Reflection Of Learning and Knowledge Skills

In doing this critical research assessment, I have used learning and knowledge skills that I have used in the past but I have also learned some new knowledge skills in terms of pre-production process in historical films mainly.

In terms of costume design, I have learned that the best places to look for historical clothing are through old photographs (or paintings if I decided to make a medieval film), archive footage, clothes from that era and also books about costume design and also about that era. I have also learned to try to make the costumes as accurate as possible including buttons and fabric, and, to only use zips and Velcro in period dramas for quick and easy access during scenes that would require taking costumes on and off.

For hair and make-up, I have learned that research into how make-up and hair was styled in the era being portrayed, using photographs, books and financial documents from that time which may have expenses for make-up and hair on it to help you to determine how the make-up and hair are supposed to look like to get an authentic feel.

For setting and location, I have learned that you don’t have to be in the country your film is set to make it look like the place, like with the White Queen being filmed in Bruges but based in medieval England. It’s about set styling and camera angles that will help to convey the time and place that which the film is placed because most locations will have materials which were not invented yet in your film and using various camera angles such as close-ups and mid-shots, it helps to cover it up.

In terms of accuracy with real life, I have learned to keep as close to the truth but that most people use fiction to create needed drama in their film and that so long as I don’t use too much fiction in the film, it won’t create unneeded controversy.

My blog has helped to enhance my pre-production skills in research into films that I will do in the future so that I am able to get the desired film through how the characters are dressed, how they act when it comes to morals, society and culture because that helps with my learning skills in directing to learn about the attitudes in certain eras in time, so that I can direct the actors on how to act and react to various lines and scenes. Also looking into locations has helped me to open my mind creatively to other locations when going onto recces in future.

Overall I have learned to use different platforms and research materials to find sufficient evidence to back up my research in videos, podcasts, websites, books, interviews, surveys and photographs. This will give me an accurate guideline to go by to secure the authenticity of the film and to be able to give an accurate account of events.