Critical Evaluation of Module

This module had been a brilliant experience, and I have learnt a great deal about film production.

Pre-Production

This was the most difficult process out of the three stages of production.  Constant update email exchange, phone calls and long car journeys are tiring mentally and physically. Although it was difficult I enjoyed it greatly, communicating with others in the film business and negotiating arrangement with minimal resources and a strict deadline. I feel I have developed many of my existent skill and learnt a few more. I communication skills have developed along with my confidence to approach others and express my needs simply, clearly and in a professional manner. First appearances are everything and by coming across as confident and knowing exactly what you want it helps process run smoother.  My ability to write emails and use grammar effectively to came across as a mature professional has become a valuable asset thanks to this process as it is a transferable skill. I have learnt the importance of time management, which means meeting deadlines but also being flexible whenever possible to work around others schedules for example actors, hotel bookings and construction work. Patience and listening skills have been an important factor as this is a group process and I have learnt to be understanding and take on board others views, ideas and needs.  My script writing abilities as a writer has grown and I feel confident to pursue writing more stories, knowing that you can make a story for a germ of an idea. I loved the feeling of seeing my writing come alive on screen and learning how others interpret the story and ring their unique perspective to the table. This journey has helped me find the role I wish to pursue as a career, producing.

Production

The two days of production were hectic but enjoyable. It really put into perspective the purpose of pre-production and why organisation is so important in film making. The waiting and build up to the day is the most agonising but once the first shot is taken it gets more comfortable and easier. We had very limited time and room to compose and record the shots we needed. This would be the time to show ourselves and the rest of the cast and crew how professional we can be with the facilities’ and equipment given.  I felt this stage of production was where the most stress arises and conflict in egos , about responsibilities and work done. We managed to overcome our little difference for the sake of the film. Production was by far the most physically exhausting stage of production starting at calling at 7am and wrapping coming home at 12am, it was important to make sure everyone was fed and rested ready for the next day.  I did learn that actors are far more patience and understanding than I had expected, we treated them with respect which brought out the best in their performance which was beneficial for both parties.  I think I embraced my role very well and completed my responsibilities to the best of my abilities without over stepping the boundaries of the rest of the group’s roles.  I was disappointed that we had to rush which resulted in missing some that’s that would have padded out the film nicer but it’s a learning experience. I was constantly learning every minute of this production and I think I will improve greatly every film I make.

Post Production

I felt strange once post production commenced as we had taken a week’s break after the short finished and after spending weeks engaged in preparing for the shoot I felt kind of empty. But once the editing process began I was busy overlooking the edit and collecting all the materials needed to ensure the film is legally sound. It’s hard to maintain the pace you originally start with but once the film starts forming the motivation returns. I have really built and appreciation of how important every role is no matter how small even if it is just making tea.  I am extremely proud of our film and hope others enjoy it as much as we had fun making it.

Reflection on Interim Crit

The inerim-crit went quite well. I admit the preparation wasnt great due reading information late. I thought it would be my group talking to Steve and Clifton but we were showcasing to the class. This was batter as it gave me a chance to see others works and give constructive feedback and so could they. I was rushing a little attempting to find a cable for Luke’s Mac but it got sorted in time. I must remember to prepare well in advance for future showings taking into consideration technical issues. The feedback we received was positive apart from some minor details such as audio levels and timing of cuts which can be altered easily. A few people had some difficulty understanding the final expression on Naveen’s face due to is ambiguous nature, unfortunately we cannot change this but it is a lesson for future projects go give clear direction in the script and during principal photography. George our runner on the project mentioned that he felt film was slightly claustrophobic and could do with some more two-shots and emphasize the size of the room more. This was great feedback and we will defiantly see what we can do in the edit to solve the issue.  Also looking back at the film I realised we forgot to credit the storyboard artist. I was pleased to see our work was among the best in the year and others felt the same, all the hard work had paid off so far. There is still a lot of work to be done and a few finishing touches such as adding a film grain and burning to DVD/ Blu-Ray.

Film Festivals

I am confident that the film is of festival standards and hope to enter into, initially student festivals and if the feedback is good then progress on bigger festivals.  The major problem with student film festivals are you need to be under 18 years if age to enter. There are a few that allow above this age but require some detailed research. We have missed the deadline for majority of summer festivals but the winter ones are available.  Some of the festivals I have found are

http://www.yifta.co.uk – The Young Independent Film and Television Awards is a Film Festival recognising those who have created outstanding work amongst students in the West Midlands. This Film Festival gives you the chance to showcase your work to industry professionals and maybe at the same time, collect an award for all your hard work.

