Unit 11

Im a dedicated and creative person. I have experience on professional sets working many roles ranging from runner to camera operator to cinematographer. I’ve worked on documentary features and shorts along with narrative shorts working with dslr cameras and cinema cameras along with a wide range of grip and lighting equipment. Still in film school I’m looking to expand my knowledge with part time work gaining experience from industry.

Fact file

The subject of my fact file is Cinematography, a job within film. The cinematographer is in charge of the visuals of a film. The role has mostly stuck with tradition but more recently with the introduction of cheaper digital cinema cameras there has been more independent cinematographers working with much smaller crews.

Two examples of major production companies would be Focus Features and film4. They both would hire crew to work on the films that they produce. Focus Features was founded in 1992 as Gramerct Features but was bought by Universal Studios and renamed, its most successful film was ‘Burn After Reading’ which earned $163.7 million worldwide. Film4 was know before 1998 as Chanel 4 films but was rebranded. Its first film was ‘Walter’ and released in 1982, its produced some very successful films such as ‘Trainspotting’ and ‘This Is England’.

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Job Description – Cinematographer

A Cinematographers job is to be in control of the picture of the film. They will be in charge of the camera, lighting and assist the grip department, they will also be responsible with most of the creative decisions. The skills required required by a cinematographer is creativity, this is because their job is primarily creative, they have to set up the shots and are ultimately responsive for the visual aspect of a film. Along side creativity they also need to have good people skills and directing skills, this is so that they are able to get their vision for the shots across to the rest of the team.

Working pattern- They will begin working with the director in the pre-production stages to come up with the storyboard for the film and figure out the style for the film. They will then stay on set with the rest of the crew for the entire day whilst shooting is taking place. In post production they will then assist the editor and colourist to get the style right for the film. A cinematographer’s day varies depending on at what point they are in in the project. They will start the project by working with the director to develop the story, discuss ideas for the overall look and feel of the film that storyboard and plan for locations equipment and lighting. The next stage for there job is location recce, they will visit every location the crew plan to film in to asses the site for factors including power accessibility and scenery. They will then work on set with the camera operator, 1^st ac, 2^nd ac, lighting crew and grip crew and the director to get the shots required for the film. They then work with the editor and colourist to get the final feel and look for the film to what they and the director decided on.

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Job advert 

Skill: cinematography , videography , director of photography; Exp: 2-5 years; Due to the large number of entries received, only the entries with a cover letter and a link to the work would be shortlisted for providing more information about the job and selection process.This job is open for people with HDSLRs (canon 6D, 7D mark II, 5d Mark III, Sony a7) and TripodPeople should be extremely good with camera handling (including non shaky hands for hand-held DSLR operation)and shot definitionMust be able to create shot list based on the brief provided by the directors.Must be a people person, presentable and well versed with the city areas and must be a travel loverShould be street smartThis job is focussed on quality where the cinematographer has to work independently – based on the provided brief – for a project that is getting launched throughout India.

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Skills Audit

The skills I have to do job this job well are; I have experience in using the cameras I would use, I can handle a camera well to produce the required shot, I am presentable and I can be very focussed on the quality of the cinematography. I have a knowledge of how different lenses render an image differently meaning I can make the right choice of lens for the shot. I know that I have these skills because I have completed4 short films and one feature documentary along with working as director of photography on 3 other documentaries and 2 short dramas.

The skills that I need to develop for the job are; shot framing (giving meaning to the shot and creating mention), using more advanced grip equipment and more experience working on a set. Other skills I need are on-set discipline which is learned through experience on-set. Also an understanding on roles within a film crew and what there duties are. Im going too gain these skills required by taking part in work experience on professional sets.

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Action Plan

Career choice – Cinematographer/Director of Photography

Target Grade for my course – Merit

My course – Film Practice at London Southbank University – requires a Pass at Level 3/112 UCAS points.

Film Production at Falmouth University – requires a Pass at Level 3, between 105 and 120 UCAS points depending on the interview.

Film Production at University for the creative arts – requires a pass at Level 3/112 UCAS points.

Filmmaking at Leeds Beckett University – requires a Pass at Level 3 with 125 UCAS points.

Film and Media Production at Sheffield Hallam University – requires a Pass at Level 3 with 112 UCAS points.

Work experience – I worked as a photographer for Sheffield Doc Fest providing promotional and documentation material for the film festival.

I’ve worked shooting footage for a Sheffield Sharks basketball game for Sheffield Live TV.

I’ve done freelance film and Photography for 3 company’s and 2 events.

I have worked as a kitchen porter which is a fast paced job that requires teamwork and communication, skills key for a job in film.

To get a job as a Cinematographer/ Director of Photography I will need to have more work experience on set working as a 1^st ac, 2^nd ac and camera operator on several films before I can work my way up to my desired position.

