Research thoughts...

The Emmys -- lots of fun this year. Except for the undeniable fact that James Gandolfini and Hugh Laurie were robbed, I must say. Can James Spader be THAT good? Once I finish The Wire, I might just give Boston Legal a go and find out.

Time to start thinking on the wonderful world of research. I'm certain that, though I often consider myself the Queen of Research (was thinking about having that embossed on a towel or two), I have a great deal to learn about the art of it on this particular level. I've done plenty of research in high school, undergrad degrees, shows and scripts, but I somehow find myself feeling rather like a research virgin at this point in time. It's a bit scary, but also exciting.

What will I need to research? Well, in the case of my project, I'll of course need to sniff out story ideas. Decide which universities/programs on which to focus for "Uni TV", or whatever (much better) name I come up with for my show. I am quite comfortable with cameras and editing and such, so I doubt I'll have to do much research into technology. Besides, I plan to get myself a fantastic crew, so I won't be going at it alone.

Where a possible thesis is concerned, first I'll need to figure out - with help from my eventual advisor - how much is too much, and how much is too little. For instance, if I'm doing a project, will I even be expected to write an accompanying paper. And how long must it be? Must it focus on my project, almost as a post-mortem? Can I write a paper that covers a subject that I've long wanted to explore (the dynamic on student productions)? If so, I know I'll definitely want to speak with studio production students, past and current, to get their thoughts. I'll also want to observe their activities. Must I get permission to do this? Gets forms signed? Do I visit other schools - York, Seneca, the Toronto Film School... - in order to get varying results? And would I be able to start my work a little early, considering undergrads finish the first week of April, and work on our projects/papers begins in May I believe it is.

So many questions. Once I've narrowed my focus and decide exactly what I'll be doing, I'm sure the answers will become that much more clear. My advisor(s) will be instrumental in providing direction, that's for certain.

My plan to study undergraduate production education as a whole, I'm thinking, will have to wait until a Ph.D. It seems like it could be such a large undertaking, and one that could probably even fill an entire book's worth of space. (That'd be quite a textbook, wouldn't it? It would sell maybe 20 copies a year, haha.) For that sort of research, I could see myself visiting as many production universities and colleges as possible, whether they be here, in the US or abroad. I'd need to interview every professor I could, as well as a multitude of students.

At this point, all I know for sure is what my goal is: I'd like to work on a project/paper that shows how interested in and dedicated I am to education and production. When it comes time for me to interview for a faculty position on some university staff somewhere somehow, I can prove to TPTB that I already care about students and the process. That I'd like it to be better. That I gave back to the system and its players. That I'm not in all this just for me.

I know I'll succeed. I just don't know quite how -- at least not yet.

Next time, how about I discuss my visions for the show I'd like to create? Yeah, let's do that. :)