Entry Requirements :

• All Entries must be from people living in the WEST Midlands
• You must be under the age of 35 to enter
• Entries must have been made within the last 2 years
• It cannot have been broadcast on TV
• It cannot be a previous winning entry of the YIFTA Awards
• Deadline 30th April

http://www.cam-era.org -  The Cambridge International Student Film Festival is the first explicitly international student-led film festival in the UK. From June 18th-20th, it will bring together student film-makers, industry professionals, and enthusiasts from all over the world to showcase short films and celebrate new talent in a three-day film fest of extraordinary proportions

Entry Requirements :

• 30 minutes or less
• 5GB or less
• Stored in .mp4, .mov or .avi format
• Encoded in the aspect ratio which you intend for it to be watched in.
• Made by a student and completed no earlier than 1st of January, 2009
• In English or subtitled in English
• Original sound/soundtrack (i.e. do not include any copyrighted material)

If the films is succesful in smaller festivals we hope to submit to established festivals such as;

http://www.leedsfilm.com/default.aspx

Entry Requirements :

• Films must be submitted to the Film Festival by Friday 20th August 2010.
• The film must have been completed after 1st January 2009.
• Any genre and any length of film will be considered – anything under 45 minutes is classified as a short, anything over 45 minutes is classified as a feature.
• The film must not have appeared on British television.

These are but a few festivals, and there are many more we are qualified to enter. I am positive the more we promote this film the better we will establish ourselves in the film community. We hope that word of mouth and advertising will also help the film reach a larger audience.

Distribution

This is the poster [ABOVE] we will be using to promote the film at the degree show, online and externally. It is very simple and eye-catching. The font is easy to read and the colours compliment each other, although  I had fears the red may give the impression of horror, thriller another genre but in context with the image it works fine.  I chose to use a plain black background as to keep focus on the characters and create a sense of stereotype around their relationship, which will change once they view the film. The date 1st of June is when we will start showcasing it at the Degree Show. Further details will be added one we have the venue, times sorted and finalised.

Our intent is to showcase the film on Hi-Def Blu-Ray as the film was shot in 1080p, we feel the clarity will make the film enjoyable and really brings out the colours. In terms of distribution if the film is a good as we hope we intend to distribute via DVD’s and prehaps in 16mm for serious film festivals. We understand that DVD is mainstream method of distribution but in recent years Blu-Ray had become industry standard for Hi-Def, I feel it gives it a professional look will be taken seriously amongst the film community. From research DVD is cheaper to create and distribute but for the purpose of a few copies, Blu-Ray feels like a good investment.

This is the DVD/Blu-Ray cover we will use to send to film festivals and submit for the final project. Again it’s simple, elegant and provides all the necessary information. There are not copyright material on the cover so it’s fine to share and showcase.

Editing

Curtis will be editing the film as he as the greatest experience in the area. I will not have any physical effect on the editing process but I will ensure it is done on time, and the tone of the film is true to its conception. Our intention was to edit using the University facilities but true to form the University machines broke and had to be sent back to Apple.  We adapted and are now using Luke’s Mac Book Pro with Final Cut Pro using my room as an editing suite. We have linked the Macbook  to my HDTV and are using at an external monitor for faster editing.

Since the sound was recorded on an external sound device Curtis had to match the sound with the correct video clips. Since we used a clapper-board this made the process easier as it was in chronological order of date created.  I was present when making some crucial choices on shots for example we had intended to use a jib shot to show a character receiving a phone call. unfortunately this shot could not be cut to work with the next shot, so after attempting to splice the movement half way and it failing we discarded the shot. Although it was a shot we were all proud of we had to discard it for the greater good, which did not affect the film as greatly as I had anticipated.  The edit process is always hard from editing a script to discarding shots but I have learnt it’s part fo the process and often is beneficial to the project.

