Lauren :)
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
Building Employability Skils task 2
Application for mPOWER
link to interview: http://www.youtube.com/user/mpowerproject2010
Lauren :)
link to interview: http://www.youtube.com/user/mpowerproject2010
Lauren :)
Monday, 30 August 2010
RED- the fusical
Excerpt from my Cv...coming soon!
Associate producer: I was a lead role working directly with Janet Robertson Director of YMTS and creative director of RED. I was at the center of the creative process and had to pull together all of the practical requirements. It was a role of great responsibility and was very challenging; I managed 3 sell-out performances at mFEST and lead the production team consisting of the Stage manager, DSM and ASM/ production runners. As part of this role I had to monitor the progress of the Associate Artistic Directors, find solutions to problems that occur along the way, establish an effective method of communication between the production departments and to work with the General Manager and the professional facilitators to make decisions over the production budget and to manage it closely.
RED was a real privilege to be a part of as it combined so many artistic mediums and it was great to see it all come together as I felt the show we devised was unique and highly creative.
red performance photo:
Lauren :)
Associate producer: I was a lead role working directly with Janet Robertson Director of YMTS and creative director of RED. I was at the center of the creative process and had to pull together all of the practical requirements. It was a role of great responsibility and was very challenging; I managed 3 sell-out performances at mFEST and lead the production team consisting of the Stage manager, DSM and ASM/ production runners. As part of this role I had to monitor the progress of the Associate Artistic Directors, find solutions to problems that occur along the way, establish an effective method of communication between the production departments and to work with the General Manager and the professional facilitators to make decisions over the production budget and to manage it closely.
RED was a real privilege to be a part of as it combined so many artistic mediums and it was great to see it all come together as I felt the show we devised was unique and highly creative.
red performance photo:
Lauren :)
Documentary Team
A big part of my mPOWER experience has been being a member of the team that documents the festival and the process that the project went through to get to the end point. Working with small majority was great and I learned a lot from Alan, and Linda the evaluation officer. Working in such a changeable environment was really fun and filming commissions such as motion house and la fura were definite perks ;)
I also got to develop my interview skills by interviewing many of the actors, directors and young people involved in the project!
Lauren :)
I also got to develop my interview skills by interviewing many of the actors, directors and young people involved in the project!
Lauren :)
Sunday, 29 August 2010
'Free?'- review
My colleges and friends from mPOWER- Rhian Campbell and Fraser Morrison directed a show in mFEST entitled ‘Free?’. This show was adapted by Fraser from a book written by amnesty international. I acted in this show during the festival and here is a review that it received in the Stirling Observer:
AN adaptation of four short stories from a book of the same name published by Amnesty International this play was an invaluable reminder of the many forms that human rights abuses can take - and the many places they can happen.
Mixing light and dark moments on a stripped down set even the cast wear only black and white, ensuring the focus is entirely on the words at hand.
It’s an amazing achievement for macrobert Young Theatre’s Fraser Morrison, the 13 year old behind the adaptation which packs a fair punch - especially in the last, expertly choreographed sequence, warning of where things might go in future, and the danger of passivity.
This was a great achievement as I have never acted in a show of this caliber before and it sold out both nights that it was on.
Lauren :)
AN adaptation of four short stories from a book of the same name published by Amnesty International this play was an invaluable reminder of the many forms that human rights abuses can take - and the many places they can happen.
Mixing light and dark moments on a stripped down set even the cast wear only black and white, ensuring the focus is entirely on the words at hand.
It’s an amazing achievement for macrobert Young Theatre’s Fraser Morrison, the 13 year old behind the adaptation which packs a fair punch - especially in the last, expertly choreographed sequence, warning of where things might go in future, and the danger of passivity.
This was a great achievement as I have never acted in a show of this caliber before and it sold out both nights that it was on.
Lauren :)
Revised- the premier
The culmination of a 5 month project resolved on the 27th of July, the premier of ‘Revised’ took place in the macrobert film house to a filled out house audience of parents, mpowerers, friends and the professional mentors that helped us along the way.
It was such a great opportunity to see the finished project on such a large scale; I was really pleased to see that all of the hard work we had put in had payed off into a film that we could all be proud of. As this was my first film of this scale it provided me with the drive to go on and continue to learn more about the area of filming, and to hopefully pursue a career on that path.
As I produced and was the 2nd AAD on this film the experience that I gained was second to none, and I really can’t wait for the next film!
The crew:
Lauren :)
It was such a great opportunity to see the finished project on such a large scale; I was really pleased to see that all of the hard work we had put in had payed off into a film that we could all be proud of. As this was my first film of this scale it provided me with the drive to go on and continue to learn more about the area of filming, and to hopefully pursue a career on that path.
As I produced and was the 2nd AAD on this film the experience that I gained was second to none, and I really can’t wait for the next film!
The crew:
Lauren :)
Friday, 27 August 2010
Building Employability Skills task 1
In an ideal world I see myself becoming a news reader in later life. I think that this is an achievable goal if I apply myself and work hard to achieve my goal
I read on the creative choices web page the best way to get into that sort of carrer path:
(http://www.creative-choices.co.uk/server.php?show=ConJobProfile.194)
From this I gathered that a reporting or journalism internship would be a good place to start either after or during university. An oppertunity like this would appeal to me in the future:
(http://www.journalism.co.uk/75/articles/536156.php)
I would hope to build up to a career such as this:
(https://jobs.bbc.co.uk/fe/tpl_bbc01.asp?s=IBkMjPUrEcTFkHhTcz&jobid=35050,2358993448&key=32314101&c=623368480272&pagestamp=semygrcimymxuyumze)
However I would also love to persue a future in producing; either in television or theatre. Really I am still unsure of what I want to be and I think that's ok, I still have the rest of my life to figure it out, however I know that I want to work within a creative industry.
