My experience as a Film student
Rae Toh
Film, Year 5 | 6 April 2022
I’m Rae, and I’m a Year 5 Film student, having recently made the transition from to Film after four years studying Theatre.
What I love about SOTA is its interdisciplinary nature. In the lower years, we had Integrated Arts classes where we had the chance to experience other artforms and collaborate with our friends from different artistic backgrounds. I especially had a lot of fun during the collaborative process, as we all had different perspectives and skill sets that came together very nicely. For example, I had the opportunity to join Arts Plus, where I learnt more about lighting, sound, set design and stage management with people from different artforms. For our final showcase, we used the script written by a literary arts student, sound design from the music students and acting from a theatre student. This way, we were able to integrate our artistic skill sets and gain greater insight into active collaboration.
In theatre, I learnt about the importance of knowing your intention behind every devised piece, as this would make the creative process clearer. I aim to apply this knowledge in film, where I shape the storyline and storytelling process with a clear intention in mind, be it to evoke a particular emotion or to highlight a societal issue. As such, I feel that the skills of creativity and collaboration can’t simply be applied to the arts solely, but also to future problems encountered in life. Going to SOTA doesn’t simply hone your skills as an artist, but also develops important collaborative skills and creative approaches necessary for the future.
Although my experience with Film so far has been short, it has been highly fulfilling. I’ve learnt about the importance of understanding cultural contexts when analysing a film, along with various cinematic techniques. I’ve also had hands-on experience of using cameras and audio equipment, where I learnt the importance of film equipment and filmmaking techniques crucial to enhancing the presentation of the film. Aside from that, we have had the opportunity to enjoy and make constructive criticism of each other’s work. I feel like this creates an atmosphere of collaboration, where we benefit and take inspiration from each other instead of trying to improve independently. As film is an artform that requires heavy collaboration, I don’t expect the upcoming film project for Year 5s (BLINK) to come without challenges. However, one thing that I’ve learnt from collaborative work is to embrace such challenges, as they are crucial for our development as an artist. I’m looking forward to learning from my mistakes, and becoming more equipped as a filmmaker.
SOTA also provides opportunities to pursue other interests, which you can do in the form of Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) projects. These are similar to CCAs, but are mainly student-led. My CAS takes the form of the school’s acapella group (Syncopella), where I pursue my secondary interest in beatboxing and vocal percussion. I especially enjoy collaborating with music students from Syncopella and gaining insight into the creation of music.
Of course, being a SOTA student is not without its challenges, such as the long hours and gruelling curriculum, as these are the sacrifices needed to be made in a school where both arts and academics share the same stage. Artform classes are about 3 hours long and twice a week, so they can get a little tiring. Hence, I think the most important thing that I learnt was discipline. Passion is important, but discipline is required to sustain it. More often than not, we may have the passion to pursue our interests, but burn out eventually as we lack the discipline for consistent practice. Although tiring, the consistent 3 hour theatre classes for the past 4 years has given me the work ethic needed to sustain and develop my passions.
As part of my Service Learning journey at SOTA, another memorable challenge I encountered was a 360 degree video I was tasked to create for the ADA (Arts Development Award) awardees, as an effort to show them life here at SOTA. It was a highly tedious process for me as I had no prior experience in editing 360 videos, but it was certainly memorable as it made me build my resilience capacity in facing problems. Moreover, the comfort and encouragement provided by multiple friends had given me the strength and confidence to face my problems without fear.
After graduating from SOTA, I hope to pursue a business degree, and find ways to integrate film into business. I hope to venture deeper into the aspect of marketing, or business law, and find ways to use my creativity to innovate and create.
To those considering SOTA:
Overall, life here at SOTA is incredibly fulfilling, and you will not just grow as an artist, but as an individual. If you’re highly passionate about your art, and are willing to put in the commitment required to grow as an artist, just give SOTA a shot!
The Film programme is for Year 5 and 6 students. Students specialising in Film will explore the history, theory and creative process of filmmaking, and delve into how meaning is constructed through film. Students will learn how film is influenced by – and is in part a product of – history, tradition, economy, and society. They will acquire the technical skills, structure, discipline, and social skills required in filmmaking.
Find out more about SOTA at our e-Open House, held online from 09 April to 17 May 2022 HERE.