National Gallery Trip Round 2

Yesterday the 6 of us doing the National Gallery option for SDP went to the National Gallery again, but this time with the Film and Acting department. I had to get up at 6.30 to ensure I was at the coach station on time at 8. The trip looked to be successful and helpful to not only us but also the Film department as we could give them our feedback and ideas on their chosen paintings. However, we were sort of just left to mingle ourselves for most of it. We approached the Film student and asked them what they were thinking of doing but none of them really seemed to have a clue, despite being given time to research the paintings in the gallery for several weeks before this trip. It was really frustrating as we felt more of a hindrance and annoyance that a help or guidance to the students. They didn't even know what THEY wanted to do let alone have thought about COSTUME! After meeting back at the entrance, we were assigned groups which each had a tutor in which we should follow. We went to each painting each student in the group was interested in turning into a 3 min film. I asked lots of questions about what period they wanted it to be set and gave advice the best I could. I liked several of the ideas but they were so undeveloped I'll be suprised if they actually have anything to pitch today! After that group session we were told to just go shopping (NOT what we came to do).

We were all really disapointed with how little we were wanted there and how unimportant not only the students but also the tutors made us feel. I was compared to a Fashion student by one of the tutors who also commented that "You do the same kind of thing". I thought this showed a great deal of disrespect and ignorance for what it is that us Costume students really have to do. Another girl was told that she should just make several donkey costumes over the Easter holidays if the pitch was chosen! On what budget and in whose time exactly?! Students expected unrealistic costumes to just magically be made for their films in time on no budget which shows such a lack of understanding and is quite insulting.

All in all the trip felt like a real waste of our time which was really disheartening.