Reviewing My Shoot Day:

There were several goals I wanted to achieve personally from shooting our thriller, for instance showing the progress by comparing our thriller shoot to our preliminary task. I feel as a group we most definitely accomplished that. The preliminary task was a simple shoot. We used actors from our class group, for lighting we used the classroom lights, for the sound we recorded it only on the camera-mic connected to the camera. We did accomplish that goal by learning more about the technical aspects and putting them into use. Another achievement was that I now have a more detailed understanding of production processes, and an increasing understanding of the technical abilities involved in shooting. I now understand the technical idiosyncrasies of the mini DV camera i.e. how to set up and use it, I know what shots work the best and what shots don’t for specific situations.
From this shoot we also had to learn about working with a narrative and following a shooting schedule. This was quite hard to follow a strict schedule, but it did help so much as it gave us a structure and something to rely on. It was almost a rule that was there to be broken. Anything we ended up disagreeing with we could change and try doing it another way.
Team work was another goal we had to accomplish. We had only been working as a team for a few months. However I think we did a very good job of sticking to our roles and but also helping each other and working together. We helped each other to keep with in the shooting schedule and rejected no ideas from each other.
We did not have any major location, casting or props issues. Our location was always definite. We checked it was allowed by the national trust to shoot there long before the day of the shoot. The location of the shoot (Leith Hill) was only ten minutes so the journey was not an issue, although we did have to take a detour to one of the other boarding houses to collect a mattress. Our transport had also been sorted before the day of the shoot. We used one of the school mini-buses which were big enough to fit all our equipment in perfectly.
We had a minor issue with Russell’s costume, I had brought two pairs of pyjamas for him to try on and a nightgown the nightgown fit fine but the nightdress which we decided looked better had a rip down the back of it. We thought about getting some safety pins but then decided that Russell would just wear the dressing gown over the top of it so that it was hidden. You could only see the tear in one shot which we decided not to use in the end.
Our thriller sequence was set in the middle of the night. We thought that may be an issue and that we would have to black of the windows as curtains do not completely black out the windows. However we were lucky enough to find that all the windows had big wooden shutters and also curtains over the top of them. Although the hallway where the stairs were that we were shooting had a big window above it without shutters and the curtains did not shut. This was not an issue as we decided to shoot all the other shots and to then come back to it. When we did come back to it, it was a bit light so we waited for a while until it was a little darker outside.
There was no problem with the casting or actors they both fit the parts adequately. Russell turned up on time and was there the whole day. Olivia’s sister was a little late but with her being late it gave us time to set one of the rooms for her so that when she did arrive we could start shooting her immediately. Olivia’s sister’s costume fit perfectly, with her make-up we only put a little bit on and decided we could adjust it if we wanted whilst editing.
These were the only problems we came across, they were all minor problems which we dealt with sufficiently, or worked around them.We met in the media sweet at ten to nine to get all the equipment in the mini-bus and make sure we had everything. We left around nine and returned back at school around five thirty. It took us about twenty minutes getting there and back as we had to pick up and then drop of a mattress from one of the boarding houses. In that amount of time we shot all the shots on the storyboard and a lot of extra shots that we decided to add in. the only shot we didn’t manage to get was the external shot of the house, this wasn’t because we didn’t have enough time, but because the lighting was not right. So we ended up using one of the boarding houses (Cornhill) as an external shot. We shot this only a few days after the actual shoot when the lighting was right for the shot.
This was other only shot we didn’t do on the day. We worked out the day so that we had plenty of time for shooting and also time for lunch and breaks if needed. In order to execute our shoot we employed a range of video based equipment. This included the use of a Sony PDR 170 mini DV cam, a fluid head Vinten tripod, a Sennheiser directional microphone (placed in a suspension unit and a Rycote softie to eliminate unwanted wind noise) and two Redhead video lights which were covered with blue lighting Gels to achieve tungsten light that mimics daylight. On one key shot (the LS at the top of the staircase) we used a purple Gel to achieve a more mysterious ambience.
When using the camera we had to set it up on the tripod and make sure it was levelled. The camera was used to capture key shots and to ensure clarity and composition.
The directional microphone was pointed directly to the source of sound by the boom pole operator. And the microphone connected to the camera was also pointed to the source of sound as it pointed in the same direction as the camera was facing. We used the camera attached to the boom pole was used more as it was more effective and we could get it closer to source of sound.