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CV:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oqGeaJ0SunU4EsSUYXdUzeDEmRIneyV4JpTQVleYGeU/edit

Henry Rees

4 Greystones Crescent, Sheffield, S11 7JN

0114 4388061•07950953779•

henryrees2@gmail.com

Date of Birth: 02/04/1998  

I’m a highly motivated, hard working individual who strives for perfection in everything I do. I recently hiked across Corsica on Europe’s hardest trail, the GR20 and made a feature documentary following our group’s experience.

Key skills

• Problem solving – Whilst Hiking across Corsica we realised we wouldnt complete the trail intime so I organised a bus to take us further along the trail.
• Ability to work under own initiative – In 2014, 2015 and 2016 I organised a volunteer work experience to Ffestiniog Narrow Gauge Railway to be an engine cleaner on the steam locomotive.
• Effective time management as demonstrated in my Weekend paper round starting sharp at 6am.
• Team work – I work as a team working as a kitchen Assistant to ensure the food is prepared and the kitchen is cleaned in a timely manner.
• Proficiency in all areas of Microsoft Office, editing suites such as Final Cut Pro X and Adobe premiere pro. Im also have allot of experience with Some of the other Adobe CC programs such as Lightroom, Photoshop and Muse.
• Im proficient in using all cameras weather it be a DSLR or a Canon, Blackmagic or RED cinema camera.

Education

High Storrs School (2009-2015), Hillsborough College (2015-present) studying Film and TV Production

• Maths GCSE – B
• English GCSE – C
• Core Science GCSE- C
• Additional Science GCSE – B
• Further Additional Science GCSE – B
• Product Design GCSE – B
• Fine Art GCSE – B
• History GCSE – D
• AS Design & Technology GCSE – C

 

Work Experience

Baldwin’s Omega Restaurant

(November 2015-present)

Job description: Kitchen Assistant

Key skills-

• Teamwork, working closely with the chefs ensuring all food prep is done in a timely manner.
• A good insight into working long shifts under pressure.

Rounds Newsagents, Greystones Road, Sheffield

(August 2011-2016)

Job description: organise the papers at 6am ready for the paperboys to do the round at 7am. I also did a paper round afterwards.

Key skills

• Improved punctuality and ability to work early in the morning.
• Helped with my organisation skills

The Edge Climbing Centre (now closed)

(1 week in July 2013)

Job description: Helped with instructing climbing in the children’s sessions, manned the front desk and signed people in.

Key results:

• Improved people skills
• Learnt how to use a chip and pin reader and other money transactions.

Mr potato, Ecclesall Road, Sheffield (now closed)

(August 2014-October 2014)

Job description: Temporary work to cover holidays at Mr Potato. Duties include serving customers, money transactions and cleaning.

Key results:

• Improved social skills from speaking to customers.

 

Volunteering

Sheffield Doc Fest

(June 2016)

I volunteered as an event photographer at Sheffield Documentary Festival. From this I improved my photography skills and gained experience of working to a busy schedule for long working hours.

Ffestiniog Narrow Gauge Railway

(October 2014, October 2015 and March 2016)

I volunteered with a group for friends on the vintage narrow gauge steam railway as locomotive cleaner. My responsibilities included very early starts to prepare the trains for their departure at 9:30AM. From this I gained experience organising the logistics a group’s travel plans.

 

Hobbies and interests

• I am a keen cyclist, both Mountain and road, and have become proficient in the maintenance of my bikes.
• I love Photography and Video Production –I taught myself Photography and then transferred the skills to video, now I have made several films and have completed my first feature documentary that’s been entered into several festivals.
• Another one of my interests is Physics – I had a proposal for an experiment read by CERN last year. Need to expand on this
• I also enjoy hiking, climbing and camping.

References

Lee Mills – Lecturer at Hillsborough College – 0114 260 2600 – lee.mills@sheffcoll.ac.uk

Sam – Previous employer at Baldwins Omega – 0114 255 1818 – sam@baldwinsomega.com

Job Advert: https://www.myfirstjobinfilm.co.uk/jobs/detail?job_id=5097

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Cover Letter:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/116WTS_ToCrOdr8DBMoqrr7DC6lxPpxaXNkGub42sAcw/edit

Henry Rees

4 Greystones Crescent

Sheffield

United Kingdom

S11 7JN

Mobile:	07950953779
Email:	henryrees2@gmail.com

DOCUMENTARY ASSISTANT WORK EXPERIENCE

Dear Sirs / Madam,

I am writing to outline my academic background and experience and the skills I have gained as a result. I believe that these make me an ideal candidate for a documentary assistant.

