Dan at Explore York's "Dr Who" day
Dan Marshall joined KhaoZ Media in late summer 2010. Dan has come from a background in amateur theatre; hestudied media at sixth form college and is now in his second year studying for a degree in Writing, Directing and Performance at University of York.
KM] How did you find out about KhaoZ Media and how did you get started with the group?
DM] I was looking for things to volunteer on in York – just for things that suited my interest really. I ended up at KhaoZ Media partly through speaking to people at University and careers departments which led me to York CVS who passed on my details.
I initially wanted to join in July, but there was a waiting list so I had to wait until September, and I’m here now.
KM] What skills did you initially bring to KhaoZ Media and which ones did you pick up?
DM] I’ve made short films before and I understand basic camera work and things, although I was using different software to what they use here, but it’s the same thing. I guess I bring the ability of how to put a piece together from start to finish whether it be a fiction piece, documentary or journalistic snippet.
While I’ve been here, I’ve got a good understanding of the cameras we use (JVC GYHM100e and Canon Legria HFs10), Final Cut Express which is the video editing software on the Mac, and interviewing skills. Basically, I’ve been to a few events to document and film them – lots of things I wouldn’t have like going to the Guildhall and working as part of the media team for instance.
I’ve got to meet and work with far wider and different groups of people from York and beyond which I wouldn’t have met otherwise.
KM] What have been your highlights and lowlights of your time with us?
DM] High points I think have been filming the Jamia festival because I really enjoyed doing that – getting opinions from different people in the audience and the variety of different performances and acts that there were made it interesting to do by documenting it all.
In a very basic sense, I learned how to get in the right place at the right time to get the best shot and how to ask the best questions to get good answers as well as camera placement for interviews. Also because there was anotehr camera doing another thing I had to work with them and know what they were shooting so that we didn’t end up shooting the same thing. the weather was also a challenge because it was really freezing cold – which is not somethign that helps camera operating, let me tell you!
I can’t think of any immediate issues that weren’t a bad thing. There’s sometimes been lots of waiting around but that’s not a negative thing. It’s just part of the job.
KM] Apart from your work with KhaoZ Media, what other things do you do?
DM] My university course keeps me very busy. That’s not really spare time, but that’s what I do. Recently, I’ve put on a play as part of my course which was very fun. We had rehearsals all the time which was good.
Also, I’ve been helping at university with some people who are making films for international students wanting to improve their English, demonstrating typical situations which foreign students may experience in their daily life such as recycling and theft, and how to deal with it, so I’ve been helping out with that as an extra.
Walking from point A to point B while being filmed and stuff like that which is useful because as a film-maker I know what the film-maker wants to achieve on the camera and can help that when on the camera, so the two aspects compliment each other.
KM] How would you describe KhaoZ Media in a few words?
DM] That’s a good question… “an exciting media collective”
