Intentions:
To shoot the following scenes, ensuring continuity:
Scenes 15, 19, 22
Filming Description:
Tonight we shot the last few exterior shots for the film. We began from scene 15, where we see Melissa walking out of the house and then we see a car (a very nice BMW Z4, thanks to Marie Gallagher for letting us borrow it!) pulling up near the house. This scene was shot from multiple angles, both handheld and static, employing zooms and focuses. After this, we re-shot the scene where Melissa leaves the house and walks down the stairs, as the original takes were not lighted correctly.
We travelled to Melissa’s house to shoot the final exterior shots, where we see the car pulling into the street and into the driveway. We see Melissa leave the car and the final shot is of Melissa pacing around in her house, on the phone, leaving a message on the answer machine in their house.
Success:
This evening’s shoot, again, was a success with no problems occurring.
Friday, 17 April 2009
Production Diary Day 3 – Tuesday 14th April
Intentions:
To shoot the following scenes, ensuring continuity:
Scenes 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21 and parts of 22.
Filming Description:
Tonight we shot the remainder of the interior shots for the film. We began from scene 13 where we see John breaking down after Sarah walks out of the house. The scene is crucial to how the film develops to the climactic ending and Matt really needed to get into character, which he did very convincingly. This scene employed mainly handheld shots with sporadic zooms and focus. We also shot the ending to the film, where we see Matt leaving the house after a very shot intensive scene where he finds Ben’s address in Sarah’s diary. This involved a lot of ambient lighting as Matt was rushing from room to room and I needed to ensure the continuity between scenes and rooms. Scene 16 and onwards utilised handheld shots more exclusively and the shots were designed to convey the mood of the tension building up.
Finally we wrapped up all of the interior shots for the film and began shooting the exterior shots; because of the time we wrapped up the interiors (1am), the streets outside were quiet and empty of both people and cars.
These shots show Matt leaving the house and, as we perceive, going to Ben’s house to get Sarah back and because of the time we shot at, this allowed the shots to convey the sense that the timing was accurate and realistic.
Success:
This evening’s shoot was a great success as we were all prepared for how rapid the shoot would develop, while using the time with the cast as productively as I could to make most of the time we had to shoot. By this stage, I was trying to follow my creative intentions as closely as possible and it was during the shoot where these intentions really started to come across in the footage.
With all of the exterior shots finished, I just had a few exterior shots to shoot. Stay tuned!
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
Production Diary Day 2 – Monday 13th April
Intentions:
To shoot the following scenes, ensuring continuity:
Scenes 1 – 9, 11 – 13
Filming Description:
Tonight we began to shoot the film in chronological order of the script: we shot the opening sequence using a variety of shots and angles, including some of the more unorthodox POV and voyeur shots. I tried a variety of takes to get the best out of the cast, which I feel I achieved well. The methods of lighting worked really well and provide the audience with an insight into a dark, moody atmosphere in which John is currently living in – this reflects in his thoughts and imagination.
We then moved onto the more dialogue intensive scenes where we are introduced to the antagonist, Sarah. The believability of these scenes was crucial to the film’s naturalistic intentions and through a variety of ‘dry runs’, and once the cast got fully into character, I was able to capture true anger, frustration and fear. The setting reflected the cast and the scenario seems believable and I hope that will translate across to the audience.
The shoot went on up until the build up to the end of the film, which will be shot over the course of the next few evenings. This shoot went without any hiccups or blunders and the HD quality equipment I’m using is capturing everything in crystal clear quality which I’m really excited about editing with.
Success:
This evening’s shoot was a success as the whole cast and crew were really engrossed with the storyline and were beginning to explore their characters and make them their own. I came up with some interesting shots on the fly and shot them in conjuction with the shots I had already created in my storyboards and shot list.
The shoot was long (8pm – 4am) but the fact we were shooting at night just further added to the authencity of where the story was unfolding. Stay tuned for the rest of the shoot!
To shoot the following scenes, ensuring continuity:
Scenes 1 – 9, 11 – 13
Filming Description:
Tonight we began to shoot the film in chronological order of the script: we shot the opening sequence using a variety of shots and angles, including some of the more unorthodox POV and voyeur shots. I tried a variety of takes to get the best out of the cast, which I feel I achieved well. The methods of lighting worked really well and provide the audience with an insight into a dark, moody atmosphere in which John is currently living in – this reflects in his thoughts and imagination.
We then moved onto the more dialogue intensive scenes where we are introduced to the antagonist, Sarah. The believability of these scenes was crucial to the film’s naturalistic intentions and through a variety of ‘dry runs’, and once the cast got fully into character, I was able to capture true anger, frustration and fear. The setting reflected the cast and the scenario seems believable and I hope that will translate across to the audience.
The shoot went on up until the build up to the end of the film, which will be shot over the course of the next few evenings. This shoot went without any hiccups or blunders and the HD quality equipment I’m using is capturing everything in crystal clear quality which I’m really excited about editing with.
Success:
This evening’s shoot was a success as the whole cast and crew were really engrossed with the storyline and were beginning to explore their characters and make them their own. I came up with some interesting shots on the fly and shot them in conjuction with the shots I had already created in my storyboards and shot list.
The shoot was long (8pm – 4am) but the fact we were shooting at night just further added to the authencity of where the story was unfolding. Stay tuned for the rest of the shoot!
Production Diary Day 1 – Saturday 11th April
Intentions:
To have a dress rehearsal of some key scenes with the full cast and to film a collection of experimental shots, which will form part of my preproduction exercises.
Filming Description:
I dressing the set for the duration of the filming on this night; it was here that I put my mise en scene planning into action. This involved making the house look natural and lived in, but stylised in a minimalistic fashion. It took a few hours to get the house ready for shooting but I feel the house looks more authentic now.
After running through some key scenes with John (Matt McComish) and Sarah (Melissa Gallagher), we then had a dress rehearsal of the opening sequence of the film. This allowed me to experiment with shots that I want to include in the final product and allowed me to review the footage in my editing suite to see if I needed to make amendments to lighting.
Success:
I’m happy with our progress tonight; it has given me a good indication of how the shots will translate to film and how the chemistry between the actors works. Unfortunately, the HDV cam was set to ‘date record’ meaning all the footage that I shot has timecode emblazoned over it. D’oh! Not to worry, some careful letterboxing will enable me to use this footage in the pre-production exercises.
That’s all for now! Stay tuned for day 1 on set!
To have a dress rehearsal of some key scenes with the full cast and to film a collection of experimental shots, which will form part of my preproduction exercises.
Filming Description:
I dressing the set for the duration of the filming on this night; it was here that I put my mise en scene planning into action. This involved making the house look natural and lived in, but stylised in a minimalistic fashion. It took a few hours to get the house ready for shooting but I feel the house looks more authentic now.
After running through some key scenes with John (Matt McComish) and Sarah (Melissa Gallagher), we then had a dress rehearsal of the opening sequence of the film. This allowed me to experiment with shots that I want to include in the final product and allowed me to review the footage in my editing suite to see if I needed to make amendments to lighting.
Success:
I’m happy with our progress tonight; it has given me a good indication of how the shots will translate to film and how the chemistry between the actors works. Unfortunately, the HDV cam was set to ‘date record’ meaning all the footage that I shot has timecode emblazoned over it. D’oh! Not to worry, some careful letterboxing will enable me to use this footage in the pre-production exercises.
That’s all for now! Stay tuned for day 1 on set!
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