The guy across the hall thinks our group of seven is making a porno. He comes over to complain about our repeating door slam, sees the camera, backs up into his own room, apologizes to us, and we never see him again. Personally I think he didn’t call the front desk because Ray looks like he might have cousins in the mob.

This is student filmmaking.

Apparently film permits are unnecessary in NYC. We filmed our student projects on the streets of Manhattan and most people did not give us a second glance. It was cold, windy and a lot of fun.

With the exception of Day 1, every day was long. Coming up with good ideas for two-minute films is not easy for starters. Then, the films had to be made.

As part of a team of four, I contributed to several films. My classmates chose indoor scenes which naturally called for a lot of lighting set ups. In that process I was one part participant and two parts prisoner. Lighting is tough. More light is needed. Less light is needed. Now, the light is too blue. Change the light and then it isn’t blue enough.

Add actors, set staging, and props and the ingredients for hard work and exhaustion are in place. Where do you find a snorkel in NYC?

My film, at least, did not involve a lot of props but it was shot outdoors in multiple locations. The day was wicked cold and we decided we had enough footage when we started to turn blue ourselves. Last but not least, I should mention managing the camera and the shots. Without Super Dave, the teaching assistant (TA) from NYFA, all of us would have been lost.

Next stop is the editing room. I can’t wait to tell my friend Freddy Filmmaker about that experience. Five days as a student filmmaker has given me renewed respect for filmmakers.

Peace,

Tina