GINA HANSEN

The Filmmakers Lens

Because technology has become so affordable, many people seem to think they can simply go out to their local Best Buy store, purchase a camera and some tapes and create a movie, all by themselves. Despite their efforts, however, its never quite turns out the same way as how the professionals do it on TV.

Most people don't really understand all the planning arrangements or complications that can develop when creating a film. As I have been studying and honing my own film-making craft, I've come to realize that there are many important aspects of creating a well-polished work of art. One of the most important is establishing a skillful crew and the other part is taking the time to capture impeccable footage and audio.

Sound and movement are both integral to the storytelling or instruction process, an aspect that is largely ignored. A combination of still and moving images set to a background of innovative sound design can often be the most important element that brings the whole project together. Though often time consuming due to the intense amount of hours involved in planning and editing, the time and effort pays off in the creation of a film, podcast or training both the client AND the designer can be proud to show for many years into the future.

My favorite film creation genre is documentary film-making. I enjoy promoting inspiring stories and capturing a person's spirit on film and in real time audio. When a person is gone, it is the only thing that truly represents what they have left behind, and editing these montages together is an even bigger part of this challenge. This includes an important project, close to my own heart, as I attempt to capture the storytelling art from Grandpa Hansen, now deceased.

Having taught and worked as a journalist in the past, I pride myself on my skills at asking good questions that draw attention away from the camera as interest grows in a subject. I think this element becomes self evident not only to the person being interviewed but to the audience, as well. These questions lead into the very essence of the film and its overall purpose for production.

I often have a big list of audio projects on my plate, most of which have already been shot or captured and only require editing. If you have ever put a film together, however, you know that it is probably the most time consuming part. The hardest part for me, however, always seems to be able to find the time to assemble all of these pieces and changing software, computers, operating systems or to other emerging technologies never seems to help. This process is amplified by my desire to use all original sights and sounds.

Though I used to very much enjoy the organic process of splicing tape and using the more tactile jog dial controls, I have come to rely on the much more speedy process of computer editing and its many techniques. I use a variety of different software depending on my environment, from Pinnacle and iMovie to Final Cut Pro and syncing with Logic Pro. Whereas some of these are mre intuitive and simple programs, it is nice to sometimes be able to click on a specific frame and make edits down to a specific frame. Most importantly, however, I enjoy the editing because I find it fascinating to assemble the puzzle of still photos or graphic artifacts, folio and other sounds, score writing and film footage together that directs the story, itself.

I don't have that skill that Grandpa had for telling stories, however, it is through film that I hope my unique camera angulation, colour and other media assemblages fit together, simply, to portray heartwarming tales or informative instructables for online media that will inspire or cause one to think differently about our world.