Production (Trapped)

Today, I was being a production manager for the short film Trapped. I was trying to make sure that everything was running smoothly, doing a log sheet and also taking production stills as this would influence on our paperwork and show us doing our jobs.

To begin with we set of late because we didn’t have a log sheet and stills camera ready and also we didn’t have all our cast and crew when we were supposed to as they turned up about 40 minutes late. We set of without them and filmed scenes in the park on Church Street across the road from college to begin with as these shots didn’t include any cast or crew that were there. We were here about 15 minutes we were a little behind schedule than we were hoping.

When we arrived at Elias house to film in the basement we began to set up the Z7 cameras and tripod and we followed through the steps and camera positions and shots we wanted to do and shoot. This took a little while to make sure we got the best shots and lighting as we possibly could so that it could compliment the final cut. 

I think filming went quite successfully as we may have been a little behind schedule than what was planned but I think we had shot some good footage and if needed we have plenty of extra time to go back and shoot some scenes again. At times we did disagree on things and may have gone slightly of track.

Throughout this process I took production stills and logged all the tape information such as timings, shots, takes and description as this would be easier when editing as we can just import the important footage and not everything.

At one point the camera didn’t work properly and the contract and brightness was really dull this took us about 15 minutes to try and overcome this so that it looked similar to before as we didn’t want to make any continuity errors.

When we got back to college I uploaded the production stills on to my computer as well as imported the footage. I feel that the majority of the footage will look really good and fit to what we were planning on but if we think some shots don’t seem to benefit how we wanted them to come across we may need to shoot more footage.

Tomorrow I will be filming two other projects Pause and Kids and Pranks. I will be production manager again in both of these projects which I think I may have more knowledge in what I will be doing and hopefully I will benefit and o better at this role. 

Continued Pre-production

Today, I started off by making a shooting schedule with the director of Kids and Pranks. We looked through previous paperwork to help relate and put together a schedule. We put in appropriate information such as dates, days, crew, cast, equipment etc.

After that we worked closely in finishing of the shooting order for scene 2 in the kitchen to do this we looked at our camera plans and shot list so we could arrange as easy as possible when shooting which shots to film and when. We grouped together particular shots such as close ups and different locations shots so this would be easier when filming.

To finish of with we put all our paperwork in the correct places so that it would be easier when signing of and stapled relevant paperwork together such as risk assessments with floor plans and location release.

I also did a call sheet to finish off with for Pause to put in all the different times and places cast and crew need to be which we will be giving them.

Tomorrow, I am planning on filming Trapped. Then filming Pause and Kids and Pranks on the 1^st May.

Pre-production

Today, I have been working closely on the project Kids and Pranks. To begin with the director was finishing off the lasts of the storyboards by adding the description details of shot types, audio, transitions etc. In the mean time I were doing a shot list for the storyboards by linking up the appropriate details such as shot types, numbers, audio and visuals so we can reference to this when filming.

After this I started doing breakdown sheets for the two different scenes that we are filming. We filled in the cast, crew, props and clothing these are the only ones that apply to this project, as not much is needed. We collected our floor plans and risk assessments from the sound operator as this is whose house the project is going to be filmed at.

In the meanwhile me and the director were working on call sheets so we can put in the appropriate details to cast and crew which we will give them so they know what and where they have to be and what we will be doing on the day. I also made a call sheet for another project for Pause.

From the floor plans that were electronically we got our shot list and storyboards and tried to put together a camera plan in what positions the camera will be in and what shots are appropriate for this. The camera plan we worked with to make a shooting order, which we put in what camera positions and numbers will be where, and the order they will be shot in. Now I need to make schedules for the projects and just alter minor changes in call sheets. Also I need to a location and realise form. 

Group Presentation Pitch

In our session today we did not need to make any changes towards any of the presentations we felt we were happy with the information and that it had every applicable for example: synopsis, target audience, BBFC, constraints, budget, props etc.

In two of the groups Pause and Kids and Pranks, we discussed within our group how we were going to effectively pitch our ideas. We separated the slides up and had approximately three slides a person to get across clearly the idea and what we are expecting. I think I knew my production role and what I need to be doing but together as a group I feel we need to be more confident, address the group and be clear and precise. Next time I would like to feel I could be more confident in myself and put across to everybody why I am an asset crew member to that group.

Trapped the other short film, I am helping out on. I feel we did not come across well as a group I think we are going to work harder on communication and helping each other out. The director of the group did the majority of the reading out except from the other crew members who read out their role. To improve this I would like to come closer as a group and be all as confident as each other in the group and help each other out to make a great short film.

After our presentations, I found out from each of the crew members in all of the groups I am associated in when they are free to film and in lesson time so I as a production manager can start putting together a schedule. I will also be coming up with a contingency plan if we do not succeed in fitting in our original plan and time limits. I will be working on this between today and Thursday as well as other production paper along with my group members.