Lauren :)
I read on the creative choices web page the best way to get into that sort of carrer path:
(http://www.creative-choices.co.uk/server.php?show=ConJobProfile.194)
From this I gathered that a reporting or journalism internship would be a good place to start either after or during university. An oppertunity like this would appeal to me in the future:
(http://www.journalism.co.uk/75/articles/536156.php)
I would hope to build up to a career such as this:
(https://jobs.bbc.co.uk/fe/tpl_bbc01.asp?s=IBkMjPUrEcTFkHhTcz&jobid=35050,2358993448&key=32314101&c=623368480272&pagestamp=semygrcimymxuyumze)
However I would also love to persue a future in producing; either in television or theatre. Really I am still unsure of what I want to be and I think that's ok, I still have the rest of my life to figure it out, however I know that I want to work within a creative industry.
Lauren :)
Thursday, 26 August 2010
Responsibilities of Employment- task 2
Source: “Mike ‘The Manager’ Pipstar, the manager of Pipstar Broadcasting in Glasgow is planning to record a short stunt sequence for an upcoming production of ‘Crazy cars and Cops’. He is hoping to use some of his freelance camera men and woman and stunt drivers in the programme. This would be a great opportunity for all involved as if it was successful Pipstar would get the contract for a following 12 programmes over a 6 months period.
Steve, Ross and Cheri, who have worked for Pipstar previously, have been asked to come to rehearsals for the sequence which will involve some driving of both motorcycles and cars. Steve did not like working with Ross and Cherie as some of the other stunt artists and technicians felt that they did not take enough care and attention in preparation for filming. When they arrived late at the rehearsal, due to being at the pub for lunch, Ross and Cheri decided to muck about on the motorcycles.
Mike decided to attend the rehearsal.
He found Steve hard at work planning the sequence whilst Ross and Cheri were still mucking around on the motorcycles. Martin sent them both home.”
Ross and Frankie behaved in an unacceptable way. Identify: a) behaviour issue b) a health and safety issue.
1a. A behaviour problem that is present in the actions of Ross and Frankie is that they did not turn up to work at the assigned time, additionally as they were ‘at the pub’- there is a possibility that they could be turning up to work drunk which is very unprofessional and could pose a danger to the other employees. They also failed to take their work seriously while they were working in a potentially dangerous environment
b. The health and safety problem raised by Ross and Frankie’s actions could have caused massive potential damage to themselves and others by their inability to take their work seriously by ‘mucking around on the motorcycles’.
2a. What might happen to you if you behaved in an unacceptable way at work?
If for example I behaved in an unacceptable way at work I would expect to be disciplined by a superior and be sent home, possibly even fired or suspended; depending on how serious the offence was.
b. How could this affect you in the future?
As the film industry is more like a tight knit community in Scotland if you were an unreliable worker and had a lazy work ethic others in the industry would hear about this and as a consequence would not want to hire you. In film if you don't have a good working mentality it can push projects behind, which is a very costly drawback. Additionally it is not a positive thing to have been fired and bad report from your former employee could affect your future employability.
Other Examples of Unacceptable behaviour:
- not arriving in a timely manner
- dressing in a fashion not appropriate for work
- bullying or discriminating against other colleagues
- not following instructions
- disrespecting other members of the work place
- sexual harassment
- keep offensive language to a minimum
- withholding essential information, resources, training
- stereotyping
- singling out
Lauren :)
Steve, Ross and Cheri, who have worked for Pipstar previously, have been asked to come to rehearsals for the sequence which will involve some driving of both motorcycles and cars. Steve did not like working with Ross and Cherie as some of the other stunt artists and technicians felt that they did not take enough care and attention in preparation for filming. When they arrived late at the rehearsal, due to being at the pub for lunch, Ross and Cheri decided to muck about on the motorcycles.
Mike decided to attend the rehearsal.
He found Steve hard at work planning the sequence whilst Ross and Cheri were still mucking around on the motorcycles. Martin sent them both home.”
Ross and Frankie behaved in an unacceptable way. Identify: a) behaviour issue b) a health and safety issue.
1a. A behaviour problem that is present in the actions of Ross and Frankie is that they did not turn up to work at the assigned time, additionally as they were ‘at the pub’- there is a possibility that they could be turning up to work drunk which is very unprofessional and could pose a danger to the other employees. They also failed to take their work seriously while they were working in a potentially dangerous environment
b. The health and safety problem raised by Ross and Frankie’s actions could have caused massive potential damage to themselves and others by their inability to take their work seriously by ‘mucking around on the motorcycles’.
2a. What might happen to you if you behaved in an unacceptable way at work?
If for example I behaved in an unacceptable way at work I would expect to be disciplined by a superior and be sent home, possibly even fired or suspended; depending on how serious the offence was.
b. How could this affect you in the future?
As the film industry is more like a tight knit community in Scotland if you were an unreliable worker and had a lazy work ethic others in the industry would hear about this and as a consequence would not want to hire you. In film if you don't have a good working mentality it can push projects behind, which is a very costly drawback. Additionally it is not a positive thing to have been fired and bad report from your former employee could affect your future employability.
