Training Wheels

I felt some what like I had jumped in at the deep end when we had our practical practice in the last workshop before filming weekend. I was a little unsure at first, slightly nervous but it was really productive and useful. I feel that because of this exercise I was able to get a feel of what my role during film production should be as stage manager and I think that all of the group benefited, as it helped us pull together as a team.

I didn't know what to expect, the class exercise gave me and the team an idea of what it would be like during filming, it felt really professional. It also made me realise just how organised I as stage manager needed to be. The class practice of course was different because we only got the shot list half an hour before filming and I didn't know how the shots were supposed to look, in so far as where the camera would be etc.

Preparing for Action!

After the meeting I started to think about my role as stage manager and what I would need to prepare for production. As the shot list was at this point incomplete I used the script to make lists for character costume, make up (if any) and props that would be needed. I then began to gather the needed materials so that we would be ready for filming weekend.

I also met up with the main actress at this point to check that she was available for the filming weekend. I went through the script with her, explaining her role within the film and the story and checked that she was still happy to act for us. We then discussed costume as it would be easier for her to bring her own clothes, and the shoes which luckily she had a pair of new ones that fitted in well with the story. This was better than looking for or buying a pair of shoes for the film as we didn't have much of a budget and they would also have to be her size.

I then spoke to the owner of the post office in person to ask if it would be possible for us to film there, I went through the part of the script with him so that he could see what we would be doing. He was very nice and agreed to let us film. I then checked what time would be best for them as they are quite busy over the weekend and we didn't want to disrupt their trade. After this I filled Abi in so that she could add it to the schedule.

I really felt like I was contributing, and I really look forward to seeing everything coming together when we film. Getting the props together, some of which I had to hand make, reminded me of when I went to The Lord of the Rings film convention in London some years ago. I remember seeing the sheer amount of props involved and being astounded at the intricate detail that went in to each prop, no matter how small. I've found that As The Clever Crow Flies blogged their experience of the convention, if you want to take a look-which I really recommend you can check it out here.

Thinking about how much work went into those props really motivated me to get descent props, it also made me appreciate the fact that I'm working on a much smaller film!

Pulling together

In the second production meeting we each brought with us our individual versions of the re-written screen play. We looked at each others and decided on a final draft. I feel proud to say that everyone liked my version decided to use it as the final draft with a few minor alterations. There was a bit of a debate over whether to use a voice over or not. We discussed different styles of voice over such as diary or narrator style. In the end we agreed that it probably wouldn't be needed, that we would be able to express the story without it but that it could possibly be added in post production if we still felt it was needed.

Ideas we scrapped from the original screenplay was the Wizard Of Oz references as we felt that it had no relevance to our plot, however we did like the style of filing in black and white with certain objects in colour.

We then discussed actors of which the producer Abi said she had found actresses for the minor roles, we then decided to use a friend of mine who had expressed a lot of interest in the part to play the character Clare.

Next we addressed the issue of locations. We went through the script and compiled a list of possible locations for each scene. Some of these we knew would be difficult to get permission from and others were in our own homes. I volunteered to try to get permission to film in my local post office to help out. Then we started to compile a shot list and an outline for the schedule.

I really enjoy working with the team that I'm in because everyone is very supportive and I feel that everyone is so far showing the same level of commitment. Even though none of us particularly like the original script we have been given everyone is pulling together to make some thing that we'll all be proud of.

Production Meeting

In the first production meeting we got into our filming teams and got to know each other, we decided on roles for our production. I decided to put myself forward for stage manager because other people in the group had more experience with filming and had done the practical module last year. Though I consider myself to have a good amount of practical knowledge I didn't feel confident enough to go for director or editor, I feel that by being stage manager I will have a good deal of responsibility but it will also enable me to come to grips with the production process with out too much pressure. I look forward to working with my team, I feel that our personalities mesh well together. I feel that I have enough practical knowledge to be a good stage manager from working in drama previously and having directed stage performances before.

We looked over the script together and thought about what direction we wanted to take the story in, we all agreed that we wanted to change the ending, that we wanted the character to develop more and change. We decided to each write our own versions of the screenplay, taking it in the generally agreed direction, and that the following week we would look at them all together and put together the final draft. I looked forward to this as it would give me another chance to get used to formatting and using Celtx, as well as giving creative input.

Celtx Review

I have found Celtx extremely helpful for our exercises in screenwriting. It's really easy to use and saves time. I particularly like the way that you can select text formats such as dialogue or scene heading, and then simply write! I really enjoyed re-formatting the Shoes script for class thanks to Celtx, I tried to do it without at first but it became very time consuming, via Celtx it took half the time.

Re-formatting a script was, I feel, a good exercise as it has helped me to familiarise myself with the software, so when I come to type up my own short script I won't be worrying too much over the formatting and will be able to concentrate on the story. Combined with the formatting hand out Celtx has made script writing a more enjoyable experience for me. I don't feel however that I have fully explored the software yet, so I plan to explore it more before I come to writing my own script.

Independent Lens

I found this site on a general Google browse for short films. The company has provided an online short film festival for independent filmmakers. This could be a good site to keep an eye on as it has a very eclectic variation of films entered in the festivals as you can see from the films I looked at.

'The Furniture' Tyler Measom

I watched the film called 'The Furniture'. The film was funny yet sinister at the same time, so black comedy I guess you could say. It was very short so the narrative wasn't very complex, about a guy whose fear of furniture trying to kill him actually leads to him running out in front of a car and getting killed.

I found it ironic, as it is his irrational fear that suggests by the end that the furniture really was trying to kill him. I personally enjoyed the film and feel that though short is was quite funny and thought provoking as it suggests that unless you stand up to your fear and over come it, it will eventually get the better of you.

'Pin Point' James Kim

This was an animated short about a girl at an orphanage where the owner is poisoning the children; the little girl takes revenge with voodoo. The main storyline is triggered when the girl sees the owner putting poison into the soup.
The end contrasts greatly with the beginning as at the start we see the girl sadly burying a friend with the owner/granny comforting her and caring for her. At the end of the film the relationship has completely changed between the two main characters as they are now bent on killing each other. The girl’s character changing from one of innocence to one of hate and revenge.

I liked this short, I found it engaging to watch and felt that it played slightly with views on animation and how they are usually directed at children and turned them around by making the child a heroine in a violent story of trust, betrayal and revenge. I feel that it echoed Tim Burton's style of slightly distorted animation, the darker side of childhood.

'Bullet Proof Vest' May Lin Au Yong

This is a short film that looks at gun crime and children and was the grand jury prize winner. I found it to be very moving. By using a voice over by two small children talking about guns in a very mature and almost scary way, run over the top of black and white clips of small children in Richmond, California, the producer of this short brings awareness to not only the extent of gun crime in Richmond but also to the extent in which it is effecting young children who have developed opinions and fears of their own on guns and gangs.

At the end there is a short subtitle on the statics of gun crime in Richmond and the stands of peace its residents have made. I enjoyed this film, I found it eye opening and felt that I had been given insight into a world that I would have otherwise never really been aware of.

It reminded me of Fernando Meirelles and Katia Lund's 'City of God' (2003) in the way that young children are introduced to guns and gangs at such a young age and how some of them want to break away from it, change it. The way the children’s aspirations are so much bigger than the world they live in. It had that same urban and raw feel to it, a real fight for survival.


I couldn't manage to actually embed any of the films I got from independent lens, they weren't on youtube, so here's a link to the page I found the films here.