Graduate - Jane McAllister - MFA Film Directing
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My first low-tech film was Charity Stop Shopping: a Thoughtful Guide, which is really a pilot for a possible TV series. It involves me and a friend scouring charity shops in lesser known parts of central Scotland – east to west, Kirkcaldy to Dunoon. We hone in on locals on benches, gather stories, accents and find a place of local interest where we then dance around in the clothes we have just bought. Kind of like Tom Weir... with fashion and daftness.
I had actually just finished editing Charity Shop Shopping when I saw in Roughcuts that there was a Bridging the Gap meeting in Inverness where I was living at the time. I read this half an hour before the meeting... I ran.
I knew I had a good idea for my first real short film, but I was so surprised to be offered a place on Bridging the Gap. It was an amazing experience. You are assessed all the way through by top filmmakers... Nicolas Philibert, Mark Issacs... Your film is developed and your pitching skills honed. I was lucky enough to have my film – Sporran Makers - selected for funding and broadcast on BBC Scotland (it has also done well in festivals).
After the first taste in professional training, I wanted more and applied for a place on the MA Film Directing course in eca. I couldn't have managed without funding and did receive some postgraduate funding from the Student Awards Agency (PSAAS) which covered most of my tuition fees and maintenance – again very lucky.
MA Film Directing course at eca
The first term you get a broad sweep of technical, theory, you watch lots of films – it’s quite intensive. You have time to research and think about what you want to do. You learn how to plan a shoot, build sequences, ask questions. You are really pushed and that makes a huge difference.
There is a range of experience on the course. Some people have solid professional experience – some have worked in features, some have more technical ability, some have come straight from film degrees. You come in every week for a tutorial to help you generate and develop your ideas and this is as both an MA group and also one to one with tutors. The tutors are very good. They make you see your film with fresh eyes every time you talk to them. You have the luxury of expert attention and time. I don't expect this to happen often in my career.
I also went to the pitching training session led by John Archer from Hopscotch Films. He invited us to pitch a project, so I volunteered and pitched the Charity Shop film to him. He really liked it and now we are in email contact. He has watched the trailer. I am now planning to re-shoot it, with my more confident directors head on. It was really good to meet him and link in with the industry. You have to learn to speak to people on these occasions and try to stand above the crowd.
I am also doing a work placement at STV Creative– the commercial production wing of STV. I thought it was really important to get work experience so kept an eye out for opportunities. I approached Karen, who coordinates the Screen Academy work placements, and said I was keen. Once the opportunity at STV became available, I applied straight away and got it. It has been really good. It is two days per week. At first, I was expanding the database of voice-over actors for commercials and also finding locations. I am now also attending meetings and pitching ideas for adverts. It is very fast paced – a good lesson.
In the near future I intend to apply for the Screen Academy Engage project.
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Jane McAllister
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Charity Shop Shopping
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Sporran Makers
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Latest News about Jane McAllister:
Before the course
My first move into professional film-making was Bridging the Gap (run by the Scottish Documentary Institute), which I did last year. Before Bridging the Gap, I was pretty much a self taught film maker, borrowing camera, favours from friends... I am interested in philosophy, humanity, absolutes, truths etc and film seemed the most complete way of expressing these concepts – you have music, audio and visual. I worked quite a lot at home – making jewellery and also tassels for sporrans and I would spend a lot of time learning – listening to audio non-fiction books and the radio.
My first move into professional film-making was Bridging the Gap (run by the Scottish Documentary Institute), which I did last year. Before Bridging the Gap, I was pretty much a self taught film maker, borrowing camera, favours from friends... I am interested in philosophy, humanity, absolutes, truths etc and film seemed the most complete way of expressing these concepts – you have music, audio and visual. I worked quite a lot at home – making jewellery and also tassels for sporrans and I would spend a lot of time learning – listening to audio non-fiction books and the radio.
My first low-tech film was Charity Stop Shopping: a Thoughtful Guide, which is really a pilot for a possible TV series. It involves me and a friend scouring charity shops in lesser known parts of central Scotland – east to west, Kirkcaldy to Dunoon. We hone in on locals on benches, gather stories, accents and find a place of local interest where we then dance around in the clothes we have just bought. Kind of like Tom Weir... with fashion and daftness.
I had actually just finished editing Charity Shop Shopping when I saw in Roughcuts that there was a Bridging the Gap meeting in Inverness where I was living at the time. I read this half an hour before the meeting... I ran.