This is the availability of each of the crew members outside class:

Bryony (Camera operator in Kids and Pranks/ Trapped and editor in Pause) –

Bryony is free weekday and weekend till the 3^rd of May.

After 3^rd May she can do Monday morning, evening and weekends.

Daniel (Director in Pause and a sound operator in Kids and Pranks) –

Daniel can do any weekday. Not weekends.

Jonathan- (Director/Production Manager in Kids and Pranks and sound in Pause) –

Jonathan can do any weekday and weekends.

Elias- (Director/Editor of Trapped) –

Elias is free every weekday and weekend.

Not 2^nd May midday.

Poppy- (Production Manager in Kids and Pranks, Pause and Trapped and Editor in Kids and Pranks) –

Poppy cannot do weekends or Thursdays.

Availability in class sessions -

Thursday 25^th April

Monday 29^th April

Tuesday 30^th April

Thursday 2^nd May

Tuesday 7^th May – Part of the lesson

Thursday 9^th May

Tuesday 14^th May – First Cut – 5pm

Tuesday 21^st May – Final Cut – 5pm

Red – Deadline

Yellow – Might have time to do some work in lesson. 

Final Presentation

Today we got in our groups and did a final first draft presentation on the ideas we have chosen to take into production. 

I worked between three different groups as these are the ones I am currently in. We brought up the original presentations that had already been made as a treatment presentation and cut out unnecessary slides such as a breakdown of the scenes, mood board and one liner. 

We did put in some new slides such as an action plan on dates we are aiming to get everything done like production post and pre-production. To do this we looked at the calendar and discussed what we could get done by what time that it is good enough and not rushed. 

We decided to do pre-production for the 25th, production for the 7th then 14th for post-production. I suggested these ideas because I think we are able to get them all done by these dates and will also have a fall-back time if needed.

We also changed appropriate parts where the synopsis may have changed or the target audience or genre. 

I helped out with putting the presentations together on PowerPoint along with the rest of the group.

From my research into crew roles of production manager and editor I had put key essential items and skills of these particular job roles into the PowerPoint so when we pitch the final idea it is known that I know my part is and how to take on this role. 

In the meantime for pre-production paperwork the storyboards and breakdown sheet will be done by the director and may also be helped by the camera operator. I as a production manager will come up with some dates and times I will get together information to when people are able to film and make up a schedule. Other crew members will take care of risk assessments and floor plans. The rest of the paperwork we will do together in our groups next week Tuesday 23rd April. 

Groups

Today, we have chosen the final short films we are putting into production. I decided not to take mine further into production because I feel it is to complex and may not come across as good as I would have hoped.

But from this I have volunteered myself to be in several different projects: I am being a production manager in Pause which is basically a remote that a man can control and it all goes when he breaks and his girlfriend stays paused. I am also a production manager for Trapped, which is a man who gets kidnapped and is put into a cellar. 60 Minutes I am co- production manager so I will be helping out the director for this project I am also helping out being an editor.

We have read through all the different scripts and made any alterations that have been needed and now we are ready to go on to the next stage of production such as making the storyboards and risk assessments etc. 

Scipts

Today, we spent the morning reading through everyone’s scripts to the idea that they had pitched the previous lesson. We played a script editor for everyone and evaluated spelling mistakes, punctuation, and layout, how it could be improved etc. We wrote down all our notes whilst reading through them and got time to tell our thoughts of each other scripts. They were some scripts better than others and help to see what was realistic and could be put into production.

A few people gave me some suggestions to how I could improve the idea for example instead of Beau and Harvey going out it should be Beau really loves Harvey and she wants to meet him but when she turns up he is actually meeting someone he likes and wants to be with. Another suggestion was they thought it would be good if the whole thing was a dream but in then end Harvey wakes Beau up and realises it was a dream.

The next lesson, I made a second draft of the script. I made some minor changes of words needed to be added and also to add a bit more to the story so because it wasn’t quite longer enough. I made some more links to the balloons in two of the scenes to see the resemblance. I also took advice from some of the feedback from my reading the scripts and thought it would be more effective and work better.

The lines of the songs could be an issue with copyright. They thought when Harvey read the message the audience should actually see the message because it would connect to why he is annoyed and link in later on.

Short Film Pitch

Today I pitched my final idea, which were Loves Despair I thought the pitch went reasonable well I didn’t feel very nervous and I felt I was confident in my idea and happy with it.

‘A young adult, Beau Hinchliffe 19 years old truly deeply devoted to her boyfriend Harvey Doyle. One night she gets attacked in the street and sees the unexpected her boyfriend with another woman. But do things take a turn for the worst?’

From my feedback from the group, they thought that something were unclear in the story like the link to the girl who is cheating with the boy and main character from the start. They gave me some suggestions to this with the balloon in the dream sequence should be also seen in the last scene when he is walking off with Leah the girl he was with.

Other feedback I got from the group was that they thought a lot was going on and could be quite complicated for the amount of time that were needed and if it were to be put in production it needed to be done quite effectively to work.