Project: Directing a Short Drama

For this semester we are required to create a five minute drama based on the theme of 'journey'. We will again be working in groups of six, with each member adopting a unique role that is different to the one they did in their documentary. Our group also must be a completely new crew who have not worked together before. 

I have put myself forward as the Director of this project. Directing is my favourite element of filmmaking as I consider myself to be a creative person, however I had never written or directed something that was explicitly narrative. I feel this is an important skill to have and so I leapt at the opportunity to direct this project. 

As Director, it will be my job to conceptualise and develop the film itself. I will be responsible for writing and pitching treatments, creating the narrative content and developing characters. It will also be my job to build upon this and write the script. I will also have some control over the formal elements of the film such as the cinematography, editing and sound, and this will require me to work closely with other members of the group in order to ensure my vision is properly achieved. However, this is a two-way relationship and I must also be willing to let other crew members contribute creatively towards their role. Essentially, my part in the technical elements of the film will consist of ensuring that the ideas my crew are exploring creatively in their fields tie together and are cohesive, through the lens of my own artistic vision.

I am aware that being the Director of this project will be a taxing role, as there is a lot of pressure to produce something in a short space of time, which I can sometimes find creatively stunting. I also tend to strive for unattainable outcomes and panic when these are not achieved, and this is something I wish to work on getting over during this project. I feel that, as I was Producer for the Documentary, I have already experienced a more stressful and intensive role, and so I am hopeful that this role will not be too difficult in terms of workload and time management, but will still allow me to have a significant input in the final outcome of the film.