Joe MacDonald - Talk

Today Joe MacDonald, a professional lighting gaffer and film maker came in for a talk about the industry. He has worked on many feature films including Dad's Army, 45 Years and Kick Ass 2. And also many TV shows such as Utopia and Shameless.

http://defilmblog.be/archive/2013/08/01/kick-ass-2-2013-review.html

He studied at Northen Film School in Leeds and later went on to do some work for WARP films, such as the film '71. '71 required loads of night shoots which was really expensive to do with all the different lights and also required 6 "tech recces" to see how they would film things.

Joe then went through the structure of the industry;

• Producer➡ Line Producer (money, crew...)➡Co-Ordinators➡Accountants
• Director and Assisstant
• DOP➡Camera Team, Focus Puller, etc.
• Gaffer➡Best Boy➡Sparks
• Art Department
• AD's➡1st AD (shot on time, schedules)➡2nd AD (stays in office, actor availability)➡3rd AD (1st AD's assisstant. Tea and coffee)
• Floor Runners
• Location Department
• Sound

Everyone is a creator but also a facilitator for the director. 

The schedule before filming is usually blocking, a rehearsal, make up, and then an on camera rehearsal which consists of one morning. 'coverage' is how the camera shows the action/how it moves. The lower the budget, the lower the coverage which puts more stress on the actors to get it right. 

http://cinemaisalanguage.tumblr.com/post/123202830498/histocomplex-day-for-night-fran%C3%A7ois-truffaut

45 Years was filmed in 35mm which was cheap but creative. Working on film, according to Joe is easier and more reliant on the eye.

Sunny days are usually the worst for lighting and continuity. Get a compass so you can judge where the sun is and arrange around it. Any lights, such as lamps, that are in shot are called 'practical lights' and can be cheated with off camera lights to give the illusion that practical light is emitting it. Rigs may have to be put up. When I heard Joe say this, I had war like flash backs to when I was on set for Together where I was sat on this vent near the window where the sun and also the hugeeee rigs with lights on were. Pretty sure I got a sun tan that day.

Route

Joe did a Post Grad after his main years at Uni (and suggested we look at them too) and then did some free work for Creative England. Networking is key; word of mouth can get you a job. Joe said to us that he never had to make a CV because of this (but advised us to make one just in case).

Become a self run business! All experience is priceless. He invested in a camera (Sony A7) and moved to Manchester (he was told to move there or London for more opportunities). He then worked on commercials and soaps (Hollyoaks). 

Advice

http://giphy.com/gifs/doctorwho-doctor-who-coffee-tea-WE5hRLWRWalwY

• If you're on time, you're late. Punctuality is also major so you can get to shoot on time.
• Driving licence is tHE MOST IMPORTANT! (but you don't need a car. You just need to be able to say you can drive).
• If you can, use family to get you into the industry (I have been trying this as my brother knows someone who works in Media City and is trying to arrange work experience for me). 
• Don't be too precious about things; be open minded.
• Not really advice but a piece of funny info- his friend made tea swatches saying "how do you like your tea?" which made him get a job.
• A good script and good actors/crew are vital, equipment is not. 

Joe is also in on Wednesday for a lighting workshop with our equipment which might be useful and fun!