The main goals we were trying to achieve were primarily producing a thriller sequence that was both generically authentic and that showed proof that our production practises had developed from when we made the preliminary task. All this proving that we had a good technical understanding of the key areas in production and filming.
Throughout the whole day we didn’t have any major issues with casting, location or props. This was very useful as if we had come across difficulties with any of this we would have been pushed for time. The only slight scare we had was one of the cast members turned up a little late and we hadn’t been able to get hold of him. This made us slightly late setting off but we soon made up the time when we arrived at location as our planning and organisation helped us to get back onto schedule. The little child we had cast also caused a tiny problem at the beginning as she got very scared by all the camera crew and equipment so become tearful, this was soon resolved.
We had allocated plenty of time to film each shot and we had given ourselves a lot more time for setting up each shot than we actually needed, this gave us the chance to shoot much more footage and we gained some quite exciting shots that weren’t on the storyboard. The only problem was trying to get all the dark shots done in the little time allocated for them, we managed this very successfully and I was pleased as we got a very nice shot at the end just before we left of a circling shot around the mother as she looks up at the window.
The equipment that we took with us was 2 Sony PDR170 mini DV cameras; including their camera microphones that were plugged into channel 1. To set up the cameras we made sure that the tapes were fast forwarded 30 seconds in so that we were sure to not get any interference. We made sure that the white balance was set to sunlight as the camera gets the best result when shooting with redheads if the white balance is set to outside, (even when shooting inside!). We had to make sure that the gain was on 0dB as we didn’t want any unwanted noise on the image. We also had two fluid head Vinton tripods; these had to be bubbled after every time they get moved or the height is changed. We used 2 red head video lights to let the set and we gelled them up with blue gels as the camera sees it as tungsten light, the combination of this and the outside white balance works best with the camera. For the sound, we used a Senhiser directional microphone placed onto a boom pole using a suspension unit; this was then covered with a rycote softie to get rid of the unwanted wind noise. This has to be used like a gun and has to be pointed at the object making the noise or the noise source. This was plugged into channel 2 on the camera so that in the editing process you can select which channel you want to use, enhance or delete.
We had prepared enough time on our shooting schedule (shown Below this paragraph) for dressing the set as we had a large team with us and not too much to do. The rooms were perfect for what we wanted to achieve so we didn’t do much to it. The only things we did were move furniture slightly to make the moving of equipment and people easier. We had measured the windows of each room so we knew how many bin bags we would need, and blacking the windows didn’t take much time at all. With all the windows blacked the external light of the day didn’t cause us any problems apart from trying to hide the bin bags from the camera so had to make sure the curtains were kept closed closed or making sure that the windows weren't in shot. Throughout the day we became better and better and much faster at the setting up of the equipment and by lunchtime it was like second nature and we could move the camera and lights from shot to shot in a matter of seconds.
We stuck to our jobs that we had chosen at the beginning of the process as director, producer, director of photographer and the chief editor. The director took the role of called the shots and tolled the actors what to do, I as the producer made sure that everything ran smoothly, made sure that things were running to schedule and checked with the cast that everything was ok, I made sure that everything was where it was meant to be so that the day went without any hiccups. The director of photography checking the frame for any objects that shouldn’t be there and operated the camera and the chief editor was put in charge of the sound during the day of shooting. This worked well as it meant that all the jobs were done and nothing was forgotten. It also helped to speed things up as everyone knew what they were meant to be doing and it all got done.
We stuck to the storyboard fairly religiously and shot all of our shots and as we still had time, we were able to improvise and add to our storyboard with many more shots than we had drawn up. The main technical aspects that we had to watch carefully throughout the days shooting was checking the sound and making sure that it didn’t peak, making sure that there was nothing breaking realism. We had to make sure that the tripod was always bubbled and the dampers on the tripod were either tight enough or loose enough for the circumstance. Another is that we ha d to monitor that we weren’t breaking the 180 degree rule and be aware of which side of the room we were shooting from and not change it round. We also I noticed that we were shooting straight into the mirror once so that was an issue as well.
I, our group and the quality of the final product have developed so much from the shooting of our preliminary task. I have learnt so much and gain so much experience from the beginning of the course. The shooting of the thriller felt so much more professional than the shooting and production of the preliminary task. Most of this is down to the fact that we were using proper lighting, a good cast with costumes and had chosen a suitable and appropriate location and props. It is also down to the fact that we are now so much more aware of the correct ways of production and shooting. Our organisation was key to our success and we had planned in great detail each and every stage. We had got schedules, lists, and call sheets for everyone and everything involved so that we were sure to create a video that reflected the professionalism we had achieved in the production. I felt that in the shooting of it we were much more experienced than before as we understood and were able to use greater tools and skills. This has helped us to develop greatly from our preliminary task.
