Blog Post #10: Course Reflection

This class has taught me so much. It’s hard to even imagine pre-TCF312 Lauren’s view on filmmaking. I’ve learned so much about how to properly use a camera and light a scene. I am much quicker at proper exposure now. Also, the videos we watched in class really inspired me. I didn’t know about the hierarchy on a film set before, either. That was interesting and very useful. I loved watching everyone’s film and giving each other feedback. It was super helpful. One of my films in this class was shown at Black Warrior Film Festival, too! After I tweaked it from the class’s feedback. The second major assignment, the scene assignment, had with it its own challenges. It was the largest crew I’ve ever worked with on a set and that was a really awesome experience. It was also cool to be just the cinematographer on Maggie’s shoots, not having to worry on anything but how the camera was capturing the scene.

Thank you guys for being awesome, supportive classmates. One of the main things I will take away from this class is confidence. I have more confidence in my abilities of camera work as well as camera functionality knowledge, editing, and communicating to a crew. I also am more confident that my own artistic ideas are received well by other people. Thank you all so much!

Blog Post #9: Reel and Artist Statement

Hello all. Here is my reel. My artist statement is below it.


Lauren Musgrove Reel Spring 2014 from Lauren Musgrove on Vimeo.


I acted in my first play when I was 4 years old. Since then I fell in love with acting which led me to film acting and then to filmmaking itself. I fell in love with the art of make believe and also of see it how it is; of sharing the world through a certain lens to discover something new.

I think the world is a really beautiful place depending on how you look at it. In my filmmaking I try to share this beauty. Even the "ugliest" of things like a trash can is still a representation of human life. The way light shines on all these things stops me in my tracks nearly every day just awing at it. I love seeing new places and new things. The world is endless. I like to film many places around the world. I thoroughly enjoy talking to people of different cultures and widening my perspective and making connections. By putting these stories into videos has the possibility to widen other people's perspectives as well and hopefully give humanity a larger acceptance window to bring about peace and happiness. Also creating an artistic vision tells a story as a more emotional, visual, and audial experience instead of just listening to someone talk about their life. I think both genres are important.

I hope to become a prominent member of a production team on documentaries and narratives alike. This world is full of stories and in the age of Globalization it's very important that we understand what the human condition is and that everyone on this planet has it. In the age of an environmental crisis, it's important that we appreciate our world and what it has to offer us. These, and the simple results of entertainment, laughter, and bringing people together in discussion and common experience is what makes me love being a filmmaker.

Blog Post #8: Scene Assignment

Here is my scene assignment! It's a scene from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. My DP was Maggie Brown and many members of this class helped with crew. Thanks to all who helped out! We used a Canon 5D.


Clementine's House from Lauren Musgrove on Vimeo.

Blog Post #7: "Best" Cameras

There is not one single best camera out there. Different cameras are used for different desired effects. A DSLR, for example the Canon 5D has a huge CMOS chip that allows it to shoot well in low lighting. It is also not too expensive and very portable. This camera would be good for action shots, or student filmmakers or anyone on a budget. The EX3 that the TCF department has is the "best" camera here. It allows you to adjust things like white balance and aperture without having to take the time to go into a menu. This camera is also very large so not as good for interviews where you don't want to intimidate the subject, or for handheld shots. For each project, shot, and filming situation there are certain things like low lighting, lots of movement, or small space that can be accounted for to choose the "best" camera for that shoot.