Filming reviews

31/01/16

Today me and my dad (acting as the builder) went to his workshop in Thetford to get the footage of the builder at the builders site where he is going about his daily business and then uncovers an arm with the digger. 

• What worked well? 

Me and my dad got in really well which was great as we usually argue quite a lot and surprisingly he stayed serious throughout, this was helpful as it meant we could get things done effectively and quickly. Also, the location was just how I  wanted it so I didn't have to spend long setting up the area. Additionally, because I live with my dad we can communicate regularly and talk about my media video so he knew what to do when we got the the location therefore we were organised and both knew exactly what to do, such as what he had to act out etc. And having a clear idea in my head of what I wanted my film to look like meant I didn't have to send ages thinking of what shots and acting to get my dad to do, also by doing many different versions of footage from different angles meant that when I put the footage together I can use whatever worked best to get my film to look as good as possible and not have to go back and fourth to  the location to re film because Thetford is quite far away. 

• What didn't work so well?

My dad isn't an actor and has never had to act or been interested in acting, therefore it doesn't look as realistic as it could of if I  had someone who had a passion for acting. 

• Anything that might/does need to be re filmed?

As I took numerous different recordings of each thing my dad acted from different angles I should be okay with the footage I have because I can pick ones that works best and if one looks bad I have extra footage I can use instead. Also, I shouldn't need to re film anything because I watched all the footage back before leaving  to make sure it was perfect and just what I wanted. 

• Did everything run smoothly? 

Everything ran pretty smoothly other than the weather. We tried to get out to film as early and possible before it started to pour down with rain. However, we did get caught in the rain which made it hard to film as we had to wait for the rain to settle before we started filming again; as the camera kept getting wet! Although, the light rain and dampness of the ground and dark cloudy sky added to the atmosphere by creating a pathetic fallacy of the builders mood. I think it made it look more mysterious and suited the situation because if it was really sunny the atmosphere would feel too happy for the situation - a body being uncovered in the rubble. On the other hand, I was lucky there was little wind! I was worried it was going to be too windy to hear the actors speech but there was hardly any windy which was great and it wasn't obvious on the recordings. 

• Any ideas you are changing? 

Originally I planned on filming most of the footage from the characters point of view so that the audience fees like they're actually in the situation but when I got the location it wasn't so possible. Because I wanted to film from inside the digger as if the film is from the actors eyes as they control and move the digger and then the audience see what the actors sees as he discovers the arm, however there wasn't enough room in the digger to do so and when I tried to get my dad to film and drive at the same time the footage was all shaky, so I had to re think of how to film such as what other types of shots I could use. 

• Any ideas you got as you went along?

I followed my story board to an extent. I knew what I wanted to do and how I wanted it to look so I used my story board until the actor got into the digger because like I said above I was unable to film from inside the digger at the actors point of view so I had to change it. I also discovered my story board was a little brief so I added extra things in as I went along and my actor added in speech which I originally didn't want to include and therefore didn't include in the story board. 

03/02/16

Yesterday me and Kate filmed the scientist part of the film opening in one of the science labs at school. Mr Bavage was away and therefore unable to film that day but luckily Lee stepped in to play the role! Lee is one of the science technician's at our school. 

• What worked well?

I was really happy with how the filming went. It worked well how organised me and Kate where before filming. Before filming me and Kate sat down and came up with a prop list which included everything we needed in the film, this included stuff for an experiment such as sulphuric acid, test tubes and measuring cylinders and so on. We then handed this to one of the science technicians who was able to get everything set up for us on the day: this was helpful because we only had an hour to film, this meant we weren't rushed as we didn't have to spend ages rushing around to get props. Likewise, we thought a head and booked a science lab for the date and time we wanted which meant there was definitely a free class because last time we went to film there was not one free and we had to postpone the filming. In addition, we hadn't been in the lab we were filming in until the day and time we were filming this meant there was a risk the room wasn't suitable and I was worried there was not going to be a cupboard bigger enough of me (acting as the dead body) to lay in and fall out of as the scientist opened the cupboard doors, but when we got to the lab there was one that was just the right size which was great! 

• Anything that might/does need to be re filmed?

Once we got back to the classroom and watched the footage back on the computer we realised that there wasn't quiet enough footage to be a minute long, also as we filmed lots of short clips we realised they didn't all fit together and flow, for example one minute the scientist was lighting a Bunsen burner and the next he was opening the cupboard with the dead body in without even showing him walking across to the cupboard, this looked a bit strange! Due to this, we got back in touch with Lee and we are going to film some more footage. We will film the scientist walking from the side where he is doing his experiment across to the cupboard and then a close up of his face to film his reaction as he uncovers the dead body because at the moment it just end with the dead body lying there and he doesn't look shocked or scared, which looks really fake and unrealistic. 

• Did everything run smoothly? 

Filming the scientist didn't run as smoothly as the builders footage. Because Dr Bavage was unable to be the actor and that stressed me out because I had to quickly find another adult to take his role. Also, in the classroom there was little space to move about unlike the builders location as there were desks and chairs everywhere, this meant that there wasn't many spaces to put the tripod to get a good angle. Due to this we had to film by hand and it meant the footage wasn't so still. Also when we tried to film the scientist doing his experiment on the work surface the tripod was to high and therefore we had to stack trays that were in the classroom to get the right height which wasn't so practical or professional!

• Any ideas you are changing? 

There no ideas we are changing. I'm really happy with the footage but like said above we are going to film so extra footage.

• Any ideas you got as you went along?

Kate and I mainly followed the story board that we previously created, we didn't really change or come up with any new ideas whilst filming. Other than we added in a short recording over the scientists shoulder of him measuring acid into a measuring cylinder.