Editing requires a lot of patience and attention to detail. I found it reassuring watching Curtis edit as he was very strict about cuts and always double checks every aspect of the edit.  I had slight worries as we have delayed the edit for some time and I understand that the grading process takes a great deal of time to render. I have been reassured by Curtis that he will have it finished on time. The audio levels had to be synced with the music we were using by Lee Mitchell, his track worked beautifully with the final scene as the lyrics were  parallel to the actions and emotions we were attempting to convey. Me and Luke  recorded some folio of the mobile phone vibrating and a door closing as we felt they were not as clear as we liked, this attention to deal is what we feel makes the film believable and engaging.

We found a few problems with continuity and realised that a few shots were missing due to the rush on the second day of principal photography, which would have made the story a little more obvious but we hope the current edit will still work. As I explained previously the next project I do, I will leave plenty of time for pickups and room for error. There a few problems we have sorted in this process of post-production such as the stabilising the very first shot as it was filmed without a tripod due to the time constraint. We managed to stabilise it and it looks fine now, we also have to create motion mask for some reflections in the window of crew and cover the Nokia logo to avoid copyright infringement.

Pre Colour Correction and Grade                                                     Post Colour Correction and Grade

The colour correction and grading process has been the most difficult in the editing process as none of us have any experience and we did not think earlier to hire an experienced colourist. So we had to research and try to the best of our abilities. We had the appropriate software just not the knowledge of how to use them effectively. Considering we a new to the process I belive we have done a very competent job. Just by correcting the colour it made the characters look vibrant and alive as oppose to pale and flat. Some scenes appear green and over creamy but Curtis managed fix it in FCP. By adding a subtle film grain effect it gave an authentic film look and I feels makes the viewing experience the little bit better. Its far easier on the eyes and engages the audience further, after all movies are a visual experience.

Music

I am looking  at acquiring a track for the films final scene. During the rehearsal I choose the track Re:Stacks  by Bon Iver

I felt it suited the tone and pace of the film, and we as a group decided it should be used in the film. I have never gone through the process of acquiring licensed music for a film before, so using my initiative I began by looking t the Artists web site (http://www.boniver.org) It has a contacts section with the UK distribution label 4AD (http://www.4ad.com). The 4AD site had a licensing page (http://licensing.beggars.com) with the types of licensing they offer;

Option 1 – Non-Exclusive Compilation Request  – You can apply online to use one or more of our tracks on a compilation release of your own.

Option 2 – Non-Exclusive Master Use Request  – Please download and complete this form if you wish to licence a track for a Movie/ TV Film/ Short Film/ Film Festival/ TV Programme/ Commercial or Internet use.

Option 3 - Non-Exclusive Master Use Request for Non-Commercial Student Usage – Please download and complete this form if you wish to licence a track for Non-Commercial Student use.

We required option 2 which costs £400 (For students we grant a gratis educational usage and for film festivals our standard rate is £400 both of which are limited to a one year licence) and with was far beyond our budget.  Although it would have been great to use the track I am certain we can find a cheaper alternative. I was surprised to learn how simple the process of acquiring for music can be, well for independent labels at least. It’s a matter of trying and learning from this first attempt, I think I will be more confident to approach bigger labels next time.

My next step was contacting people I knew personally who have experience in composing music. The first was Nicholas Peters (http://www.myspace.com/nicholaspeters1986) who composed the music for my last project Convexity and did a terrific job, unfortunately his schedule was full and cold not commit to our project.  The second was a friend, Mike LaRosa who played acoustic as a hobby and has some great talent. Mike sent me a sample the next day;

This track worked well and I was about to arrange and studio session when Luke found this track.

Luke has gained permission and I will get the proper legal form to acquire the track for short film license. I think the track is perfect and so do the rest of the group, except Az who has concerns but I am certain once he has seen a cut with the music he will change his mind.

Refelction on Group

I thought it would be a good idea to reflect on the group both the positive and negative aspects of our relationship, so we can all develop through this production.

Luke – I have worked well with Luke on all aspects of the production and we have maintained strong communication throughout the  production. I feel we work well together as he is patient polite and expresses and problems directly so it can be solved. speaking as a producer he has helped push the project forward when I was sometimes disheartened. His technical skill has always surpassed my expectation and feel he has made great strides every step of the way. His ability of improvise and think around difficult situations is a fantastic asset. I think Luke can improve in his self-confidence when it comes to making decisions.

