Filming Journal 3: Final Day of Filming

Filming Journal 3 - Final Day of Filming:

On the final day of filming, we filmed all of the interior bedroom shots that make up the 'Flashback Scene'. This section of filming required only two members of the cast; the male and female protagonists. We decided to film the shots in chronological order due to the fact that a large proportion of the shots consisted of 'montage'- like pans and tracking shots, that could be filmed first with ease before considering the more complex-shots such as writing on the Polaroid. The Polaroid shots were deemed more complex due to the need for continuity, whereas the montage shots are highly sporadic and spontaneous. 

Within our risk assessment, we had noted that the interior bedroom location had very small dimensions, thus, making it difficult to film in due to the limited space. This had a profound impact on attempting to frame the shot of the couple walking through the door together and after attempting several takes I decided to cut the shot, as I felt it didn't appear visually interesting, nor very naturalistic. 

To ensure the performance of the couple was realistic I directed the actors to begin having a humorous conversation before the camera was rolling and instructed them to gradually move closer to one another. I began filming halfway through their conversation, by which time the actors were more comfortable with one another, which made their reactions more genuine. 

As we were also filming shots of the following day within this location, it was also a priority to utilize lighting in order to decipher time of day. In order to establish low-key night-time lighting, we closed the shutters, reducing natural lighting exposure. The use of only a sole lamp light provided a soft, mellow and warm-toned lighting to the mise-en-scene, creating a homely feel which alluded to the fact that the lovers felt at home with one another. The use of only the lamp also cast shadows of the actors upon the wall, something that was particularly aesthetically appealing when the female protagonist gets out of bed, casting her moving shadow over her sleeping lover. 

Filming Journal 2: Second Location

Filming Journal 2 - Second Location:

On the second day of filming, we decided to film a multitude of different segments of our music video, as this was one of the only day's that our actors were available. This was particularly effective as it meant we were more productive throughout the day, as we knew that this was our only opportunity to film. We filmed at two different locations, with a tight schedule to ensure we filmed before it got dark in the afternoon; as we weren't prepared to film in the darkness due to the reduction in quality this would precipitate for our video due to overlaid noise. In the morning we filmed at Twyford Train Station and in the afternoon we filmed in Windsor High Street and in various locations around the town. For the shoot, I took the role of Director, Camerawoman and First AD which I evidenced by creating a call sheet that was emailed to all of the actors prior to the shoot. It also included our shot list, and a brief description of each shot and the encompassing movements.

CALL SHEET:

After checking with our male protagonist, we decided to change our call time to 11:00 am which meant we had a longer period of time to film at the 'Train station'. However, shooting finished earlier than expected which meant the shoot was ahead of time, allowing more time for the later, more complex, shots in Windsor.

Filming went smoothly, and we decided to film extra coverage shots of each of our base shots in case when previewing our rushes, we were unhappy with certain shots. Similarly, we went to Windsor town centre to film extra montage footage for the cutaways. We also adapted several shots on-location to ensure they were as effective and professional as possible. A prime example of this is the POV pan upward shot of the clue, which prior to this was an extreme close-up, combined with a zoom outward to reveal the location. The practicalities of filming this shot were ineffective, as using an extreme close-up meant the footage appeared grainy as it was difficult to focus the writing on the clue from such a close angle. 

Exemplary Footage From the Day:

Filming Journal 1: Overcoming Issues With Locations

Filming Journal 1 - Overcoming Issues With Locations:

NORDEN FARM:

Initially, when discussing potential locations for filming the lip-syncing performance shots, the most desirable location was Norden Farm, a local theatre, that would adhere to the convention of indie music videos whereby bands are shown to be performing on a large stage in front of a crowd. I decided to email Norden Farm's Administration team asking if we could have permission to film within the theatre. However, after receiving an email from them, we found out that we would be required to pay a hiring fee of £90 and due to our limited budget, we would not be able to afford it. Below is the email correspondence between myself and Robyn (Education Leader) and the Norden Farm Admin Team.

CALL SHEET:

This is the Call Sheet I created for the first day of filming; fulfilling the role of a First AD. The call sheet includes the unit call and wrap times, locations, our base in case of emergency, the cast being filmed and which shots are being filmed in what order. This was sent to the cast in advance to ensure they knew the where it was we were filming and at what time. We initially planned to film in the Drama Studio. 

DRAMA STUDIO:

We then discussed the option of using our School's Drama Studio. The practicalities of using this location meant it was an incredibly viable choice to use for the close-up lip-syncing shots, as due to the predominantly tight framing you wouldn't be able to see the majority of the studio; thus concealing the fact that it has been filmed in a school. The studio was also very appealing to film in as:

• It gave us the ability to utilize the spotlights and floodlights within the studio. This would increase the aesthetic professionalism of our video, as the clarity of the actors within the frame would be increased, highlighting the passion in their faces as they perform. From studying Real Media Artefacts, light motifs such as bright lighting or LED lighting are frequently used to create high-key lighting within the mise-en-scene of the dimly lit sets used within videos such as 'Soundcheck by Catfish and the Bottlemen'. Therefore this is a convention that I believe is important to adhere to.
• Due to the proximity of the Drama Studio on site, it would be easy for us to collect the instruments and transport them to the Drama Studio. 
• The black background of the studio connotes the rebellious and dark colorations typically used in the indie genre. 

Exemplary footage from the Drama Studio

LOG CABIN:

We decided to film the lip-syncing cutaway shots first and I created a call sheet, that was sent round to our actors, to ensure we knew exactly what we were doing on location to maximise our time. We decided contacted our actors using social media, Whatsapp in particular, to ensure they were aware of when we were filming and the required costumes. We also sent Ben, our lead singer the lyrics so he could learn them prior to the shoot, increasing the quality of his performance. However, we faced an immediate problem as despite having permission to film in the Drama Studio, we could only stay there until the closure of the school. This left us a very limited amount of time to film and therefore we didn't capture enough footage, nor coverage shots. To overcome this problem, our lead actor offered us the opportunity to film in his log cabin. This was a highly lucrative solution, as he lives within close proximity to the school and was able to use his car to transport the instruments from the Drama Studio to his house. We managed to film extra coverage shots as well as the basis tracking shots we had on the storyboard. The shots included various tracking shots and a long shot of the entirety of the band performing to the song. We played the track through a loud-speaker which increased the atmosphere and morale within the crew due to the infectious upbeat rhythm which we all danced too. This was helpful after setbacks we faced previously, as it slightly diminished overall mood. As a Director and First AD, I strove to keep a highly positive attitude and instill enthusiasm, which I believe was effective. 

Exemplary Footage from the Log Cabin

• The Log Cabin was a lucrative location as the wooden texture in coherence with the prop instruments within the mise-en-scene, makes the video appear to have a homemade feel to it; looking as if the band are rehearsing in their own space. This links to the convention that indie music videos focus on the authenticity of their bands and the passion for the music. The high-key warm toned lighting casts shadows on the walls.
• This location was less than a five minute walk away from our first location and our lead singer kindly offered to load the drum kit into his car and drive it to the location, whilst the rest of us walked with the remaining instruments. This saved us a lot of time and meant we could maximise our filming time within the new location. 

When we arrived at the log cabin our actors also kindly helped us to set up the instruments and move furniture out of the way. To ensure we were following our risk assessment, we made sure that everyone knew how to safely lift furniture and checked no one was lifting anything too heavy; this meant we successfully worked together to ensure everything was safe. Our actors also helped us set up our lighting, which can be evidenced below.