Production diary content

 

• What was your role in pre-production and what did you do?

In pre-production, I was in the Production design team so I was responsible for designing and making the incubus. I had the job of assembling all the materials and gluing it onto the incubus, I was responsible for spray painting parts of the incubus. My main job was adding all the electronics and lights. I also had to make the animation for the green screen parts of the film. So, my job is to Model the scene, texture all the objects, animate it then finally render to add to the film.

• How well prepared do you feel we were for the shoot? Explain.

The Helmet was only completed the day before the shot so I was worried it might break or the lights won’t work on set. I was pretty much ready but wasn’t too sure what I would be doing on set.

• What was your role on the shoot?

I was told on the day of the shot I would have to cover for the script supervisor, so I had to quickly learn what to do. On set I had to Look out for continuity so had to pay close attention to how actors move around. I had to write down the Time codes on the screen so the editor knows what clips are usable. I make comments on the different takes so that the editor knows what those clips contain making it easier to edit.

• Briefly explain what happened each day of the shoot.

On the first day of the shot I arrived not sure what I will be doing, but as soon as I get there, I was told that the original script supervisor isn’t going to be in.  so, they decided it was a good idea to let me be script supervisor. It was a fun but very challenging task since I had to pay full attention to what I see on screen. I needed to make sure I time every take and make a comment on it. I needed to make comments so the editor knows what is usable. During a few takes, I had to come on set and help fix the incubus because the lights turned off. We managed to fix it temporarily with a piece of tape. We did it quick enough that it didn’t delay production. The next day I was working in the blue room with Alec and was Finishing off the animation and making sure it was set to the right resolution and scale for the film.

• Who did you work closely with on set?

I spent most of the time working with Alec, we worked very well together and have done lots of BFI work outside the course. For example, we got together after college to work on painting the helmet. We brainstormed ideas for the design of the helmet because we had to rethink the design with the materials we were given.  Alec and I worked in the studio together when making the animation and he gave me lots of advice on what I should Include.

• How far was professionalism maintained on set? (Consider responsibilities, focus and communication)

I would say I acted professionally on set, I did what I was asked to do and took my role seriously. I made sure I didn’t disrupt Production and kept good time management. I made sure I always had a pen on me so I can quickly take notes. I stayed focused at the start of the day but towards the end of the day I was very tired so didn’t give 100%.

• What did you learn about how a film crew works together on a shoot?

I learned that time management is a big part of working in a film crew because if one person doesn’t do their job properly it can potentially delay the entire production. Ever job on set is very important. I learned that being on a film set you face lots of problems so you need to be prepared for anything.

• How well did the crew work together on set?

I was working alongside the Director and she was very helpful and gave me lots to write about after each take. On set the next day I was in the studio with Alec animating the 80s grid thing for the green screen parts of the film. We worked well together and managed to finish everything off on time. He helped me make lots of decisions on the animation and suggested things I should change to improve it. We noticed together that some of the lines on the grid wasn’t straight so we fixed it.

• What are the pressures of working on a film shoot?

I think one of the main pressures I faced on set is time management because if I didn’t have something done on time, then it will delay the entire production. I also had to record the timings for every take of the film and that was very stressful because I didn’t want to time it wrong, otherwise it would make it difficult for the editor to go through the clips.

• Were there any challenges on the shoot and how were they dealt with?

On set, the incubus lights broke so I had to run on set and help fix it. We solved the problem by putting a piece of tape over the broken wire and managed to fix it. A small part of the incubus was chipped when being thrown around by the actors and some of the paint came off. I had to quickly grab some white Tipex and paint over it.

• How well do you feel you worked as part of your team / crew on set?

I really enjoyed working in a big crew because you get a chance to meet and work with people with lots of different skills. Everyone on set had a job to do and it’s great to work with passionate people to create this final film. Its great seeing how an idea evolved into an actual film.

• In what ways did you improve your own knowledge and skills?

I’ve learned that I need to communicate more when I am on set, I’ve learnt how important time management is and why it’s a crucial attribute. I learned how important teamwork is and why its so important to have different kinds of people with different skills. I learnt a lot about different routes into the film industry and I am so excited to peruse a career in the media industry.

• Overall – How do you feel the shoot went?

I think the shot went well and we recorded some amazing footage, can’t wait to see the final product. It was a great experience working on set and one that I won’t forget. I really enjoyed solving problems that occur on set.