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The FMS Stories Experience is best viewed in Landscape!
Stories in Motion
FSV students honed both their artistic and technical skills during their three years here – the art and craft of filmmaking is covered in areas such as scriptwriting, motion graphics, compositing and post-production, while technical skills are be sharpened through using the latest industry-standard equipment including HD digital cinema cameras.
Lights, Camera, Action
A film set comprises of different departments that all come together to make the vision of the crew possible.
The Lighting department, in charge of making sure that the lighting is favourable to what the Director of Photography (DOP) wants. The Camera department, in charge of managing the slating and changing lenses to fit the vision of the DOP. The Art department, ensuring that the film has the look and feel of what the Director wants. The Production department, in charge of managing the welfare of the crew. And the Sound department, in charge of recording and designing the sound to what the Director wants.
A set without either one of these departments will result in a film missing a very essential aspect of what makes a film the best it can be.
Production Dept.
The production team is the foundation of a film set – without this team to care for welfare and other pre-production needs, the production cannot go on! Most famously stereotyped as the "saikang (menial work) warriors", they are the set's unsung heroes, rushing to acquire last-minute items or anything else that is missing.
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Lighting
FSV students often find themselves shooting outdoors late into the night, so students always carry torchlights to make sure work can be done, no matter the situation. When the hands are all occupied with equipment, hands-free head lamps are used.
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Paracord
This is used for inspiring confidence on set especially when it comes to rigging the more dangerous setups, roping equipment and tying down objects. FSV students are taught to work in a safe environment at all times.
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Good Morning Towel
A clean set is a happy set, which is why production assistants always have a towel on hand to wipe down any spills or dusty tables – with a great classic look and student-friendly price tag to boot.
Art Dept.
From designing props and on-set decoration, to hair and makeup, the art department is in-charge of helping the director realise the overall look of his or her film.
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Alcohol Pad
Useful for breaking down dirt and grime on props and surfaces. Usually ends up as first aid for various on-set injuries.
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Special Effects Makeup
Great for creating various things from bruises and open wounds without actually hurting the actors. The thick blood and latex shown were used to create the knee wound in Astray.
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Newspaper
Can be used for protecting surfaces when spray painting or drilling, or used as a prop in house shoots. Also doubles up as an educational reading material.
Sound
An audio technician experiences the filming process on set through sound – a unique role, that is different from the rest. While others focus on the visuals of the set, the audio technician pays attention to the nitty-gritty details of the sound and its quality.
Skin / Surgical Tape
This is an essential item in a sound man's kit. It is used to attach a wireless lavalier mic onto the talent. Over the many shoots done, students have discovered a multitude of tips and tricks to better apply the skin tape such that it will stick better or record cleaner sound.
Releasable Cable Ties
Useful in almost any department, the cable ties aid the neat-freak audio technicians in keeping their cables and wires in check. Coiling the wires and securing them with a cable tie is important so as not to let the wires hang freely and fall messily.
Batteries
An obvious but important necessity, a lack of spare batteries is a nightmare for all audio technicians and may cause unnecessary panic and delayed proceedings for an extended period of time.
Camera
Being in the camera department means being careful and calm. The exchange of lenses and swapping out of cards (digital) all require diligence and care. Expected to work fast, this job also requires much caution and teamwork. From the 1st AC to the Data Wrangler, all have a part to play in assisting the Director of Photography (DP) achieve his vision.
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Focus Puller's Whip
The length of this whip allows the Camera Assistant to pull at a comfortable distance from the camera operator so that there will be no blown takes due to the operator and the assistant tripping over each other.
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Slate
An organised slate is what differentiates a great 2nd Camera Assistant (CA) from an ordinary one. The more organised the CA is, the easier it becomes for the editor.
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Yoga Mat
Every single time tools on set do not hold as tightly as it should, the Yoga Mat saves the day through providing the friction needed to strengthen the tools’ hold.
Lighting
The lighting department comprises the gaffer, best boy, and grips – all who work together seamlessly to create the intended mood for each scene, conveying subtle yet poignant messages through films. On set, they are part of the technical team in-charge of running cables and setting up lights; while seemingly simple, it requires knowledge of electrical systems and the utilisation of a shooting space’s electrical capacity.
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Multi-Tool
The multi-tool is every tech crew’s gem. As the name suggests, it consists of knives, scissors, mini-saws, flathead, screwdrivers, and other utilities that are condensed together to fit into the size of a pocket.
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Light Meter
A device used mainly by the gaffer or the Director of Photography to ensure that the image is set to the proper exposure by adjusting the shutter speed or ISO. The device then gives information about the amount of light that is in the scene through the f-stop and lets the gaffer know if more or less light is needed.
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Pegs
Clothing pegs, or more commonly known as C47, are wooden pegs that are used in a variety of ways, such as pinning a gel to a light, or to hold the actors’ oversized shirts.
Film, Sound & Video has been like a home to me. All the back-to-back shoots, constant planning for our films and the stressful days during our post-production stages have made me realise that I’ve grown immensely – not just as an individual in the film and media industry but as a person, alongside a family that has guided me during this journey.
My FMS story is one that cannot be expressed as a single collective event in my time as a student. It’s instead a narrative with endless arcs that will continue on even when I’ve part ways with this school.
– Hein Htut
Dragon's Haven
In this face-paced society, Dragon's Haven offers a glimpse into the lives of a community of potters tucked away in a small corner of Singapore, as they struggle against the urbanisation of the world around them.
Watch the documentary "Dragon's Haven"
Thank you
We hope to see you at FMS Stories 2018. Do sign up on our social media pages for updates.