For the lighting we used two lights that were used to deflect shadows and camera exposure adjusted to prevent bleaching. The majority of the time we used both lights other then on one occasion in the opening bedroom sequence where we attempted to use one light to make the room seam darker, however we ended up using two because of the shadows being projected onto the subject. All of our shots were in the same location (Leith Hill), other then our external shot (Cornhill Manor). All the rooms that we shot in at Leith Hill were large and open with plenty of room for all of the equipment. We shot in five different places around the house (the bedroom, the stairs, the door at the bottom of the stairs, the corridor and a big empty room) which were not far apart from each other and easy to get to. We only had too dress two of the sets (the bedroom and the last room). For the bedroom we had a mattress and bed sheets, there was already a bed stand. We also bought in old photos, paintings, candles and vases to create an old Victorian set. We also covered up a modern radiator with a dirty old blanket. For the last room we removed a table that was in there. We also found an old arm chair which we used and put some of the old pictures that we used in the bedroom scene on the ledge above the fireplace.
We had a set timetable for roughly how long we would spend on each location. We did not stay exactly to that; however we shot it in good time. We spent a lot longer on some shots the others for example; opening shot we spent a long time on because it was new to us at the time and so were trying to adjust and learn the best ways of doing it.
It did not take long setting up the equipment as we knew how to do it, however it did take a while to get the lights in the exact right place. We had all been allocated parts by each other as a group decision all though some roles did get changed. I started of with the role of the ‘Director’, Olivia with the role of ‘Camera Man’, Oscar with the role of ‘Editor’ and Ellie with the role of ‘Continuity Girl’. We ended up with Olivia being ‘Camera man’, Oscar being ‘Sound Man’, Ellie being ‘Continuity Girl’ and me taking on the role of ‘The Director’ and ‘Producer’.
I was allocated the role if the director because I like to be in control of the situation and I do acting myself so communicating with our actor Russell was very natural for me.
I really enjoyed being the director on the shooting day I was able to put my opinion across very clearly. I am also not as technical as some of the others in the group. However being director I also helped with the camera and mainly setting up the mise-en-scene so that it was how we imagined it to be. I bought me camera with me on the shooting day so that I could keep track of the continuity.
As a group we helped with every role, so that we could learn about all of them individually. We used our storyboard as more of a guideline then a strict schedule. We used the majority of the shots from it, but as we did the storyboard before seeing our location and casting it was rather hard to compare them as they look so different.
I think the reason we did not follow the storyboard picture for picture, word for word was because; creating the storyboard in a class room with your group is very contrasting to being on the set, with the actors in costume and seeing all the different, more adventures shots you could be taking in the space and with the props provided changes your vision of how the shots should be. The storyboard is a great way to keep the team concentrated and on track, however I feel it is not to be followed perfectly otherwise you may not have enough variation or too much variation. The shots we described in our storyboard were not showing a variation of shots they were simple and easy to do. However the storyboard was still there to remind us of the shots/angles that would look good and would create tension.
One of my favorite shots that we ended up with was the shot of Russell (our male actor) walking down the stairs. This shot was not in the storyboard as we had not seen our location and so did not know what the stairs would look like. we had always wanted a shot of him coming down the stairs but we did not have a very unique type of shot to do it in. when we turned up at Leith hill we shot all the shots other then the 'stair case' shot as we had to wait until the light had gone down. We had not decided how do this shot yet as we were concentrating on the others. When we did get to do the 'stair case' shot we decided to do it with the camera looking through the banisters. We had used purple gels over one of the lights to create the effect of night time. The shot was so good because the mice-en-scene combined together had made an amazing package such as, the lighting, the banisters in the frame making it look as though it was almost a P.O.V shot, having Russell fit in the frame perfectly and finally having Russell's shadow follow him after he had exited the frame. This is a perfect example of how following your storyboard to the letter is not almost the best way.
We decided on which shots to shoot and which shots not to shoot as a team, if we did not think they would work we would explain why to the remainder of the group and if they did not agree then we would shoot it to understand why it would not work. The majority of the time we all agreed if a shot would work or not. We mainly tried to get all the basic and practical shots in a sequence and then we would try different shots. The two main technical factors we had to monitor were the lighting and the sound, but also the camera, tripod and the continuity. We had to monitor all of the sound levels to avoid peaking and distortion. For the sound we also had to make sure the two channels were balanced. The directional mic was plugged into channel two and the camera mic was plugged into channel one. We had to make sure they stayed balanced through out filming. With both mic’s we had to make sure they were pointed directly at the source of sound so that there were no interferences of sound and so the sound would be as clear as it could be. However doing this with the directional mic attached to the boom you had to make sure the mic was never in the frame when filming.
