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Stories Lead to Media Studies – The Finnish language and story-telling motivate me. Studying media is hard work, pouring energy into creating and just getting everything done, says Sanna Grav. Photography was one of Grav's previous subjects, but it was cinematographic art which combined her interests. Sanna Grav's school is located in Arabianranta, Helsinki, and Arabianranta is the center for higher-level art teaching in Finland. Grav is a second-year student in the Degree Programme in Media in the Helsinki Polytechnic Stadia. There are only four director students: Sanna and three young men. – It happened quite accidentally that I ended up in this school and chose this subject. You just have to keep your eyes open and stay alert all the time. Will to Do Takes Forward The degree programme is extremely popular and the number of applicants far exceeds the number of admitted students. The number of students chosen and the entry qualifications are decided on a year-to-year basis. For the second year running, the Audio-visual media production studies will not admit any new students. Grav gives this advice to those who want to be admitted: – You really have to think what you are about to take on. The workload is endless, though that is both good and bad. The most essential thing is to know what you can do, what you want to do and what your strengths are. You have to have interest, vision, energy, joy and a strong will to do what you are doing. Subjects from A to Z The school teaches several subjects. Merely the film department offers everything from script-writing and filming to producing and sound-stage planning. – In the beginning the director students take the same courses as the Drama students. There is a lot of work to do: improvising, acrobatics, dancing, basic work on the stage and fine tuning the camera, our tool. The school also teaches visual and sound-stage planning and theory from A to Z. Furthermore, the students study editing, cutting, dramaturgy and scripting, art and film history, lighting - one could just go on and on with the list. Computers and Digital Picture Manipulating Become Familiar A film-maker needs computer skills as well. Digital picture manipulating is part of the process of working with the pictures. The special effects and their importance are considered within the limits of creating and imagination. The director students are taught several basic aspects of film-making so that they will know what they can expect others to be able to handle. A film-maker needs computer skills as well. Digital picture manipulating is part of the process of working with the pictures. The special effects and their importance are considered within the limits of creating and imagination. The director students are taught several basic aspects of film-making so that they will know what they can expect others to be able to handle. Education Offers Several Possibilities – When you can't choose, you try to get everything. I have never had "any" idea of what I will be when I grow up. But I feel that what I do now is that what I want to do. I have learned a lot, about film-making and about myself. According to Grav, Media Studies Can Lead Anywhere – We could teach or be producers. Or make films, ads, music videos or documents for radio and television. Or perhaps design new program concepts for television channels – Or we could end up in a bar or mopping the floors. Or to be provided for by a rich spouse. Then again, we could wind up talking about art, the pain of creation and failed relationships. Or we might gain experience of life or venture into the world and finally be in Hollywood, sitting in a limousine and just looking good. The possibilities are endless, contemplates Grav. Movies Need Publicity, Directors Do Not One might think that publicity is important in this kind of work. Grav thinks that standing out is not the goal, and that one cannot strive for recognition without compromising quality. The results speak for themselves. – I have no strategy for publicity. And I think that I should not have one, either. A strong self-esteem is the best trump card one can have. Media Schools at Hällä Cinema at 12 o'clock on Friday and Saturday.
TEXT: Hanna Markkula & Marjut Kataja |
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Festival News 2002 festnews@uta.fi |