Other Examples of Unacceptable behaviour:
- not arriving in a timely manner
- dressing in a fashion not appropriate for work
- bullying or discriminating against other colleagues
- not following instructions
- disrespecting other members of the work place
- sexual harassment
- keep offensive language to a minimum
- withholding essential information, resources, training
- stereotyping
- singling out
Lauren :)
Friday, 9 July 2010
Responsibilities of Employment- task 1
As an employee you have many responsibilities within and with out the work place. I’ve written what I believe to be the ‘Golden Rules of Employment’, which are tailored to a career in filming.
1. Be punctual- turn up for a job on time, with the proper equipment that you need. Otherwise you run the risk of the project falling behind, which in film is a very costly process; this also could portray the image that you are unreliable- which is something that wouldn’t bode well when looking for work.
2. Dress appropriately- in film you have to work very long hours in all types of conditions and environments. Comfortable shoes, trousers and a water proof jacket are highly recommended (constricting clothing is a BIG no-no!). You will most likely have to spend a lot of time standing and could get cold very quickly; so bring winter woollies and wrap up if its winter, it is Scotland after all!
3. Respect co-workers and superiors- working on a film set is a big like being a part of a large family…sometimes they fall out! Communication between departments should be clear and friendly; the project as a whole will benefit from it and a better product will be produced in the end.
4. Get proper training- otherwise you run the risk of putting yourself and colleges at risk. On film sets there are many possible hazards such as cabling and equipment that can be tripped over. He/she should make sure whether he/she has mastered the skills required to perform the task completely. If he/she is not sure about how to handle the work allotted to them they should talk with their superiors and get suggestions and directions in fulfilling the work allotted to him/her. This will help the employee in building good relations with not only their superiors also with their colleagues.
5. Take responsibility of your health and safety- To report any injuries, strains or illnesses you suffer as a result of doing your job- in film this could be especially important as it may mean that you cannot work as you may aggravate the injury further and your employer may need to change the way you work. Also your employer has a legal responsibility for your health and safety so they will need to find a solution to the problem. You should also take reasonable care not to put other people – fellow employees and members of the public – at risk by what you do or don’t do in the course of your work e.g. packing away equipment properly.
6. Participation- Active listening and participation in teams will ensure that all employees become good team players and work with unity towards common goals of the company. Whenever new work is being allotted all the Employees should be eager enough to take the initiative rather than trying to avoid newer tasks. This will facilitate in employees learning new skills and reaching the production goals with much effectiveness.
7. Working Cost effectively- The employees should develop the habit of a cost saving work style and minimise waste with maximised output, also in film it is important that projects stay to budget so the use available resources and take responsibility for equipment. The employees should have sense of responsibility towards the resources of the Organisation. As a part of the Organisation every employee is equally responsible for the long life of the existing resources. Film equipment is very expensive and so if it is broken costs will quickly mount up which will be detrimental to the project as a whole.
8. Creative thinking and suggestion- The employee should always think about bettering the production as a whole, so problem solving and good communication between all aspects of the production can only have a positive impact on the project.
So in conclusion the responsibilities of an employee are as follows: they should personify teamwork, integrity, commitment, and have a positive work ethic.
Employees also have a number or rights within the work place which the employer should enforce to ensure that you are receiving the proper treatment, these are as follows:
1. Receive fair payment for the work that you carry out- this means that as employee you should be receiving the minimum wage for your age group which for me would be (as of August) £3.53 per hour.
2. Be provided with proper training- so that you can carry out the job with confidence and knowing that you have the knowledge to fix things if they go wrong.
3. Be respected by co-workers and superiors- so that you have a positive experience with the company and so that it projects a positive impact of the company.
4. Have sensible working hours- working 19 hour days doesn’t seem like a lot of fun, sure in industries like filming you may be expected to work long hours but nothing that could have a negative impact on your health. Also you should have a lunch break.
5. Good working conditions- In modern studies I learned that shop stewards should be able to fight for better conditions in the work place, for example if the employees would like to have a water dispenser then the shop steward should speak to the boss to see if this is possible so that every one is happy within the workplace.
My conclusions:
In work I would be more serious than I would be if I was out with friends.
In work I would be a bit quieter than if I were out with my friends.
In work I would be very sensible, more so than if I was with friends.
Lauren :)
1. Be punctual- turn up for a job on time, with the proper equipment that you need. Otherwise you run the risk of the project falling behind, which in film is a very costly process; this also could portray the image that you are unreliable- which is something that wouldn’t bode well when looking for work.
2. Dress appropriately- in film you have to work very long hours in all types of conditions and environments. Comfortable shoes, trousers and a water proof jacket are highly recommended (constricting clothing is a BIG no-no!). You will most likely have to spend a lot of time standing and could get cold very quickly; so bring winter woollies and wrap up if its winter, it is Scotland after all!
3. Respect co-workers and superiors- working on a film set is a big like being a part of a large family…sometimes they fall out! Communication between departments should be clear and friendly; the project as a whole will benefit from it and a better product will be produced in the end.
4. Get proper training- otherwise you run the risk of putting yourself and colleges at risk. On film sets there are many possible hazards such as cabling and equipment that can be tripped over. He/she should make sure whether he/she has mastered the skills required to perform the task completely. If he/she is not sure about how to handle the work allotted to them they should talk with their superiors and get suggestions and directions in fulfilling the work allotted to him/her. This will help the employee in building good relations with not only their superiors also with their colleagues.
5. Take responsibility of your health and safety- To report any injuries, strains or illnesses you suffer as a result of doing your job- in film this could be especially important as it may mean that you cannot work as you may aggravate the injury further and your employer may need to change the way you work. Also your employer has a legal responsibility for your health and safety so they will need to find a solution to the problem. You should also take reasonable care not to put other people – fellow employees and members of the public – at risk by what you do or don’t do in the course of your work e.g. packing away equipment properly.
