Our Editor-in-Chief Renee Marchol participated in the @Seattle48HFP with Team Tacoma as Assistant Camera Operator under the leadership of Writer/Director/Producer Serena Berry, Assistant Director Christine Brewer and DP Victor Antonio Labarthe. The image above captures how she feels for her peers after this marathon weekend.

Fist-bump to her Palo Alto Media Center producer and crew buddies in California too who trained her for this event out-of-state.  She misses you all.

We promised that we would be right by the side of our readers in digital shorts production this summer, right? That means we also  communal living room campout and stand out in the sun for hours. Hot tub victory soak? Of course!

We are so proud of you movie-making SmartyGirls and SmartyFellas. Please comment below. Make sure you video reply to our YouTube Channel post.

3 Fun Facts

SmartyFella Victor Antonio Labarthe was born in Southern California but lived in Lima, Peru. His past work includes lighting for award-winning documentary “Maikaru”

SmartyFella Greyson Boevers hosts the YouTube channel “No Rest for the Caffeinated” when he’s not writing poetry, music, or science fiction. You might catch this gaffer on a Star Wars Chewbacca longboard (skateboard) catching moving-car-shots while wearing a GoPro strapped to his chest.

SmartyFella Patrick Rodriquez does landscape photography in Seattle.

Yep. This is just a sample of the awesomeness of the past 48 hours.

 

10 Emotional Intelligence/Social Intelligence Fast Facts about Your First Seattle 48 Hour Film Race

1. Offer bartering to couchsurf at headquarters the evening when the script is written

2. Be on best houseguest behavior

3. Reach out to professionals your junior and your senior

4. Watch to know when to speak on the set

5. Trust but verify that your leader knows your strengths and limitations

6. Mingle and leave a favorable memory

7. Study nonverbal signals

8. Cut the tension when conflicts arise but be yourself

9. Accept what you can’t control

10. Count on developing strong professional crushes of mutual temporary mentorship

Simply conserve your energy and do not be an energy drain on others. This is a top 3 priority when participating in an athletic/creative/technical event such as this. Stingers (i.e. extension cords), power strips for outlets, and battery charging cradles need to stay charged and so do all humans on the team, right? Shorten the distance you must travel so you can use your concentration for being the best you can be with unfamiliar technical equipment instead of road hazards.

Do not add to the pressure on others. Hum a song to yourself. Whisper entertaining small talk. Be a listener. Find whimsy that is not distracting to others.

Go outside of your comfort zone and join conversations outside of your subject matter expertise. Rotate and socialize with each department of the team. Listen to actors. Hear the challenges of leadership. Give a high five to production assistants. You will be rewarded. For example, our Editor Renee learned about the humor that takes place on horror production sets and best practices for keeping youth actors from emotional trauma for scary scenes.

After the first two mistakes, you’ll know where to look and when to speak.

Just as we are unable to control the position of the sun in the sky, don’t get upset if your recommendations can’t be implemented. Watch how well others support the leadership and offer options respectfully. Timing is also key!

 

Don’t be afraid your professional admiration will be mistaken for romantic interest. Chatting while waiting is part of the job of an Assistant Camera Operator for the next setup on the shot list. It’s ok to chill and network with SmartyFellas and SmartyGirls. For instance, curious? Ask someone your junior. Young professionals are willing to get you up to speed on how to use a Star Wars longboard (skateboard) and chest strapped GoPro for additional trucking shots for outside-a-moving-car footage. Who knows? You might also find yourself partnering for future podcasts, award-winning documentaries, or growing YouTube channels.

Be very careful to avoid giving unsolicited and ignorant advice. Listen. Listen. Listen. What worked in the past for you may not apply. Different gear. Different time frame. Different mix of people talent. Avoid the S-word (should). Don’t describe a way of doing things as the “right” way. Never touch equipment belonging to someone without asking. Don’t be the handsy-douche who thinks he/she has all the answers.

Never pretend to know something you don’t. Fix it. Learn it. Need to look up how to set a certain manual mode on Canon T2i or Canon 7D? Find the most popular and well-rated tutorials on YouTube.

 

 

5 Technical Fast Facts about the Seattle 48 Hour Film Project

1. Ask the onsite expert during his/her downtime for a 10 minute demo

2. Sacrifice sleep to practice drills solo

3. Teach self to fill in education gaps

4. Same seats

5. Guard gear

Remember school bus field trips? Same seats reduced confusion and people left behind. Same goes for riding in carpools for equipment and people. Usually ride back with the same group you arrived with unless leadership says differently.

There are no porters (production assistants aren’t personal assistants).

Bring trolley cases for your gear. Wear a slim backpack. Our Editor used her beta-model Runnur hands-free carry all from her Las Vegas International CES roadtrip. (CEO Andrew Hamra, the red/black Runnur is still intact!)

Washington State has many individuals from the Armed Forces. This applies to creatives professionals such as actors. Treat your assigned camera as you would with any expensive and lethal equipment. Treat it right. Keep it clean. Know how to dissemble and reassemble it. Example? Editor Renee cut three hours off of her sleep time to practice drills, solo, with her assigned camera to support her team as competently and quickly as possible.

Visit again next week for guest blog posts from cast, crew and leadership for their behind-the-scenes log.

 

This was our Chief’s first film race with new coworkers in her new home: Washington State. Check out the road movie “Heart Wants” by Team Tacoma at the screening next week!