At the time of writing this I have chosen editing to be the role to partake on my Academy Film. I chose this despite also being interested in cinematography because, when selecting roles for the Academy Film only 1 other person put their hand up for editing and because I have had previous experience with editing, I thought I would be able to benefit my group by being an editor. However, despite having previous experience with editing I also chose this role for multiple reasons. For example, firstly, as I have just mentioned I have had previous experience with editing, as I have made videos on the topic of film in the past, such as why ‘The Ending of At Eternity’s Gate is Special’ or ‘Why Good Soundtracks are Vital’ which has allowed me to develop skills such as cutting, adding music or using transitions and effects such as blurring. I was able to learn this through watching video tutorials on YouTube which taught me how to use the editing software Adobe Premiere Pro. 

I also chose this role because editing is something I’ve always been interested in. This is due to the fact that the decisions an editor makes cutting a film can vastly shape the end result of it, as the editors job isn’t just to mechanically put shots into order, but is to use the shots gathered to create a coherent film through perfecting the story, dialogue, pacing, images and the actors performances to create a piece of art which can be enjoyed. And I think this is perfectly described by, Philip Seymour Hoffman who said ‘The film is made in the editing room’.

One last reason I chose to do editing is that one of my favourite films ‘Baby Driver’ is a perfect example of why editing is a really big part of the filmmaking process. For example, the director Edgar Wright, uses editing to match the beats of music to either the cuts or actions of characters, to create what can only be known as an ‘Action Musical’. I think the tool of letting the music in the film dictate what happens on the screen and with the edits really adds to the fun atmosphere found with Baby Driver, and just shows the power that editing can have on a film if used correctly and creativity. Because of this, if my groups short film had music in it, it may be a good idea to try and match the cuts to the music, as this may allow the scene as a whole to flow more easily. However, I should only do this if it suits the tone as it may not be appropriate in some situations, such as during a dialogue scene.

I think one of the best aspects of the BFI Film Academy is that you get to develop a short film within a team, and because of this I think the main thing I hope to gain from taking part in the Film Academy is improved team working skills. This is because, working in a team is very important within the film industry as filmmaking is a collaborative process which requires good communication with lots of different people partaking in different roles such as the editors, cinematographers, producers, production designers etc, and therefore if you struggle to work on a project with a team you may find it hard to make decisions that aim to try and satisfy that whole group working on the film. Therefore hopefully this experience will show me how to correctly work within a group when working on a short-film, therefore giving me valuable experience for later life when I hopefully enter the film industry.

Another skill I will hope to learn through the Film Academy is how to write a screenplay, as I have never been taught or shown the rules for a correct screenplay format, and while I am currently not that interested in writing any scripts or screenplays, as it isn’t my task within my group’s short-film production, I think it is a very useful skill to learn for the future, especially when someone is trying to get into the film industry. This is because, when someone is starting out in the industry, one of the only ways to get a portfolio of work behind them is to produce their own short-films, and therefore if I wanted to build up my CV I would have to write my own screenplays to turn into short-films, as it’s very unlikely that a screenplay will just fall into your lap.

Lastly, I think the Film Academy will allow me to learn how to correctly use the equipment. I think this especially import with the cinematography side of filmmaking as, at first cameras may seem very hard to use, and because of this it could be difficult to properly try and capture what you want to show on screen. However, through the BFI film academy I will be able to gain the skills to correctly use camera equipment which will equip me for later life.

One way I would like to improve my skills and knowledge of film is through watching more films. For example, to help me with the role of editing, I think a good idea would be to research films which have shown how to use editing effectively and pushed the boundaries of what is possible. For example, when looking at a list of the 75 best edited films of all time, Raging Bull ranks number 1, therefore for my research it would be useful to watch this film and make notes on why I think it uses editing effectively.

Another way I could improve my skills is through watching more short-films through sites such as short of the week. I think this is very important since I will be helping to create a short-film within the Film Academy, and therefore watching them will help me analyse what works and what doesn’t within the limited time period, and through doing this I will possibly be able to use some of these skills within my own short-film.

And lastly, I will be able to improve my skills and knowledge of the filmmaking process by taking part in the BFI Film Academy! This is because not only will I be able to improve my knowledge on how to use equipment, but also I’m very excited to hear what people who have been in the film industry have to say. I am looking forward to this as the film industry can sometimes seem as quite a secretive place, that people don’t really know a lot about, and therefore it would be really interesting to hear stories and get advice from people who have had first hand experience in it.

Due to film being something I am very intested in passionate about I do have plans to further study and work in the film industry.

For example, when I finish sixth form I am hoping to take part in a ‘Film Production’ course at university. Through doing this, hopefully I will improve my practical skills within filmmaking, and find an area within film which I want to specialise in. This will therefore help me to get into the film industry and work on films, helping me to achieve my dream of making a film which has a profound effect on people.

This is the reason why I think the BFI Film Academy will be very valuable to me as it will vastly improve my skills and knowledge of film and how films are made, and will teach me lessons which I wouldn’t have been able to learn anywhere else.