6. Participation- Active listening and participation in teams will ensure that all employees become good team players and work with unity towards common goals of the company. Whenever new work is being allotted all the Employees should be eager enough to take the initiative rather than trying to avoid newer tasks. This will facilitate in employees learning new skills and reaching the production goals with much effectiveness.
7. Working Cost effectively- The employees should develop the habit of a cost saving work style and minimise waste with maximised output, also in film it is important that projects stay to budget so the use available resources and take responsibility for equipment. The employees should have sense of responsibility towards the resources of the Organisation. As a part of the Organisation every employee is equally responsible for the long life of the existing resources. Film equipment is very expensive and so if it is broken costs will quickly mount up which will be detrimental to the project as a whole.
8. Creative thinking and suggestion- The employee should always think about bettering the production as a whole, so problem solving and good communication between all aspects of the production can only have a positive impact on the project.
So in conclusion the responsibilities of an employee are as follows: they should personify teamwork, integrity, commitment, and have a positive work ethic.
Employees also have a number or rights within the work place which the employer should enforce to ensure that you are receiving the proper treatment, these are as follows:
1. Receive fair payment for the work that you carry out- this means that as employee you should be receiving the minimum wage for your age group which for me would be (as of August) £3.53 per hour.
2. Be provided with proper training- so that you can carry out the job with confidence and knowing that you have the knowledge to fix things if they go wrong.
3. Be respected by co-workers and superiors- so that you have a positive experience with the company and so that it projects a positive impact of the company.
4. Have sensible working hours- working 19 hour days doesn’t seem like a lot of fun, sure in industries like filming you may be expected to work long hours but nothing that could have a negative impact on your health. Also you should have a lunch break.
5. Good working conditions- In modern studies I learned that shop stewards should be able to fight for better conditions in the work place, for example if the employees would like to have a water dispenser then the shop steward should speak to the boss to see if this is possible so that every one is happy within the workplace.
My conclusions:
In work I would be more serious than I would be if I was out with friends.
In work I would be a bit quieter than if I were out with my friends.
In work I would be very sensible, more so than if I was with friends.
Lauren :)
Monday, 5 July 2010
Revised- a first light film
I can’t think of a better way to spend your Easter holiday than making a short film…can you?
We had a great wee team- myself, Louie, Sean, Catriona, Roisin, Ruaridh and not forgetting Mikey and Jonathan!
So we had written the script, casted the actors (Gemma-Alex and Jamie-John), chosen our locations, located a cello- which is no easy feat I’m telling you and organised props/costumes etc.
Day one (morning) - bridge scenes, highly emotional now that we’ve added music in editing! It was rather cold, and members of the public kept asking us questions- not that we minded we thought we were ever so cool! Also a big thanks to bike man who thought we were from the BBC thinking we were making a documentary about the broken lifts on the Stirling Bridge…yeah because everyone would watch that…
Day one (afternoon)-completely zapped of energy we returned to macbob for a soul warming lunch of pizza and macrobert red jucie-yummm. Then it was down to the basement to film the piano scene, we were all shattered and in the need for a good kip. We soldiered on, and catriona became our lovely actress for that afternoon, even although we all had really sore heads resulting form the insents that we brunt to make a gentle mist across the floor of the grand piano- it failed! We got some really atmospheric shots though so all in all I guess it was worth the neurophen I had to take when I got home!
Day two (morning) - music shop, that was a rather good day! Roisin brought a bag of random percussion instruments that kept us all amused for a while and Jamie sang screamo in the glass rehearsal space. Favourite quote of the morning Jonathan- “red head to ceiling, blonde to floor”, Louie and I (blonde and ginger respectively) looked at each other and burst into fits of laughter! This scene has been turned into a montage of shots for the final film, big thanks to the guys from the music store for letting us film.
Day two (afternoon)- After our M&S lunch in the park we headed off to Ruaridh’s house to film the opening scene. We stuck countless posters to his walls and used a mountain of blue tack in the process. A good start to the film, this scene has my favourite cut in it when John is taking concert tickets off the wall- tis guid.
Day three (morning)- Shattered after the previous two days we dragged ourselves to Stirling Station to go to Glasgow for the final day filming. We were the children of Mikey and Jonathan to save money on the train fare, crafty money savers us film lot! When we got into Glasgow we met with our actor for the day- Lefty who plays sitar and snare. Everything went really well, we got all the shots that we needed and some positive remarks from the locals about how nice it is to see young folk getting involved in filming.
Day three (afternoon)- after my first ever subway lunch we got to filming random walking shots. Sean and I even got to appear as extras in the film! These shots were to establish the location and to shoot an entrance for the piano scene that was shot on day 1. We also shot the folk group ‘The Cat Skinners’ which was great, they played us a “wee jig” that really got us all in a good mood. This scene in editing has a really nice feel to it and looks great! Finally, we shot Jamie running back into the train station.
Now we’re in the editing stage, and have the picture pretty much locked. Its going really well and it turned out a little differently from how I imagined it, but I’m really pleased with the film and can’t wait for the premier later this month.
I can’t think of a better way to spend your Easter holiday than making a short film…can you?
lauren :)
We had a great wee team- myself, Louie, Sean, Catriona, Roisin, Ruaridh and not forgetting Mikey and Jonathan!
So we had written the script, casted the actors (Gemma-Alex and Jamie-John), chosen our locations, located a cello- which is no easy feat I’m telling you and organised props/costumes etc.