When monitoring the lighting we had to make sure the exposure was right. This was so that the image through the camera was not to bright or too dark. We also had to monitor the white balance and the gain. We did use the gain at some points when filming but tried to stay clear of it as it makes the film poorer quality.
For monitoring the continuity I used a camera as it is a lot more reliable then drawing or just taking mental images. We could check the continuity as it was a digital camera so we could look back at past photos. We had to make sure the continuity was never ruined because if the continuity rule had been broken then the audience’s belief would also have been ruined. So for that reason we made sure that every shot was not touched or altered in between shooting so that it was the same as the shot before.
When monitoring the camera and tripod you had to make sure every time the camera was taken of and then put back on the tripod that the tripod was bubbled. This was to make it harder or easier to pan or tilt the camera. We did not have any major problems with the technical, continuity, 180 degree rule, sound or lighting. We had a few minor problems with the continuity which were all in the first location in the house (the bedroom) such as, the dressing gown always hanging of the end of the bed in the same way, the candle being in the same place in the same position and the duvet cover folding over (when Russell got out of bed) in the same position every time.
The video camera we were using always had battery and enough space on it. We had no difficulties with keeping to the 180 degree rule and the sound was always very efficient. I am not surprised to say I learnt a lot from shooting the opening sequence of my thriller, and not just from shooting it but from preparing for it and for everything I did to work up to it.
When we shot the preliminary task we were naive about the technical and physical side to shooting anything. We also only had three people in our group for the preliminary task, until we were shortly joined by another team member just into time for our thriller.
When we did our preliminary task we were given a ready-made storyboard. Our hands were being held the entire way when doing the preliminary task as we had to be taught everything from nothing. We used our own actors in the preliminary task (me & Oscar); we used no lighting and used the mic attached to the camera. We used no costumes, no props, and no set location and read a simple narrative. It was only very short with no unique angles or excitement. However this was not the job of the preliminary task it was to teach us the basics which it did, it was there to prepare us for our thriller which it did.
We prepared for our thriller for a couple of months. We had to firstly individually think of a Thriller idea, present it to the remainder of the group. We then had to vote for the favorite and most practical. We then began to work on that idea, change it, add to it and take away from it. Unlike the preliminary task we created our own storyboards from scratch writing what the lighting, sound and mice-en-scene would be like. We then had to research the costumes, characters, location and props, finding out if we were able to get them in time for the shoot and if they would work. When shooting our thriller we had equipment such as, professional lights and gels, a video camera, tripod and two different mic's. We had none of this technical equipment when shooting the preliminary task. It showed us how much the technical equipment made a difference. Not only did all this contrast to the preliminary task but also the editing. It only took around three hours all together or less to edit the preliminary task however editing the Thriller takes a lot longer. this is because there are more rushes so it takes a lot longer to log it but also because with the thriller we are adding music, cutting shots to perfection and making sure we have a variation of shots, that there our no continuity issues. We could not have done all this too our preliminary task because it was very short and it had no purpose to it.
I have learnt so much from this entire experience; for starters that I really enjoy the role of Director and think my character works very well with that position, which has even given me hope for the future. I have also learnt so much about the technical side of media and shooting a film. I know now the basics to editing, how to set up a camera (e.g. bubbling it on the tripod), that you use two lights too stop the shadow of one on the subject you our filming. it has also expanded my dictionary for words used I’m the media industry such as what a director has to say before shooting and when stopping shooting ('Stand By...standing by...Rolling Camera...camera rolling...Action...Cut)
Not only have I learnt the technical side but I have also learnt how to work in a team with specific roles. but I did discovered that the roles are not always equal, and that you should not keep to your set role but try and get involved in every role as you come out with a lot more knowledge and many more skills from it.
In conclusion I do not think you can compare our Preliminary Task to our Opening Thriller Sequence as they are on two different levels showing two different styles and abilities from our group towards shooting, understanding the technical side and understanding more about the media industry.