The Grand Final

Yes! It's here! The end of all things! Or, at least of the final. On the grand cooperative two week (or really, like 4 hour) movie creation effort, I played the role of one of the directors. So, with a high up position like that, I can give some insight into the process:

Overhead

First, I would like to say, that Fiona and Lizzie are great people and some of the most organized and capable of the role that I had the pleasure of working with, however I would like to note about the problem with having three directors, that is the "creative vision". Now, at risk of sounding like an art snob, what I'm trying to say is that everyone has a different idea on what the project is. The scriptwriters, the actors, the directors, and all of that. The problem with that is that with a lot of creative voices speaking on that, who gets to call the shots? When me, Jett, Mate, and Jack all wrote the script, some of our ideas were cut out of the final production, for good reason most likely. However, this brings up the issue that with so many creative producers someone has to be the one to cut out ideas that aren't necessary, and that's an integral part of the process, but they'll always ending up looking like a bad guy. But who's creative vision is the right one to follow? All of that is to say, and with no ill will towards my super competent and amazing other directors, I think that there definitely were a few cases that having too many directors was doing more harm than good. Super professional people, kind, and integral to the process, I loved their inputs, but I really wish that more of our other students part of the creative vision was kept. 

Air Of Confusion

I think if there's one responsibility as director I failed at during the process, it was keeping everyone in the know with all the decisions being made. I specifically remember Austin on the first day saying that he didn't really know what was happening, but he knew that a lot of work was being done. I think that this idea kept through with the whole production, and if I could guess I would say that a lot of other people wrote about this. I think the problem was that with such a scope of different people and everyone being an actor, it was hard to keep everyone updated with what was happening, or what they were working towards. I think the way this could've been resolved was handing out the scripts better. I doubt many people working on the project besides the "board of directors" and scriptwriters themselves had a good grasp of what the plot was going to be, not to sound insulting at all. I think that if I could redo this, I would make sure the checklist we had going on would be placed in the TV studio room, so it wouldn't be erased as often, and people could know which part of the process we were working towards. The lack of information being passed around is a big regret I have on not handing better on the project.

Workhorses

"Broadcast is the only reason I don't snap at school, I think. This class is what keeps me going." -Austin

I absolutely am going to admit that most of the actual work on the project becoming a successful final result was left to two people, Mate and Austin in editing. And I must say, there absolutely could not be two better people we could have left it to. Let it be known that Austin is a broadcast technology star who is going to make more hits than any of us ever will, and that Mate is a technologically advanced overlord who has graced us with his presence. My wholehearted thanks to those two to taking this work home. 
Tyler was one of the most driven cameramen in the face of not knowing what to do and always was ready to do something new.
Jack was here at the very start and tail end of the project, and both times he managed to put all of himself into his work.
Maxwell stood shirtless in the main hall of the high school, an action that took so much bravery it speaks for itself.
Kenneth was always there for everyone, and always pushed himself to finish his work even when he was the only one on site.
Fiona is the most logistically organized mind I think I know, and that's saying something when the only people I know are RPG gamers.
Lizzie is the sweetest person to ever describe themselves as a "control freak", and give out death glares on set (in the nicest way possible).
Gabe put on a pink cardigan and headband, marched in front of a camera and wore it with pride while still doing more camerawork.
Heather, when we were in our scene together, couldn't stop smiling and laughing, which kept making me smile and laugh, which I think is the best problem I have ever had.
Jett was always there with the scriptwriting set with good ideas, and you could constantly find him in the TV studio helping out the editors.
The list goes on and on. I couldn't believe some of the absolutely incredible work the entire team put into this project. I can frankly say I didn't know the names of half of my sophomore class before this, but I feel a connection with all of them after.

Conclusion

This was a triumph. A triumph! A triumph, that I think really is going to get a middling grade, there were a lot of places we fumbled some things, but every scene there was laughter and joy. This is the only time in my life where the takeaway really was "Well, at least you had fun doing it."
I can't believe most of these people are coming back to broadcast. Help us all.