Day one (morning) - bridge scenes, highly emotional now that we’ve added music in editing! It was rather cold, and members of the public kept asking us questions- not that we minded we thought we were ever so cool! Also a big thanks to bike man who thought we were from the BBC thinking we were making a documentary about the broken lifts on the Stirling Bridge…yeah because everyone would watch that…
Day one (afternoon)-completely zapped of energy we returned to macbob for a soul warming lunch of pizza and macrobert red jucie-yummm. Then it was down to the basement to film the piano scene, we were all shattered and in the need for a good kip. We soldiered on, and catriona became our lovely actress for that afternoon, even although we all had really sore heads resulting form the insents that we brunt to make a gentle mist across the floor of the grand piano- it failed! We got some really atmospheric shots though so all in all I guess it was worth the neurophen I had to take when I got home!
Day two (morning) - music shop, that was a rather good day! Roisin brought a bag of random percussion instruments that kept us all amused for a while and Jamie sang screamo in the glass rehearsal space. Favourite quote of the morning Jonathan- “red head to ceiling, blonde to floor”, Louie and I (blonde and ginger respectively) looked at each other and burst into fits of laughter! This scene has been turned into a montage of shots for the final film, big thanks to the guys from the music store for letting us film.
Day two (afternoon)- After our M&S lunch in the park we headed off to Ruaridh’s house to film the opening scene. We stuck countless posters to his walls and used a mountain of blue tack in the process. A good start to the film, this scene has my favourite cut in it when John is taking concert tickets off the wall- tis guid.
Day three (morning)- Shattered after the previous two days we dragged ourselves to Stirling Station to go to Glasgow for the final day filming. We were the children of Mikey and Jonathan to save money on the train fare, crafty money savers us film lot! When we got into Glasgow we met with our actor for the day- Lefty who plays sitar and snare. Everything went really well, we got all the shots that we needed and some positive remarks from the locals about how nice it is to see young folk getting involved in filming.
Day three (afternoon)- after my first ever subway lunch we got to filming random walking shots. Sean and I even got to appear as extras in the film! These shots were to establish the location and to shoot an entrance for the piano scene that was shot on day 1. We also shot the folk group ‘The Cat Skinners’ which was great, they played us a “wee jig” that really got us all in a good mood. This scene in editing has a really nice feel to it and looks great! Finally, we shot Jamie running back into the train station.
Now we’re in the editing stage, and have the picture pretty much locked. Its going really well and it turned out a little differently from how I imagined it, but I’m really pleased with the film and can’t wait for the premier later this month.
I can’t think of a better way to spend your Easter holiday than making a short film…can you?
lauren :)
A big thanks!
I really want to get the chance to thank everyone involved with mPOWER, this has been an amazing experience and if I was told a year ago I would be involved in a project like this I wouldn’t have believed them!
When I applied for a film development internship with mPOWER I never thought about how much I would change over the process. I now have a real sense of independence and am equipped with the knowledge and skills that I will need in order to achieve what I want in life. I’ve met the most amazing people; whether its industry professionals, the mPOWER staff, the macrobert team, Forth Valley College or the other young people who are involved the project, you guys have made the project so vibrant and a privilege to be involved in!
Here is a taster of the great things I’ve done whilst being involved with mPOWER and mFEST:
-wrote, produced, edited and was an extra in a first light funded film ‘REVISED’ which will be premiered before the festival
-script writing workshop with Mikey Murray and Peter Hynes
-directing workshop with Adrian Mead
-animation workshop with Julia McLean
-worked with Apple to make a music video shown at the Glasgow international Film festival
-sound workshop with Becky Thompson
-trip to the set of River City, Film City
-trip to the set of David Tennant’s new drama Single Father
-went to small majority offices to record voice overs with the Documentary team
-became the associate producer of a new festival act ‘RED’ being performed at the festival
-got a role in ‘Free?’ a new play by amnesty international adapted by a fellow mPOWERer Fraser Morrison
-CV work shops with Forth Valley College
-helping film at the Tolbooth’s Re-loaded events with fellow intern Sean
And that’s before the festival!
I’ve grown as a person through out the whole process and my confidence has soared resulting from the project. I know that I can rely on myself a lot more to keep to deadlines, also I learned a lot about working as a team and loved making my first short film with a great group of friends.
It’s honestly hard to find words to try and explain how grateful I am for this project; my life would be so different if I hadn’t been involved.
I now know the macrobert like the back of my hand, and know what amazing hot chocolate they make! Sadly enough I also know the bus fare to get from Denny to the macrobert, and the price of a smoked chicken panini with pesto (£3.75).
I’ve got to see some amazing performances at the macrobert during this time such as Conflux (spokes) and Motionhouse as part of the inspire events- which true to their name were VERY inspiring! I had never seen a dance drama before seeing these and I hope to see a lot more in the future.
Teenagers have been given a great chance in this festival, and I thank mPOWER for believing and supporting each and every one of us throughout the process- you’ve been so helpful and friendly! I really hope that this project happens again so that other teens like me can experience how brilliant it is.
I’m looking forward to mFEST and hope that all the hard work and hours that everyone has put into it will pay off, and hey, it’ll be great fun!
Lauren :)
When I applied for a film development internship with mPOWER I never thought about how much I would change over the process. I now have a real sense of independence and am equipped with the knowledge and skills that I will need in order to achieve what I want in life. I’ve met the most amazing people; whether its industry professionals, the mPOWER staff, the macrobert team, Forth Valley College or the other young people who are involved the project, you guys have made the project so vibrant and a privilege to be involved in!