I knew I had a good idea for my first real short film, but I was so surprised to be offered a place on Bridging the Gap. It was an amazing experience. You are assessed all the way through by top filmmakers... Nicolas Philibert, Mark Issacs... Your film is developed and your pitching skills honed. I was lucky enough to have my film – Sporran Makers - selected for funding and broadcast on BBC Scotland (it has also done well in festivals).
After the first taste in professional training, I wanted more and applied for a place on the MA Film Directing course in eca. I couldn't have managed without funding and did receive some postgraduate funding from the Student Awards Agency (PSAAS) which covered most of my tuition fees and maintenance – again very lucky.
MA Film Directing course at eca
The first term you get a broad sweep of technical, theory, you watch lots of films – it’s quite intensive. You have time to research and think about what you want to do. You learn how to plan a shoot, build sequences, ask questions. You are really pushed and that makes a huge difference.
There is a range of experience on the course. Some people have solid professional experience – some have worked in features, some have more technical ability, some have come straight from film degrees. You come in every week for a tutorial to help you generate and develop your ideas and this is as both an MA group and also one to one with tutors. The tutors are very good. They make you see your film with fresh eyes every time you talk to them. You have the luxury of expert attention and time. I don't expect this to happen often in my career.
MA Film
My film is called Caretaker for the Lord. It is a study of the demise of Christianity in today’s society and questions what will be left. It is a study of what motivates people to do good – is it from God or within ourselves? It is focused on a church in Glasgow's East-end and the caretaker who looks after the church. I have been filming by myself to maintain the delicate dynamic between myself and the church community. I have had to be available at the spur of the moment to catch the action and it would have been very difficult with a crew. If I do need help further down the line – which I will – there is a good community in ECA and always someone around to step in.
My film is called Caretaker for the Lord. It is a study of the demise of Christianity in today’s society and questions what will be left. It is a study of what motivates people to do good – is it from God or within ourselves? It is focused on a church in Glasgow's East-end and the caretaker who looks after the church. I have been filming by myself to maintain the delicate dynamic between myself and the church community. I have had to be available at the spur of the moment to catch the action and it would have been very difficult with a crew. If I do need help further down the line – which I will – there is a good community in ECA and always someone around to step in.
Professional Practice at Screen Academy Scotland
I’ve attended several of the Professional Practice sessions. The Meet the Industry Professionals event was good. It was good to hear the panel discussion about getting into the industry – it was a reality check. You have to attach yourself to a good professional production company - you can’t just knock on the BBC’s door!
I’ve attended several of the Professional Practice sessions. The Meet the Industry Professionals event was good. It was good to hear the panel discussion about getting into the industry – it was a reality check. You have to attach yourself to a good professional production company - you can’t just knock on the BBC’s door!
I also went to the pitching training session led by John Archer from Hopscotch Films. He invited us to pitch a project, so I volunteered and pitched the Charity Shop film to him. He really liked it and now we are in email contact. He has watched the trailer. I am now planning to re-shoot it, with my more confident directors head on. It was really good to meet him and link in with the industry. You have to learn to speak to people on these occasions and try to stand above the crowd.
I am also doing a work placement at STV Creative– the commercial production wing of STV. I thought it was really important to get work experience so kept an eye out for opportunities. I approached Karen, who coordinates the Screen Academy work placements, and said I was keen. Once the opportunity at STV became available, I applied straight away and got it. It has been really good. It is two days per week. At first, I was expanding the database of voice-over actors for commercials and also finding locations. I am now also attending meetings and pitching ideas for adverts. It is very fast paced – a good lesson.
Future
At the moment, I am very focused on producing an excellent short film for my MA. I hope that it will carry me forward. I plan to keep on producing my own low/no budget shorts – I have many ready to go. I will continue to develop my Charity Shop series and try to get it commissioned. I think if I can get a few more shorts in my pocket, I will be ready to move into longer TV hour documentaries and perhaps features in a year or so. I also have a feature film part written which is almost a documentary, but not quite – a recreation of reality... That is as far as I can see at the moment – expect perhaps Robert Burns the musical... but that is far away.
At the moment, I am very focused on producing an excellent short film for my MA. I hope that it will carry me forward. I plan to keep on producing my own low/no budget shorts – I have many ready to go. I will continue to develop my Charity Shop series and try to get it commissioned. I think if I can get a few more shorts in my pocket, I will be ready to move into longer TV hour documentaries and perhaps features in a year or so. I also have a feature film part written which is almost a documentary, but not quite – a recreation of reality... That is as far as I can see at the moment – expect perhaps Robert Burns the musical... but that is far away.
In the near future I intend to apply for the Screen Academy Engage project.