I currently in my second and final year of studying Film and TV production at Hillsborough College in Sheffield. I hope to come away from the course with a distinction and go to The Northern Film School to read Film Production. The key skill I learnt from college is how to work professionally on set which I believe is a skill that’s imperative for working as a documentary assistant.

Earlier this year I completed my first feature documentary, Ukulele. The documentary follows a team of hikers across Europe’s hardest trail in Corsica. I learned how to work on a large project, having to film a lot of footage over three weeks and then organising the edit to allow us to complete the project efficiently. I have also worked on several other short films. I’ve worked as director of photography on four short films (drama and documentary), I’ve directed three short drama films and I’ve worked as production assistant on two short films, one drama and one a documentary.

I am now looking to secure a challenging and rewarding role to further my experience in the field of documentary filmmaking. I believe that with my skills and expertise I would be an asset to the production. Please do not hesitate to call me on 07950953779 so we can discuss in further depth.

Yours Faithfully,

Henry Rees

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Show-reel: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5ENqjh-xfHqQlplT0hWdjltQUk

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UCAS Personal Statement: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RGENNWQg9Ct3wssIGnao8cc24s3930RsCZngK_wwR4A/edit

I am applying for this course as I want to make films for a living. In particular I find cinematography and the meaning behind film very interesting. I think I’m suitable for this course because I am a hardworking, dedicated student who strives to produce the best work possible.

At college I studied Film and TV production which taught me the correct way to make a film. I learnt about the pre-production process of film and how to work on set. What I’ve also taken from it, is the value of narrative in a film and how to convey emotion through cinematography and editing, to assist the story development.

I became interested in film production through photography. Two years ago I bought my first DSLR and taught myself photography. I improved, learning about composition and exposure. Once I had created a portfolio of work I started doing some freelance photography, most of which was paid work. I then decided to start making films using the transferable skills I had gained from photography. I learnt more through working with friends who made films, and using internet resources, such as the YouTube channels Film Riot, Cooke Optics TV and DSLR Guide.

I am very adventurous and determined to succeed. In the summer of 2016 I hiked across Corsica on Europe’s hardest trail (the GR20). Whilst hiking, I was co-director on the documentary we filmed, following our team’s experience. The expedition was challenging and made me more resilient to setbacks and taught me to persevere even when I knew the challenge would get harder. The skills I gained from making the film was run-and-gun filmmaking and organising a large edit. The project was completed in October and has been entered it into several film festivals, some of them include Sheffield Adventure Film Festival (Shaff), Sheffield Doc Fest and Edinburgh Mountain Festival. I’ve had very positive feedback from the test screenings and hope to get the same responses from the festivals. 

For the past few years in the summer I have volunteered on the Ffestiniog Narrow Gauge Steam Railway in Portmadog in North Wales. I organised the trips for a group of friends to volunteer. In April 2016 I also went there and worked as Director of Photography for a friend who made a documentary about the railway. In June 2016 I secured a volunteering role as a photographer for Sheffield Doc Fest, I had visited the festival a few times and decided that it would be a good opportunity to develop my skills with a camera. I’ve been asked to volunteer again in the 2017 festival and I plan to do it.

I also work in a restaurant as a kitchen porter to fund my film trips and equipment. This job has transferable skills including, being on time, working as a team to get the job done and using my own initiative to overcome problems. I feel the course you offer will help me to develop my skills further, allowing me to succeed in the media industry. I like the idea of specialising in the field of cinematography as telling a story through composition, colour and light interests me greatly. After working as a runner and working up from the bottom I would either like to be the director of photography on feature dramas or take a completely different route to be the camera operator on adventure documentaries.

Professional social media links

Website – http://www.hreesmedia.com/

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/henry.rees/?hl=en

Flickr – https://www.flickr.com/photos/henryrees/

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtfKXlaAz1W5g0slK1oN2Hw

Digital networking platform

A digital networking platform is like a social media site but for industry professionals to network online to have more contacts for future projects. The most famous of these platforms is Linkedin. It has over a 100 million monthly active users, its free and its very easy to use. Because its widely used so you could find allot of people they may need to connect with. Its very easy to set up, you can link your email and it will link all your email contacts and other people you may know hen you set the page up.

Work and Volunteering Experience

I have Worked on 4 short documentary films as camera operator, director and assistant. I’ve worked on 4 short drama films with roles of; cinematographer, director, 2nd assistant camera and production assistant. I have also co-directed one feature documentary. For other work I have worked in a letting agents as a photographer, I’ve done freelance photography for 5 companies, I have worked as a pot washer for 3 years at 2 different places.

I have volunteered at the Ffestiniog narrow gauge railway for the past 3 years now. I help clean and maintain the vintage steam engines every day for a week in in the holidays. Last June I also volunteered as a photographer for a week Sheffield Documentary festival. I took promotional and documentation shots for them