Here is a taster of the great things I’ve done whilst being involved with mPOWER and mFEST:
-wrote, produced, edited and was an extra in a first light funded film ‘REVISED’ which will be premiered before the festival
-script writing workshop with Mikey Murray and Peter Hynes
-directing workshop with Adrian Mead
-animation workshop with Julia McLean
-worked with Apple to make a music video shown at the Glasgow international Film festival
-sound workshop with Becky Thompson
-trip to the set of River City, Film City
-trip to the set of David Tennant’s new drama Single Father
-went to small majority offices to record voice overs with the Documentary team
-became the associate producer of a new festival act ‘RED’ being performed at the festival
-got a role in ‘Free?’ a new play by amnesty international adapted by a fellow mPOWERer Fraser Morrison
-CV work shops with Forth Valley College
-helping film at the Tolbooth’s Re-loaded events with fellow intern Sean
And that’s before the festival!
I’ve grown as a person through out the whole process and my confidence has soared resulting from the project. I know that I can rely on myself a lot more to keep to deadlines, also I learned a lot about working as a team and loved making my first short film with a great group of friends.
It’s honestly hard to find words to try and explain how grateful I am for this project; my life would be so different if I hadn’t been involved.
I now know the macrobert like the back of my hand, and know what amazing hot chocolate they make! Sadly enough I also know the bus fare to get from Denny to the macrobert, and the price of a smoked chicken panini with pesto (£3.75).
I’ve got to see some amazing performances at the macrobert during this time such as Conflux (spokes) and Motionhouse as part of the inspire events- which true to their name were VERY inspiring! I had never seen a dance drama before seeing these and I hope to see a lot more in the future.
Teenagers have been given a great chance in this festival, and I thank mPOWER for believing and supporting each and every one of us throughout the process- you’ve been so helpful and friendly! I really hope that this project happens again so that other teens like me can experience how brilliant it is.
I’m looking forward to mFEST and hope that all the hard work and hours that everyone has put into it will pay off, and hey, it’ll be great fun!
Lauren :)
Sunday, 30 May 2010
Nature fights back
What appears to be a sterotypical universtiy campus is the new battle ground of the 21st century- and nature is not going to surrender its strong hold on the world easily. However established industry and modernism becomes it still remains no match for the mighty mother nature. The evidence is clear...
Industry casts a ‘watchful’ eye, ever-looming, ever enclosing; nature takes a gentler approach of freedom and trust.
Why can’t these two opposing sides establish some common ground? Their differences are to great perhaps, or is it just that neither is willing to comprimise?
And what of the humans? Of course we were the parents of industry, but arnt we also the childern of nature?
We explore, ever exceeding our limitations and goals, but with a hunger that never seems to end.
Could they live in harmony one day, side by side?
The new...
And the old....
I for one, would hope so
Peace,unity, it cant be that much to ask. Reslove the differences and build towards a better, healthier Earth.
For EVERYONE.
Lauren :)
Monday, 19 April 2010
Preparing for employment- task 2
Skills and understanding review:
Here are the conclusions I have drawn from my past and present experiences that will help me to enter the world of work.
1) What do you think that you are good at?
At school my strongest subjects are; english, drama and modern studies- I think this because I got the highest prelim results in my year group in these subjects. I particularly I enjoy english because I really feel as though I have achieved a lot in my critical essays, and they have improved greatly this year. Modern Studies is a fascinating subject to me, everything that we cover in the course is very interesting and I love the fact that all the work I put into revising for it paid off.
I’m also a confident public speaker and won the inter-house event at my school for it last year, I wasn’t always out going and was rather shy up until about my second year of high school. However now I just don’t see the point of being shy, you miss too much worrying what everyone else thinks!
I’m also pretty creative; I came up with 3 talent show acts for my house last year ranging from a musical number to a band with a short film projected in the background. Even though we didn’t win I had a great time, it was a bit stressful but it was all worth it in the end as everyone pulled together and became a team which was great to see. Also I compose my own music, I love the feeling when you finish a piece that you have been working on for a long time and it sounds the way that you wanted it to ( which isn’t always easy!) which I believe demonstrated my devotion to projects I take part in.
I’m good at being an individual, I don’t like to blend into situations and I love meeting new people. I’m discovering who I am as a person this last year and honestly I’m having an amazing time! I may not enjoy the typical teenage things for example one of my hobbies is politics and I can ramble on for ages about this topic, I’m also told that I give good advice to people. I’m also good at giving my self a challenge; last year I completed my bronze duke of Edinburgh award which is something I never thought I’d be able to do! I met lovely people through this experience and learned how to motivate my team in order to get us to reach our goal- even if its freezing cold and we’re trekking through what seems like an eternity of mud!
2) What others think you are good at?
For this question I thought I would ask one of my friends what they thought I was good at, I hope that it is ok that I just used their quote directly.
“She is funny, very creative and good at english and music. Lauren can also use her imagination and intelligence to a great advantage. She can work well as part of a team and leading a team. She’s also great at finding the deeper meaning in things in particular film, poetry and literature. Lauren is also able to put her ideas and view points across in a sophisticated manner and accept the view of others. She is good at acting and is also an amazing friend (a bit cheesy I know!).She is good at using her common sense and making people feel better when they are down. Lauren is a very busy person; but she somehow manages to balance all of the things that she is involved in, I think this is partially due to the fact that she is very organised and applies herself to everything she does.”
3) How do you see your self as an employee?
As an employee I think that I am always punctual and hardworking. I like to have fun while working as it only makes the job more enjoyable. It is important to be able to be dependable and reliable as an employee. Which instills confidence in your employer and they know that you can be trusted and are a loyal and positive attribute to them.
