My production role

1.2 Take a role in the production of a short film

My production role is an actor.

To carry out this role I will need to learn how to:

Position my camera in the correct frame
Use the correct lighting
Sync up audio to the video using a clap
Use the Filmic Pro app on my phone.

I need to be able to:

Listen and take instructions from the Director and DOP with efficiency
Be a friendly person to the rest of my team
Be on time with the shooting schedule
When I’m not needed, use my time wisely by talking to the props and costume team
Be resilient in my role and not get disheartened if something goes wrong
Be able to know how to light up the scenes for the correct emotions

I plan to carry out my role as best I can by:

Portraying Alex as closely as possible to the character description that was made by the script writer. This will include dark clothing, fantasy-like items decorated around my room and bring the enthusiasm needed to the character
keeping a strong level of professionalism
asking questions to the Director and DOP in order to perfect my character and shots.

I will need a shot list and production schedule to ensure I am doing everything I can correctly on time, this will also help me plan out everything I am going to need for the next scheduled shot. I will need a tripod to be able to film the shots steadily and a good light that I can adjust.

What I will need to communicate to Pre-Production for:

Ensuring that my character is true to the script writer’s initial intentions
Receiving a story board to help me plan my camera angles
Ask for a shot list

What I will need to communicate to Post-Production for:

If any of my shots need to be redone – I would carry this out quickly to make it much easier for them to continue editing
If my audio was incorrect
If any of my shots are missing from the files

I am aware that, due to Covid restrictions, I will have much more responsibility and will have to work more things in my role. I am always up to the challenge. Working out the lighting was difficult by myself but with the help of the Production team over zoom, I managed to pull it off.

As I was in the production team, we carried out zoom calls that lasted the length of the entire day. These zoom calls included me, my co-actor, the director, the assistant director, the director of photography and the DIT. This was to allow the director and DOP to overview each shot I was taking and comment on what they wanted to add. I had to use my phone as the camera using the Filmic Pro app due to the covid 19 restrictions. This allowed me to send rough cuts to the production time via a WhatsApp groupchat for them to inspect and give the ‘go ahead’ for me to film. After each successful shot, I will upload the takes to the production team’s google drive folder that the DIT will the sort into the designated scene’s folder. Once a scene is complete, the DIT will then allow Post-production to make copies of the clips and begin their edits. They will then contact me if there are any issues with the recordings and suggest ways I could make it easier for them or better looking.

At the end of each day I attended a 4 pm meeting with Pre-Production, Production and Post-Production. This meeting allowed all the teams to catch up and discuss any issues that needed to be resolved, whether everything was going to plan and was on schedule in the other groups and arranging further meetings.

_RISK ASSESMENT

To carry out this role, I will need a shot list, a production schedule, a full props list and a story board for me to follow: