catch up lesson

 

Today we decided that we were going to have minimal dialogue: with just one line. The victim girl will say:  “Hello. Rupert Bardsley?”

*He doesn’t answer. Just gesticulates. 

Also the whole title sequence will change from a formal sequence to a cross over of shots. The filming will not be affected by this decision. Only the editing will be approached slightly differently. We feel like this style of editing will help in telling the story more and the audience will understand the concept better and know who each character represents more clearly. 

 We set the costumes for our characters and divided who in our group supplies what for each character. I am providing a white oversized shirt for Freya and some trousers. She might wear doc. Martins or Balenciaga trainers with her outfit. Pandora will bring her Luis Vuitton bum bag for her. The Georgie is bringing 3 pairs of jeans for us to choose from. The style we are aiming for is low waited flair jeans with a lacy crop top and nike trainers. Ezra is bringing his own costume. (black suit+dress shoes) 

filming workshop

In today's workshop with Matt we filming a sequence including sound sound. 

I was in a group with Gianna, Sarah, Pandora and Maia. We came up with an idea of 2 people having a conversation. Me and Maia were the actors, but we also filmed certain shots (close up).

We also learned how to use a microphone. It is made from porcelain, therefor it is quite fragile. When holding the microphone while filming we have to make sure we are a good distance from the actors to capture their dialogue, but also have to make sure we are not picked up in the shot. 

*I was the one who took these photos, but send it to my team partners, so they could use it as their evidence as well.

Riffle Microphone- porcelain 

Lock on top of cable

Microphone holder

When we started filming we had to make sure the camera was in focus, nice visual shot (small head pace- rule of thirds), 180 degree rule.

The whole time we filmed we made sure we didn't break the rule of 180 degrees. 

The sequence was filmed in a couple shots including:

Wide (whole shot)

Close ups

2 over the shoulder shots

The footage we shot on this day, will be edited by us on Friday during the lesson. 

Footage Practice Shoot

 This is the finished edited footage me and Pandora edited in the editing suit. I acted in the practice sequence and edited it as well as Pandora. This was a good exercise to practice our editing skills. 

26-04 lesson

Today in class we got into our assigned groups to discuss areas related to our shoot. 

My group has heard back from our cast. but we are still waiting for confirmation from Ezra that he is available on the 12th of May. 

We focused on the aspect of location in todays lesson. My group and Adam walked around the Hurtwood House property. We spoke about possible options to film at:

-main house balcony (not safe)

-back garden of main house, with fountain and amazing view (not really good lighting)

-garden on top of the theatre (with wall)- (amazing view, good lighting, but there are builders working near by)

-theatre balcony (builders working near by/not safe)

-garden by the theatre (good views, good space, good lighting, good options for shots, but there are builders working near by) 

-the amphitheatre (good lighting, interesting setting, could also use the pavilion balcony) 

-the stairs next to the theatre (interesting setting)

- the main stairs down to the pavilion (has lampposts, good setting, good lighting, interesting background)

This were the locations around Hurtwood House campus. During this week we are possibly going to go and inspect the other boarding houses if they have good filming locations, because we might have some issues if we film on campus.

The only real problem, if we film at one of the other boarding houses is, that we are using our headmasters car for some scenes. So he needs to be in school and have a free schedule for us to film with his car. 

learning to edit in Premier Pro

In todays lesson we went into the editing suit. 

Matt was leading the workshop and was teaching us about Premier Pro and how to use it practically. 

We were divided into the same three groups like the lesson before and worked together using the software. 

We learned the basics like:

timeline

V- video 

A- audio

Video screens- on the top of the screen

Project window- (is basically a Finder as if within a MacBook)

Rushes contain unedited Footage.

Bins are folders of footage.

We have to double click on video clip icon to view the content.

Click on text to rename file.

Make new bin = new folder.

Name it-log bin (to copy in good usable footage) Copy and Paste into bin. 

(Through “Edit” tool on top)  

Blue box - means the subject is select 

I- in 

O - out

*to cut the video from start to end- before importing it.

We have to be careful to not over cut the audio of other clip... while editing. (Videos together)

Trim handle- red arrow 

We all tried all the basic tools within Premier Pro. 

Every single one of us in my group created a short sequence by editing the footage in Premier Pro. 

I edited the video when I (me) walk into the shot, put on a jacket and leave the same way. I managed to edit another half of a sequence, but ran out of time to complete it. 

Emails between me and Ezra Hjalmarsson

 This is a documented email communication between myself and one of our actors (Ezra Hjalmarsson), I asked him if he'd like to be involved and cast for our opening title sequence and explained the role he would play and also the story slightly so that was properly informed of the importance of his character. 

Ezra was our first choice for this role. (The role of the abuser) And I was very happy he agreed to be involved. Now we have to work out a shoot date, that he can make. Our whole schedule will revolve around his schedule dominantly. Because we can't loose him as a cast member. 

22-04-21 lesson- emails to cast

 

In todays lesson we discussed the cast list and contacted our actors. We asked them to confirm their availibility on that day.  

There is a possibility our date might change, because there is a slight chance Ezra who plays the abuser might not be availeble on that day. 

But so far the date for the shoot is on the 10th of May. 

now we are just waiting for them to get back to us and confirm. 

studio workshop with Matt

 Today we had another workshop with Matt in the studio. This time we were already more familiar with the equipment and camera so we moved on to filming a few sequences. We talked a little bit about the film etiquette and rules while filming a scene. (with a film crew/director/actors)

 

 

Director says STANDBY...then crew says Standing by…Crew is ready to workand start filming… the actors get ready to perform the scene.. the set goes silent.

 

Phrases that are used while filming on set:

“Standby”

“Standing by”

“Roll camera” 

“Rolling”

Director gives a bit of time space

“Action”

Director gives a bit of time space

“Cut”

 

Then we spoke about the rule of thirds and the 180mdegrees rule that we apply while filming. We keep the camera within the 18 degree range - just filming from one side of the subject.

 

 

 

Scenes that are hard to film:

-eating 

-drinking

-sunsets

-board games

-shots with children

-shots with animals 

 

 

There has to be a lot of clear communication between the crew/actors/director while filming. 

 

 

Before filming we have to make sure we set up the camera. Focus/ and set up depth of field.

 

Normally the time while shooting is expensive.

If we watch back footage, then we double the time durance in the studio.

Most film cameras can’t usually be even played back.

Also it’s good the actors don’t see footage while filming, so they can’t overthink how they look when they are acting out the scene.

If in doubt, rather film another take/reshoot the scene.

 

Then we created and filmed a couple sequences with our group.

One was of me walking towards a coat hanger and putting on a jacket.

The second one was of Sarah walking towards a chair with a book. She picks up the book and goes through it. 

The third one was of Pandora lifting up a sight and carrying it to another spot.

Camera Workshop with Matt

 In today’s lesson we left our regular class room and moved over into the studio next door for the first time. Matt talked about the tripods cameras that are used in the media/film industry and how they work and also how people use them.

We all got to touch the equipment and familiarise ourselves with it also practically. 

This is the tripod that we positioned the camera on top of. 

It has 3 legs on which the head of the camera goes on. Each of the three legs has two locks: one on the bottom and one at the top. (6 locks - 3 top 3 bottom)

The tripod also has a spirit level and a pan handle which we use to rotate and tilt the camera into our desired position. (from the side or tilt- tighten handle with a lock to stay in place)- pan/tilt locks.

 

We also learned how to ‘bubble’ a tripod - 1 quarter turn with lock to hold in place- this technique allows us to position the tripod straight thanks to the spirit level. 

 

A ‘black magic mini ursa’- is the case for the camera, and the additional equipment. 

 

This is the camera that we learned to use in today’s lesson.

The first thing we did, was that we slid the camera on to the tripod, thanks to the camera tripod shoe. 

We have to press the button on left side and slide on camera away from ourselves. Then swap grip and tighten up the lock on the side. 

...and reversed to take off. 

 

We should always check tripod before sliding camera on, so there is no damage. 

 

A ‘V lock’ is the battery for the camera.– This powers up the camera and allows it to function.

 

LENS

Zoom out/in for shot

focus with small ring on lens 

Zoom big front ring on lense

 

Shuttle 

Aperture

Exposure

-Are all adjusted with the blue adapter on lens. 

 

Man-made light/ natural light (camera doesn’t notice the difference on its own) we have to adjust WHITE BALANCE (to outdoor light)

-different coloured lights / blue - orange

 

We did all these examples in practical demonstrations. This lesson was a very successful learning point. 

LOCATION

 

-What do we need?

We have 3 locations: a train station, Hurtwood main house, the balcony in the main house. 

We have to plan for the locations to be vacated and staged before we start filming

 

 

 

-What have we done to organise this?

We have to check with the schools leading staff that we will be able to film there during the day, then we have to make sure we will be allowed to film at the train station . 

 

 

-Why have we made this choice? How do these reflect the genre and tone of our opening sequence?

We chose these locations, because of their accessibility. It also works very well because we don’t have to change between locations that are far away from ache other, this gives us more time to film. We did consider other locations, but because of COVID their weren’t accessible/available. We thought about renting an indoor pool/ a showroom kitchen/sitting room we also considered using other Hurtwood boarding houses to use for filming, but they didn’t fit the style/theme. 

 

COSTUME

 

-What do we need?

We need normal realistic clothing for all the characters.

 

The driver: -he will be wearing professional attire, suitable to his job. He will wear a black suit, shirt and sunglasses.

 

The abuser: -he will be dressed very casually, possibly too casual than expected. For example a loose T-shirt in a neutral colour and khaki coloured pants. and sandals. 

 

The victim girl: -she wears her ‘Sundays best’. She is in her best/smart clothes that she owns. We can still see that she isn’t very wealthy. She could be wearing a women tight shirt and a pencil skirt with dress shoes. And she also wears glasses and carries a suitcase.

 

The chaperone girl: -she is wearing very sexual clothing, that is age inappropriate but the clothes look expensive. She is wearing a strap to that gives her big cleavage. she is also wearing a short mini skirt with dress shoes. or she could be wearing a tight body con dress that has a big cleavage and heels. 

-What have we done to organize this?

 

we are going to decide who's costume and what we are going to bring. or if we don't own some parts of the costumes we will order them online a split the cost between us. We also might ask some relatives or friends to help us with putting the costumes together.

-Why have we made this choice? How do these reflect the genre and tone of our opening sequence?

The costumes we chose reflex the social statuses of the characters. It also shows their profession like for example the drivers costume. The costumes are very realistic and non fictional.

PROPS

  

-What do we need?

 

We will need a car. We will most likely be using our headmasters car which is a Porsche Cayenne in black. This car will be used for transport of the two young girls in the sequence. They will be driven by a driver (who is going to be played by our media teacher Adam).

 

 

-What have we done to organize this?

 

We discussed all kinds of options and alternatives. We thought about using my dad’s car, my own car… but they weren’t size accommodable. The cameras wouldn’t fit in properly. We then thought about renting a bigger car for the day from a car rental, but none fit the image and it was impractical. So we decided to ask our headmaster to borrow us his car for the day. 

 

 

-Why have we made this choice? How do these reflect the genre and tone of our opening sequence?

 

The car has to be a specific model. And quite expensive, because it has to fit an image of a filthy rich old man. And that he can easily afford a driver in a Porsche picking up two girls on an ordinary day. 

 

 

Test shoot video

camera/directed - by me

actors: Maia, GT, Pandora

editing: by me/Pandora