4) How do you see yourself as a friend?
My friends say that I’m a great listener and I always help them when they have a problem that they want to talk about, they additionally think that I’m very cheery person and that my positive attitude is very infectious- as is my laugh! They think that I’m a confident and out going person, that they sometimes worry takes on too much, but they know that I will always ask them for help if I need it.
I see myself as a very loyal friend and that when there is the occasional falling out I do my best to bring them back together and see where the other person is coming from. I also feel as though I can be trusted as a friend and that my friends know that they can tell me anything and that I won’t judge them and try to help them through the situation.
5) Why do you feel as though the things that you have mentioned will come in useful when looking for a job?
I feel as though my positive attitude will be very helpful when I am looking for a job, as I know that I will not get every job that I apply for and that it is important to remain optimistic through the process. As I’m both a great speaker and listener I think that this will come in useful when I’m looking for a job as employees will see that I have good interview skills and could work well both independently and as part as team.
My ingenuity will also be an advantage when looking for a job as it will allow possible employers to see how adaptable I am and that I can learn new skills very quickly. My experience in public speaking will help me especially in the interview process of finding employment- this is because I will be able to communicate my skills and how these would be of an asset to my possible employer.
6) How do the qualities that you have written about relate to the industry that you are interested in?
I think that in the future career that I see my self in (television journalist/ broadcaster or director) creativity is defiantly crucial as you have to have a vision of want you want to make and how you want it to look. You also have to be driven as it is an extremely competitive business, so you have to really want your goal in order to achieve it. You additionally have to be able to work independently and also as part of a large team because as a director you would be expected to be in control of the situation and the other people working on the set.
In regards of being a television journalist you have to be confident as you may have to interview any type of person and get a good answer out of them so that it can be used. You also have to keep your sources and information up to date and so intelligence and organisation are essential to this.
Lauren :)
Here are the conclusions I have drawn from my past and present experiences that will help me to enter the world of work.
1) What do you think that you are good at?
At school my strongest subjects are; english, drama and modern studies- I think this because I got the highest prelim results in my year group in these subjects. I particularly I enjoy english because I really feel as though I have achieved a lot in my critical essays, and they have improved greatly this year. Modern Studies is a fascinating subject to me, everything that we cover in the course is very interesting and I love the fact that all the work I put into revising for it paid off.
I’m also a confident public speaker and won the inter-house event at my school for it last year, I wasn’t always out going and was rather shy up until about my second year of high school. However now I just don’t see the point of being shy, you miss too much worrying what everyone else thinks!
I’m also pretty creative; I came up with 3 talent show acts for my house last year ranging from a musical number to a band with a short film projected in the background. Even though we didn’t win I had a great time, it was a bit stressful but it was all worth it in the end as everyone pulled together and became a team which was great to see. Also I compose my own music, I love the feeling when you finish a piece that you have been working on for a long time and it sounds the way that you wanted it to ( which isn’t always easy!) which I believe demonstrated my devotion to projects I take part in.
I’m good at being an individual, I don’t like to blend into situations and I love meeting new people. I’m discovering who I am as a person this last year and honestly I’m having an amazing time! I may not enjoy the typical teenage things for example one of my hobbies is politics and I can ramble on for ages about this topic, I’m also told that I give good advice to people. I’m also good at giving my self a challenge; last year I completed my bronze duke of Edinburgh award which is something I never thought I’d be able to do! I met lovely people through this experience and learned how to motivate my team in order to get us to reach our goal- even if its freezing cold and we’re trekking through what seems like an eternity of mud!
2) What others think you are good at?
For this question I thought I would ask one of my friends what they thought I was good at, I hope that it is ok that I just used their quote directly.
“She is funny, very creative and good at english and music. Lauren can also use her imagination and intelligence to a great advantage. She can work well as part of a team and leading a team. She’s also great at finding the deeper meaning in things in particular film, poetry and literature. Lauren is also able to put her ideas and view points across in a sophisticated manner and accept the view of others. She is good at acting and is also an amazing friend (a bit cheesy I know!).She is good at using her common sense and making people feel better when they are down. Lauren is a very busy person; but she somehow manages to balance all of the things that she is involved in, I think this is partially due to the fact that she is very organised and applies herself to everything she does.”
3) How do you see your self as an employee?
As an employee I think that I am always punctual and hardworking. I like to have fun while working as it only makes the job more enjoyable. It is important to be able to be dependable and reliable as an employee. Which instills confidence in your employer and they know that you can be trusted and are a loyal and positive attribute to them.
4) How do you see yourself as a friend?
My friends say that I’m a great listener and I always help them when they have a problem that they want to talk about, they additionally think that I’m very cheery person and that my positive attitude is very infectious- as is my laugh! They think that I’m a confident and out going person, that they sometimes worry takes on too much, but they know that I will always ask them for help if I need it.
I see myself as a very loyal friend and that when there is the occasional falling out I do my best to bring them back together and see where the other person is coming from. I also feel as though I can be trusted as a friend and that my friends know that they can tell me anything and that I won’t judge them and try to help them through the situation.
5) Why do you feel as though the things that you have mentioned will come in useful when looking for a job?
I feel as though my positive attitude will be very helpful when I am looking for a job, as I know that I will not get every job that I apply for and that it is important to remain optimistic through the process. As I’m both a great speaker and listener I think that this will come in useful when I’m looking for a job as employees will see that I have good interview skills and could work well both independently and as part as team.
