{"id":429,"date":"2023-11-14T15:24:16","date_gmt":"2023-11-14T15:24:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/ael3001-23\/?p=429"},"modified":"2023-11-14T15:24:16","modified_gmt":"2023-11-14T15:24:16","slug":"my-brain-is-sizzled","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/ael3001-23\/2023\/11\/14\/my-brain-is-sizzled\/","title":{"rendered":"My brain is sizzled"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Source: https:\/\/www.istockphoto.com\/photo\/businessmans-head-bursts-in-flames-representing-emotional-stress-or-even-a-headache-gm1465395732-497821664<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There were a lot of nerves surrounding securing a work placement and needless to say I was just as relieved as I was excited when I contacted Martha O\u2019Kane and began a placement at Walk On Air Films<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Source: https:\/\/www.walkonairfilms.com\/<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

However, shortly after starting my placement the nerves returned with a vengeance. After a couple of quiet weeks, I sat in on a development meeting and was instructed to make a sizzle reel for one of the ideas. All of the nerves I had prior to starting immediately returned, and while I love editing, I have never edited outside of university let alone a full production company. In order to best reflect on my experience, I will employ Boud\u2019s model of reflection as “The model points to the starting point and objects of reflection… the ideas of which learners are aware and the feelings which they have experienced.” (Boud, 20).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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(Boud, 36)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Experience<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My first development meeting started with me briefly being introduced to some other employees at Walk On Air before they started throwing ideas. I was furiously scribbling notes to keep up with the pace of the meeting until all eyes fell on me. While the meeting had been light hearted, a deadly seriousness fell on the group as I was instructed not to let any of the ideas leave that meeting. Ideas are a production company\u2019s greatest weapon after all. Martha then told her co-workers that I was an aspiring editor so I was given one of the ideas to make a sizzle reel for. At the time I was thrilled though shortly after the meeting doubt crept in. I have never edited a sizzle reel, never edited anything professionally, and I suddenly wasn\u2019t even sure if I knew how to edit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Source: https:\/\/www.noblebisonproductions.com\/blog\/what-is-a-sizzle-reel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

But I wasn\u2019t going to let this phase me, so I scoured the web for every possible bit of footage I could use for my edit and got stuck in. “TV editing on modern software is extremely versatile, and elaborate effects can be achieved relatively quickly.” (Hudson, 285) but the pressure I felt to make this edit immaculate meant my results were not relatively quick. After many stressful yet satisfying hours I had completed my sizzle reel and was feeling proud. While still anxious I emailed my finished (or so I thought) product to Martha and her team and they let me know that we would talk it over on my next placement day. Needless to say that talk was not exactly what I hoped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot bad for a first attempt!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat doesn\u2019t work there\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t see enough from this perspective\u2026 but the music is great!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I left the meeting feeling defeated but with that defeat came motivation and I returned to my edit. From the feedback I left no stone unturned, made every change, however slight, that was even whispered during the meeting and eventually I had my second edit. I was nervous to send it but every change that had been requested was done so the email was sent. At the next development meeting, they were all content with the changes I had made but in a cruel twist of fate they decided the idea itself needed amended. I couldn\u2019t believe it, one of the fundamental themes behind the sizzle reel was no longer required which completely changed how it should have been framed. So, with a new angle I edited again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Edit. Email sent. Meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s lost some of the magic of your original edit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think the idea is still lacking. Frame it like this.\u201d My edit was weaker and the idea changed again. Once again I restart the process. By this point I was starting to acknowledge that this process may take more time than I thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n