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Jessica Macedo - Filmmaking Certificate Graduate
What did you learn at LFA?
Well, LFA taught me the basics of filmmaking. All the workshops and seminars we had gave me the foundations on which I was able to expand and progress. Working with Super 16mm film was undeniably one of the best experiences I've had so far. Latetly, I've worked with digital and HD cameras, but the end result is always less poetic than it was with Super 16mm film. And this is why what I learned at LFA became my modus operandi with regards to filming in whichever format it may be.
What was the highlight for you at LFA?
The best part of LFA were the people. Working with a variety of people from many different backgrounds and the chance to work in a real world context were for me the highlights of the whole experience.
What have you been doing since you graduated?
I spent some time trying to get into the industry, both in Portugal and the UK, doing a couple of volunteer jobs as a Runner and Clapper, until I enrolled in the Master of Letters in Visual Culture at the University of Aberdeen.
Have you made any films since you graduated?
A couple. However, I haven't entered any festivals myself yet.
In which direction are you now heading in terms of filmmaking?
After I finish my degree I am looking to get into either Production or Editing.
What was the creative process like for your latest project at university?
For my latest project I was given a brief to use as a guideline. It was very different to what I had done before. Instead of following a script I was encouraged to have image and image alone as my starting point. This contradicted everything I was used to doing and it proved to be a particularly interesting and useful exercise. The project is an abstract fiction surrounding the idea of an imagined home/house.
What was the post-production process like?
The post-production process was much simpler than any of my previous projects, simply because the focus was solely in the image and there was no danger of continuity breaks or misunderstood dialogues. So once the "visual script" was followed, everything else fell into place.
How many people do you hope your project will reach?
There's a chance it could be entered in the IMAGO Film Fest.
Where are you going after this?
Ideally, I'd like to get into documentaries and then see where that would lead me.
Any advice for emerging filmmakers based on your experience?
Learn as much as you can, as quickly as you can. And play around as much as you can, too. In order to gain as much practical experience as possible you will have to work for free at the beginning, but the more you do, the more people you'll meet and the more experience you'll get and that will always take you to the next level.
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