My ingenuity will also be an advantage when looking for a job as it will allow possible employers to see how adaptable I am and that I can learn new skills very quickly. My experience in public speaking will help me especially in the interview process of finding employment- this is because I will be able to communicate my skills and how these would be of an asset to my possible employer.
6) How do the qualities that you have written about relate to the industry that you are interested in?
I think that in the future career that I see my self in (television journalist/ broadcaster or director) creativity is defiantly crucial as you have to have a vision of want you want to make and how you want it to look. You also have to be driven as it is an extremely competitive business, so you have to really want your goal in order to achieve it. You additionally have to be able to work independently and also as part of a large team because as a director you would be expected to be in control of the situation and the other people working on the set.
In regards of being a television journalist you have to be confident as you may have to interview any type of person and get a good answer out of them so that it can be used. You also have to keep your sources and information up to date and so intelligence and organisation are essential to this.
Lauren :)
Sunday, 18 April 2010
Preparing for employment- task 1
Skills and understanding review:
Mentor Discussion Point:
Activity and Skills Developed as result of activity
Public Speaking: Through this activity I learned that confidence and organisation are key- being able to back up an argument with solid facts will always make your point of view more persuading. Additionally being able to listen to others view points is very important as it gives you a different perspective on the subject.
Music Lessons/ shows: I have been playing guitar for 5 years and tenor horn for four; its great fun and I think it shows real enthusiasm and motivation because I have stuck with them for so long and hope to continue for many years to come!
Filming project- through mPOWER: Recently I was in production for my first short film with my fellow interns. My role was the producer/ 2nd AD and hair/make up/ costume. As a result of these roles I developed my team working skills as we all had to work together to make sure that we finished on time, additionally I had to come up with quick solutions to problems and be very conscious of our management of time. The project would not have of been on time if it was not for the planning and organisation that took place before had.
Documentary team with mPOWER: I am also a part of the team documenting the mPOWER experience; I have developed my camera and interview skills that will come in handy for my internship and for my desired career as a television journalist. I learned that everyone in the group has to depend on one another in order for it to be a success and that there has to be strong communication within the group.
School year captain: As part of this role I have developed my leadership and communication skills, as I often have to take the feed back of a pupil and pass these onto a teacher or senior house captain so that the pupils can feel that they have a voice and that it is being heard. I also have to work as part of a large team and make sure that everyone feels valued, because if we work together then goals shall be achieved effectively and efficiently
Swimming team: I have been a member of my high school swimming team since I arrived at the high school four years ago. I now also help at the junior club as well as attending the senior team practices. In order to attend all of the practices and extra-curricular activities that I participate in I have to be very organised and manage my time well. As I work with pupils aged S1-S3 I have to be enthusiastic and motivating to make sure that they improve their swimming and to have a fun time doing so.
Supported study/ independent studying:I’m in forth year, this year is a big exam year for me as I am doing standard grades in- chemistry, French, drama, modern studies, biology and music and intermediate 2 English: as I am fast-tracked in this subject. I have to be in control of my own learning and make sure that I stick to a study plan, meaning that I also have to organise my time well. I think I’ve shown real initiative and attend supported study sessions with my teachers and peers in order to make sure that I understand the course material. I also have to be flexible and make sure that I don’t burn myself out with everything I take on so I make sure that I have time to go out with friends and have a good laugh.
Lauren :)
Mentor Discussion Point:
Activity and Skills Developed as result of activity
Public Speaking: Through this activity I learned that confidence and organisation are key- being able to back up an argument with solid facts will always make your point of view more persuading. Additionally being able to listen to others view points is very important as it gives you a different perspective on the subject.
Music Lessons/ shows: I have been playing guitar for 5 years and tenor horn for four; its great fun and I think it shows real enthusiasm and motivation because I have stuck with them for so long and hope to continue for many years to come!
Filming project- through mPOWER: Recently I was in production for my first short film with my fellow interns. My role was the producer/ 2nd AD and hair/make up/ costume. As a result of these roles I developed my team working skills as we all had to work together to make sure that we finished on time, additionally I had to come up with quick solutions to problems and be very conscious of our management of time. The project would not have of been on time if it was not for the planning and organisation that took place before had.
Documentary team with mPOWER: I am also a part of the team documenting the mPOWER experience; I have developed my camera and interview skills that will come in handy for my internship and for my desired career as a television journalist. I learned that everyone in the group has to depend on one another in order for it to be a success and that there has to be strong communication within the group.
School year captain: As part of this role I have developed my leadership and communication skills, as I often have to take the feed back of a pupil and pass these onto a teacher or senior house captain so that the pupils can feel that they have a voice and that it is being heard. I also have to work as part of a large team and make sure that everyone feels valued, because if we work together then goals shall be achieved effectively and efficiently
Swimming team: I have been a member of my high school swimming team since I arrived at the high school four years ago. I now also help at the junior club as well as attending the senior team practices. In order to attend all of the practices and extra-curricular activities that I participate in I have to be very organised and manage my time well. As I work with pupils aged S1-S3 I have to be enthusiastic and motivating to make sure that they improve their swimming and to have a fun time doing so.
Supported study/ independent studying:I’m in forth year, this year is a big exam year for me as I am doing standard grades in- chemistry, French, drama, modern studies, biology and music and intermediate 2 English: as I am fast-tracked in this subject. I have to be in control of my own learning and make sure that I stick to a study plan, meaning that I also have to organise my time well. I think I’ve shown real initiative and attend supported study sessions with my teachers and peers in order to make sure that I understand the course material. I also have to be flexible and make sure that I don’t burn myself out with everything I take on so I make sure that I have time to go out with friends and have a good laugh.
Lauren :)
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