Azizur -  Az started on the project very enthusiastic and motivated, but I felt this was lacking toward the end of the project. He began by writing his own version which I thought was good practice and helped generate some important ideas to the story. Unfortunately he was not present when some crucial decisions were made and actions taken, so he fell behind. I understand that It was my responsibility to inform him of the progress but I am certain Luke informed him. He is a hard worker and patient but I feel he really needs to speak out about problems instead of expressing them after a choice is made.  I think Az needs to find an area of production and really focus to develop in that area so people can understand his skills and abilities.

Curtis – Curtis has not been involved greatly in the pre-production process, he has contributed to minor elements of the story but had been reserving his ability for the production process. I could have delegated more tasks but I personally like to organize and keep documents in one area so things to not get confusing and end up with contradicting information. He did do an excellent job directing and obtaining all the shot we needed. I am sure he will make up his share of the work in post production, but I feel he needs to contribute more all round on small projects such as this and develop his work routine.

Myself – I think I have done well so far in the project and maintained a professional manner. I feel I need to manage my nerves more in stressful situation so I can stay calm and focused, as this may cause unnecessary tension. I feel I should have delegated tasks evenly and keep the group informed more. Over all I have managed to get the project moving on good time to a professional level.

Shoot Day 2

Today was about speed and efficiency as we had strict deadline for 9pm as the talent had to catch the train home or out expense would double. We began efficiently as the equipment was left over at the location so setting up time was halved. We started with picking up shots from the first day by blocking out light to simulate the time period we wanted. Shot turnover was much quicker and task were performed to a stronger degree as we knew exactly what was expected of us. Yesterdays shoot took a little time for people to adjust to their roles and really get to terms with the speed and quality of work required from each of us.  I found that our detailed shot list was a great help and time saver as it we knew exactly what we needed and could progress according to the list. All those weeks of hard work in pre-production was paying off in a big way, creatively and logistically. Although we were told not to use the JVC 700 on the jib provided, Luke and I had experimented in safe condition and found it work fine. Thanks to this initiative and planning we managed to capture some diverse shots. On reflection we belive the reason they discourage us was that it required extra work to unscrew and replace parts safely, which some people may not be capable of. I feel it was a good choice for us to experiment and push the barriers a little.

Food became and issue for me as I felt we needed more breaks but the rest of the cast and crew were fine to continue for longer period without breaks. I was pleased that the crew and cast felt strongly about completing the film even thought it required some personal difficulty.  I am aware that food is supposed to be provided every six hours minimum but the cast and crew were fine without. High temperatures and a strict deadline causes some tension but we managed very well. I found myself becoming stressed at times, due to fatigue but attempted to keep clear-headed. There was no disagreement with the creative direction of the shoot which meant Curtis has everybody support and no disputes occurred.

There were times the pace dropped as people were side tracked and needed to be reminded of the deadline and to focus. A polite reminder got people back on track and boosted motivation. I understood that there would be moments of joking but if people stand around wasting valuable time they need to be made aware of this without being a harsh. I also learnt that people often take things the wrong way and as a producer I may ned to develop a tolerance for bad responses.

We began the exterior shoot at 7.30pm  batteling the rain, wind and traffic noise. Our first problem was the track was missing the centre component but thanks to Luke’s clear-headed approach we managed to use a poll from the backdrop frame to solve the issue. The rain was not severe but we took great precautions in protecting the camera and equipment, all electrical cables were also kept out of the rain.  We used a photography backdrop with a with a white sheet to simulate moonlight which worked out brilliantly, thanks to Luke’s creative thinking and planning. The only problem this caused was, the wind kept blowing it down so there had to be a person attending it at all times, which was not an issue as we had plenty of hands on set.  We had purchased two planks of wood earlier and they did exactly was we planned, acting as an even source to place the rack on. Thanks to the location recce and planning we accomplished a technically great shot, safely as possible.

It was tight shoot for time but we managed to get all the footage we needed. Expenses were paid and gratitude exchanged to wrap up a fantastic shoot. I found it a great experience and learnt more in these 12 weeks than the 8 terms at University, hands on experience had a greater effect than sitting in a classroom. I have gained some valuable contacts and found a crew of people who I would be more than happy to work with on future projects. I have learnt to aim reasonably high and always be optimistic and surely I will achieve the target at hand.

