Evaluation

I chose to supervise Moulin Rouge because I wanted to challenge myself and learn new skills, which I certainly feel I have done. Parts of the project I have found really difficult, because everything was totally new to me, and I have no prior experience in supervising at all.

Even collaborating with another student was new to me. I am very used to working on my own, at my own pace, and without having to communicate with anyone else what I am doing. I think it took a little time for both of us to get used to each other! Only in the fact that we needed to work as a team rather than a single person, and I think we did work really well together – we took on roles that we were strongest at (Amber was at more of the admin side of things, and I was making and sourcing) and once we had sorted this out everything began to run really smoothly and well. It was finding the balance of working on our own side of things but liaising with each other so that we were both always aware of what was going on.

I struggled at the beginning of the project. I feel that I didn’t really know what I was doing – even though things had been explained to me, it was still a lot to take on and for me to get my head around. I did feel a bit overwhelmed, and for me, that’s where it began to become obvious that I needed more direction. Even though the tutors were available to ask for help I didn’t feel as though I could because this project is ‘self-directed’ and I thought that I had to work things out for myself, so in hindsight this is something that I’ve learnt – that I can always ask for help, especially when it’s something totally new for me! I’ve learnt a lot about how militant a supervisor has to be about organisation, which again I don’t think I fully understood exactly how extreme the organisation needs to be.

It was strange as well to be on the organising and supervising side of things rather than making something and this was the thing that I really wanted to learn and get out of the project. I’ve always been a fairly quiet person so I knew this was going to be a challenge, but I wanted to put myself in that situation so that I could gain the most from SDP. Working with the 1^st years and organising them has been really good actually, and one of my favourite parts of the project. One of the things we were told at the beginning of the project was that a supervisor should have a good relationship with their makers, and this is something I feel I’ve achieved. It has been surprisingly smooth to get people to certain places at certain times, and I think this is down to good communication, and also because of a good relationship.

I’ve really gained a lot from working on the photoshoot and filming too. The photoshoot was, I felt, a great trial for the filming in a way, as it was the first time we’d had all costume and make up on all the models. It was also the first time I had to liaise with the students, designer, and director. I did feel quite a lot of pressure, but I think the day still ran really well. The organisation that Amber and I kept up throughout the day was really good, and I think that this was because of what we’d learnt from organising the fittings and the costume parade.

Something that I found particularly ‘alien’ to me was organising people who wanted to help. I really think that at the beginning of the project I would have thought that Amber and I would be doing everything, which would have been far too much, but when the first years volunteered to help it was great. I found giving people jobs to do quite strange at first because I felt that I should be doing everything, as we usually do with individual projects, but once I got into the swing of things I found it really helpful, and I can see now how it is part of the supervisor’s job to organise helpers, such as dressers, hair and make up, and runners. The first years have been great at volunteering to help too, which has been a real help.

Overall, SDP has definitely been my most challenging project to date. I’ve learnt the most from this project too, and I feel that if I were ever to supervise again I would be far more prepared from the experience. Although there were a few hiccups and things weren’t as organised as they should have been in the beginning, I think that the project really pulled together and I am really proud of how Moulin Rouge looked as a production.