L'art du cinéma

Today was my first experience ever filming on set.
It was amazing.
Tiring, but wonderful.
True, it's a student film, low budget to the extreme, at best the crew have a few years of experience under their belts...but for what it is, it's brilliant. The movie is set in modern times, but has a defined 1940s style and feel to it. I'm a Production Assistant, which means I do anything and everything the director/producer/art director tells me to. I hold cameras, fix props, take stills, hold cords, etc. Not the most glamorous job, but I am so thankful for it. I also got thrown in as an extra for today's shoot on set. I got to dress 40s-esque, so I wore a skirt that came up to my waist, a button down shirt, my "pearl" necklace, and curled my hair the tightest it would with dark lipstick that would show up, since we're shooting in black and white. (!!!) :-D
Even better than the fact that we are shooting in black and white, is the fact that we are shooting on FILM!!! Real film. The kind that comes on the reels that you have to physically cut yourself. Ah! That is my favorite part of the film. Not only do I think it's more true to the art form, but it will fit the 40s feel so perfectly. The sound of film rolling is now one of my favorite sounds in the world. It's so beautiful... To hear the flick of the switch, "Rolling," and the shutter of the film as it passes through the camera, miraculously recording everything it's aimed towards...it took everything in me to not squeal out of delight whenever the film camera was turned on. I somehow held out until the shot was over, accompanying it with excited jumps if the scene went particularly well. Even our producer said that he was sure his heart palpitated when he first heard it.
Just to be there on set is a wonderful experience...I get to see everyone working together, see how it all falls into place, and I get to be apart of it! The most wonderful part of it all is that it feels so natural to me; it's re-affirming that this is what I'm supposed to be doing. At this point I don't even care what it is I'm doing, as long as I'm involved. I am thrilled to see this film progress, study everyone's relation to each other and the film itself, and learn as much as I possibly can.
I'll most likely keep you posted on what's going on with the film and my thoughts on it. :-)

Recommended movie to watch:
Casablanca
(For the 40s feel, and because it's a classic.)