our world today and pokes fun at them, as well as interviews people. While Talk shows on TV would interview celebrities, musicians, and movie stars, RTN Tonight interviews Rowan staff as well as student members of other clubs and events who come on to tell us what it is they do. Every episode, the host, co host, and guest(s) all play a game as well.
The host last year was Taylor Forte, who will be reprising his role this year. Taylor understands very well that what makes the show work well is the wit and enthusiasm of the host. The host is the direct link to the audience and is the one who will make them laugh the majority of the time, and Taylor does it well.
(Host Taylor Forte)
One segment of the show is called “Last Week This Week”, a segment that is very similar to Saturday Night Live’s “Weekend Update”. In this part of the show, two “anchors” sit at a news desk and parody actual news broadcasts. I was one of those anchors last year and will be again this year.
The News Cycle, a recurring and never ending…well, cycle of investigating and reporting the news associated with the fast paced lifestyles of today.
(Host Taylor Forte)
The Film Buff 