Throughout the whole day we didn’t have any major issues with casting, location or props. This was very useful as if we had come across difficulties with any of this we would have been pushed for time. The only slight scare we had was one of the cast members turned up a little late and we hadn’t been able to get hold of him. This made us slightly late setting off but we soon made up the time when we arrived at location as our planning and organisation helped us to get back onto schedule. The little child we had cast also caused a tiny problem at the beginning as she got very scared by all the camera crew and equipment so become tearful, this was soon resolved.
We had allocated plenty of time to film each shot and we had given ourselves a lot more time for setting up each shot than we actually needed, this gave us the chance to shoot much more footage and we gained some quite exciting shots that weren’t on the storyboard. The only problem was trying to get all the dark shots done in the little time allocated for them, we managed this very successfully and I was pleased as we got a very nice shot at the end just before we left of a circling shot around the mother as she looks up at the window.
The equipment that we took with us was 2 Sony PDR170 mini DV cameras; including their camera microphones that were plugged into channel 1. To set up the cameras we made sure that the tapes were fast forwarded 30 seconds in so that we were sure to not get any interference. We made sure that the white balance was set to sunlight as the camera gets the best result when shooting with redheads if the white balance is set to outside, (even when shooting inside!). We had to make sure that the gain was on 0dB as we didn’t want any unwanted noise on the image. We also had two fluid head Vinton tripods; these had to be bubbled after every time they get moved or the height is changed. We used 2 red head video lights to let the set and we gelled them up with blue gels as the camera sees it as tungsten light, the combination of this and the outside white balance works best with the camera. For the sound, we used a Senhiser directional microphone placed onto a boom pole using a suspension unit; this was then covered with a rycote softie to get rid of the unwanted wind noise. This has to be used like a gun and has to be pointed at the object making the noise or the noise source. This was plugged into channel 2 on the camera so that in the editing process you can select which channel you want to use, enhance or delete.
We had prepared enough time on our shooting schedule (shown Below this paragraph) for dressing the set as we had a large team with us and not too much to do. The rooms were perfect for what we wanted to achieve so we didn’t do much to it. The only things we did were move furniture slightly to make the moving of equipment and people easier. We had measured the windows of each room so we knew how many bin bags we would need, and blacking the windows didn’t take much time at all. With all the windows blacked the external light of the day didn’t cause us any problems apart from trying to hide the bin bags from the camera so had to make sure the curtains were kept closed closed or making sure that the windows weren't in shot. Throughout the day we became better and better and much faster at the setting up of the equipment and by lunchtime it was like second nature and we could move the camera and lights from shot to shot in a matter of seconds.
We stuck to our jobs that we had chosen at the beginning of the process as director, producer, director of photographer and the chief editor. The director took the role of called the shots and tolled the actors what to do, I as the producer made sure that everything ran smoothly, made sure that things were running to schedule and checked with the cast that everything was ok, I made sure that everything was where it was meant to be so that the day went without any hiccups. The director of photography checking the frame for any objects that shouldn’t be there and operated the camera and the chief editor was put in charge of the sound during the day of shooting. This worked well as it meant that all the jobs were done and nothing was forgotten. It also helped to speed things up as everyone knew what they were meant to be doing and it all got done.
We stuck to the storyboard fairly religiously and shot all of our shots and as we still had time, we were able to improvise and add to our storyboard with many more shots than we had drawn up. The main technical aspects that we had to watch carefully throughout the days shooting was checking the sound and making sure that it didn’t peak, making sure that there was nothing breaking realism. We had to make sure that the tripod was always bubbled and the dampers on the tripod were either tight enough or loose enough for the circumstance. Another is that we ha d to monitor that we weren’t breaking the 180 degree rule and be aware of which side of the room we were shooting from and not change it round. We also I noticed that we were shooting straight into the mirror once so that was an issue as well.
I, our group and the quality of the final product have developed so much from the shooting of our preliminary task. I have learnt so much and gain so much experience from the beginning of the course. The shooting of the thriller felt so much more professional than the shooting and production of the preliminary task. Most of this is down to the fact that we were using proper lighting, a good cast with costumes and had chosen a suitable and appropriate location and props. It is also down to the fact that we are now so much more aware of the correct ways of production and shooting. Our organisation was key to our success and we had planned in great detail each and every stage. We had got schedules, lists, and call sheets for everyone and everything involved so that we were sure to create a video that reflected the professionalism we had achieved in the production. I felt that in the shooting of it we were much more experienced than before as we understood and were able to use greater tools and skills. This has helped us to develop greatly from our preliminary task.
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