From Problem Solving to Improvisation in Filmmaking by Jackel Chow

This exposition provides the insight of indeterminacy during improvisation, as well as the reflection process of how I converted my problems-solving skills to planned improvisation during the adverse filming condition of my graduation feature film production. I define Improvisation as a way to be adaptive and flexible in uncertainty, while problem-solving as a solution to overcome the obstacles faced. I started from an ambitious goal by making a feature-length hybrid film for my graduation showcase in my two years of master study. Facing problems like lack of money, insufficient network to find talents and limited time to acquire local knowledge of the working styles in the country, I met a lot of challenges. When I solved the problems one by one within this filmmaking process, I gradually realized I relied quite a lot on improvisation. It does not only apply on the set when I worked with the actors, but also on scriptwriting, crew recruiting, locations scouting, shots creation, etc. The turning point for me to change from coincidental (unplanned) improvisation (because it is needed with problem solving) to deliberate (planned) improvisation started from my second half of principal photography (or simply called production/filming) stage because more uncertainty emerged and I started to get used to such style. At the end, I made two versions of the films with different levels of improvisational practice. I will reflect my whole filmmaking process and its connection with improvisation from my film products.

Background of the story content:

The following two metaphors underneath the film story, are based on the oriental philosophical interpretation:

1.Metaphor of converting to bird:

It is from an ancient Chinese philosopher (Zhang Zhou) allegory as follow:

The more familiar case is the movie “Matrix”, about the question of which is a real world? Which is a dream?

Also, the bird (Crested Ibis/Nipponia Nippon/朱䴉/朱鷺) mainly can only be found in far-east Asia (especially China and Japan), which carries over the metaphor of Emily linking up with Chinese knowledge “supernatural power”.

"Falling Grief" Trailer:

2.Metaphor of layered-Circle

The following layered-circle structure appears on and off during the theatre play. There is different circle zones implying different perspectives of the characters. When the characters (Emily, Ibis, and the rest) swap among the circles, it means the perspective shifting.

Beginning of the idea of this film project:

I started my master studies in early development about how to create a special “form” of the fiction film, the focus on research was about alternative narrative methods in terms of perspective shifting.

Until the late development when I wrote the treatment/bulletins-plots, based on the intention of using special “form”, I realised it was appealing to consider using transmedia platforms to improve audience perception as a way of alternative storytelling.

Those were the implanted seeds to create uncertainty, as I never tried to start a film project from “form” instead of “story”, and then let the form leads the writing of the storyline; also applying other media as a presentation was inspired from my curriculum upon experimenting with 360 degree camera filming and VR concept.

Technological experience:

I Explored several new technologies for filming in my own experience. E.g. 1^st time at tremendous green screen shootings combing with VR production, and the following:

1)Examine 360 camera shooting use in editing when it can work by choosing any angle and put in the timeline as I predicted

2)Digital location method, by previusalize the scene without recce, since we filmed on the cruise which we only saw the real location when we were onboard

Those technological applications are not much to do to improvisation itself, but they support and encourage me to improvise more because they help me to fix the pre-(digital location) or post-(360 shooting for editing) problem of filming.

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