Commission from an Ancient History Student

[One x 300 word reflection of a minimum of one live brief, work experience project, external commission, third year student project or opportunity you have engaged in related to your filmmaking practice that you have undertaken that is not part of your other units.]

In November, I was approached by two Ancient History Undergraduate students from the University of Manchester, looking for a Filmmaker to help organise bringing an idea of theirs to life: a Horrible Histories Musical remake.
I offered my help, in return providing me with transport costs, food costs whenever we met, and future projects.

We met up very regularly to discuss creative ideas, budgets and possibilities. I decided to help out as I hadn't much experience in pre-production, deciding this would be a good place to try. I provided ideas, shot lists, a composer for their songs and the offer to do the production once they go ahead with the production. They have also recently asked me to also do post-production.



 This taught me the importance of learning to work alongside those who are not in my industry. As I have not worked with anyone outside of my field, this was new territory. I learned how to sell an idea to customers who haven't created a film before. I adapted their ideas into a creative reality, meshing their ideas with entertainment.

Attached are images and videos of our production meetings, led by myself. We mind mapped together, and I informed them of what the production requires - e.g: a budget, actors, locations, production team, etc. They informed me of the historical events they'd like to portray, thus working together to collide the two different worlds.

This was an invaluable experience, one that is entirely new to myself and out of my experience. I'm very glad to have been involved in this, as it not only broadened my web of connections, but my knowledge on different film types; musicals.