EMERGENT-C!     The Emergent Cinema Project

Process:

The process of the Emergent Cinema project is to accurately observe the production structures and roles of the film industry with one position removed, that of the Director.

1. A script is written by a writer.

2. The script is passed to an assistant producer, who breaks it down into a shot list. (The script or any knowledge of the narrative is not passed on from this point).

3. The shot list is passed to the production manager, who makes a schedule, cast call, crew call and, prop list. Each parcel of information is sent out to the appropriate party (cast and crew).

4. Relevant crew and cast assemble at the call time and place they have received. The first assistant director, working from the schedule and shot list, announces set-ups, shots, breaks and re-locations. Each crew member assembles the shot according to the information they have been provided (prop list, shot/action description, etc.). They do not make directorial decisions or give feedback on the quality of the activity. No cell/person makes qualitative decisions outside of their own localized activity. The camera operator frames the shot, the lighting team light it and the performers perform, etc.

5. The shots are then assembled by the Assistant Producer in the order they were taken from the script. The film is then edited by a process of removal: shots, and pieces of shots can be removed by the editor, but cannot be re-ordered.

This is a playful experiment. We don't know what its for, or what will emerge… But surely something will.