Shoot Day 1

An early start for myself as the producer I had to gather all the required paperwork and ensure cast and crew were all clear of where and what time to be for the shoot.  I had sent out the paperwork with the required information but there was still a little concern in my mind. My major concern was collecting the hair dye for Ashwin but could not find a suitable product, there was no black colour for temporary hair dye. Ashwin could not use permanent as his next job required him to have grey hair so, I did not panic and decided to just move on.  The problem was solved later down the shoot when Natalie used Mascara to cover the greys which was not a brilliant solution but did help greatly in covering the greys.

The collecting of the equipment from the loan shop was not pleasant as they were rushing, and unhelpful which caused problems later in the shoot. They gave us the wrong reflector and an essential component for the track was missing ( the centre frame). The reflector was not a major concern but if we had needed greatly it would have been a problem as the reflection material had been torn all over the reflector. The track was also not a problem thanks to Luke’s calm and quick thinking, we used a component from a photography frame to replace the missing track frame which worked fine. I was thrilled as if had not solved this problem we would have not been able to complete a vital shot. I learnt from Luke to stay calm and think clear when faced with problems and there will surly be a solution.

All was going to plan which was reflection of how well I had communicated information. The crew began setting up which took longer than expected but once equipment was set we still waited another 20 minutes for make-up.  Since I had not prior experience with the make up artists process, I underestimated the time it would take which caused the waiting around. I now have a rough idea which will help on further projects. Also If I choose to use Natalie again, I will be familiar with her process and style, making the production process simpler.

It was slow start but once we had taken a few shots the pace began to speed. I was constantly aware of the time and reassuring that everybody was happy with the conditions. Although assigned as producer I was also clapper operator and assisted in setting up lights. In such a small production it is essential to share roles to stay on schedule. I admit I was a reluctant to do smaller tasks to begin with but overcame my ego for the good of the project. I have found that even a such a low-level of production there are clashes of egos and personalities, the way to solve this is to be patient and always think carefully about how this will affect the film and the atmosphere on set.

Lighting was a problematic factor for a few shots as the course has not tought us anything beyond static 3-point lighting. Although Luke had researched into lighting without hands on practice it is difficult to execute. Remaining patient and knowing when to make a shot redundant is a skill that has become apparent during the course of this production. I was always on the alert of the actors emotions as we were setting up shots,  to see if they were getting impatient or uncomfortable, especially in a compact, hot environment. We ensured that the actors were resting out of the production room when they were not needed. This was to keep them happy and get a greater performance.

Health and safety was mine personal concern had we were in a confined space with extremely hot lights and wires everywhere. I was constantly on the look out for problems and kept referring to the risk assessment as the production progressed. By ensuring we took breaks and keeping the talent happy awareness and performance was at its best. The crew safety and moral is also important, I think a lot of us felt the stress, hunger and fatigue of the long, hot shoot. I am grateful and applaud their patience and commitment.

Myself and Luke had arrived at home about 12.00am (after sorting equipment and ensuring everyone got home safley) tired but ready for the next day.

Preperation for Shoot Day

I am very nervous at this moment and have been double checking all aspects of the production. I am confident that we are prepared as a group and as long as we maintain a strong communication the filming should be a success with minimum problems. I have sent out call sheets, cast and crew contact information and location information. I have had confirmation of everyone’s attendance and transport has been sorted. Below is a compilation of paperwork we have assembled to prepare for the shoot.

I feels as though the pre-production stage is complete after weeks of hard work. It has been difficult and stressful having to compile several components together for just 2 days. I have enjoyed the interaction so far and have really developed my skills and feel more confident about approaching new projects. There have been let downs and some people not pulling their weight but there is still time produce a brilliant film. The most difficult aspect has been finding a location as it is time-consuming and expensive, but I am happy with the choice we have made.  I feel as though it has been difficult keeping my moral high as it felt like a steep climb some times but we have overcome most difficulties.

On the actual shoot I imagine stress levels will be high due to time constraints. We need to keep energy levels high and make sure people are fed on time to ensure we are all working at 100%. I am excited and nervous and I know the days will fly by so I must stay focus and make sure everyone is doing their roles.

These are the draft Call Sheets that me and Luke prepared for the two-day shoot. I finalised and typed them up before sending them out to cast and crew. The will give some structure to the shoot and inform the cast and crew of the time and place the shoot will take place with details of transport.