Construction Post 22: Reflections on our Main Shoot Session

Our main shoot session took place on the Sunday 26th February 2017. The timings were the same as our test shoot with a call time of 9:00am and a wrap time of 4:00pm. Below is an emaze which contains a copy of our main shootboard. 

For our main shoot we used the feedback from our teachers and our media technician to help us make improvements from our test shoot. For this shoot one of our biggest concerns was making sure all the timings were as accurate as possible so that our opening is within the time limit. We did this by taking a photograph of our timeline with all the individual shot timings and transferring them onto the shootboard on the day. Using our phones we timed how long it took to film each shot and repeated them until the timings were as close as possible to our timeline. 

Another was ensuring that our jogger/red herring sequence wasn't confusing. We had spent time planning this sequence out again, making changes to our timeline and storyboard, so that we were prepared on the shoot day. We did this by filming from behind our character instead of from the side. We also cut out the side shots of the jogger and instead tried out a variety of alternatives including a jogger point of view shot and an over the shoulder shot. We also included a shot of both the lawyer and the joggers feet to help build the tension as the jogger gets closer. Another thing we changed was having the jogger physically bump into the lawyer in order for Tyra's (our lead actress) reaction to be more startled and genuine.

Below is a compilation of the different jogger shots we tried out. 

Finally we developed our main character further through the use of costume and props. We changed her costume so that it was more professional and formal as her dress in the test shoot was not an appropriate choice for a high profile lawyer. Additionally we borrowed a briefcase from our teacher to emphasise that she is a professional, working woman. On top of this we bought a neck band (a clothing garment that barristers wear in court) for her to put in her briefcase to highlight the fact that she is a lawyer. This was emphasised further through our new document which contain the words "Release Form" on it. This was included so that the audience see the character sign the document and show that she is responsible for legal papers and has an important job.

I believe that our bedroom sequence was the most successful part of our shoot. It was quick and simple to film and we were all happy with the shots we included. We decided to remove the tights shot and hair shot as they were time consuming and slightly unnecessary. Instead we added a ring shot as it is much quicker and added some variety. In addition to this we managed to get our long hand held shot within the correct time requirement. We also made the jump from the bedroom to the kitchen smoother by having the lawyer walk into the kitchen and turn on the radio.

Overall I feel that our main shoot was successful as we collected a wide range of footage and now have options to look through during the edit weeks. 

Construction Post 21: Our Production Kit

Our production kit included the following:

• Canon Legria HFG30 Camera 
• Libec TH-650HD Tripod
• Canon DM-100 Directional Microphone
• Headphones
• A Three Point Lighting Kit
• A Tripod Dolly

We also had to sign an equipment release document which had our contact information and signatures proving that we knew how to set up and use the kit correctly as well as agreeing to handle the kit responsibly.  

Standard Kit List

Equipment Release Document

R+P Post 20: Reflections so far/looking ahead

I believe that all of the planning we did up to and including our test shoot and rough cut were really useful as it meant that we had a clear plan knew exactly what was going to happen on the test shoot day. The test shoot and the rough cut helped us to realise that there were a lot of things that needed changing before the final edit. Using the feedback we have received from our teachers, our technician and our friends we have planned some improvements and changes. We can now adapt our shoot board, storyboard and timeline to include all the changes we have discussed and work towards having a successful and efficient main shoot and edit. I am really looking forward to the main shoot as I had a lot of fun during the test shoot.

R+P Post 19: Our Rough Cut

Using our test shoot footage we created a rough cut. We edited as a group and also individually. Below is the final rough cut video itself.

Just like our animatic, the rough cut contained all the titles, sound effects and the soundtracks we wanted to include. We added a second soundtrack for the beginning and middle sections of our opening as we wanted something less dramatic. This piece is called "Ever Evolving" from the album 'Ambient Figures Volume 11'. This was sourced from freeplaymusic.com.

The rough cut was extremely useful as it helped to highlight the issues in our sequence. One of the main issues with our rough cut was that it was over the 2 minute time requirement. We tried to shorten the length of our opening by using Adobe Premiere Pro to speed up some shots or on the rare occasion cut small sections out so that they would take up less time (for example we cut the perfume shot from three sprays to two). However this was mainly due to the fact that our raw footage was longer than we had planned. For the main shoot we are going to follow the timings on our timeline strictly to avoid having to speed up/cut small bits out of our footage.

Another issue that both our group and our technician noticed was the sound levels. For example the ambient sound during the scenes with the radio announcement distracts from the announcement itself. To improve this we plan to cut the ambient sound entirely whilst the radio is on so that the audience can focus completely on what is being said. Additionally we need to change the sound levels slightly for our main edit so that the transitions are smoother.

R+P Post 18: Our Test Shoot

We carried out a test shoot in the same way we would carry out our real shoot in order to see if our sequence works practically and to highlight any changes or improvements we would need to make. Our call time was 9:00am and we wrapped at 4:00pm. 

Shooting the jogger sequence

Using our test shootboard, we had planned each shot and the order in which they would be filmed so that it would be completed on time. We changed the order of a few of the shots on the day in order to be as efficient as possible. Instead of starting with the outdoor shots, we started with the morning routine section so that our actress wouldn't have to continuously apply and remove make up. We found this to be more practical and a change we will apply to our main shoot. Here is a sample page of our shoot board.

I was very pleased with our test shoot as I found there were many shots I was happy with for example our lipstick shot and the stalker's point of view shots.

There were also shots that I think we could improve on for our main shoot. Firstly was our shot of the legal document. This was included so that the audience realise that our character is a high profile lawyer and involved in the court case mentioned on the radio. However the document had no relevance at all to the radio announcement and it was also difficult to read. For our main shoot, if we decide that this document is to be a crucial part of the narrative, we need to make it more relevant, easier to read and linger on it for longer in order to allow the audience enough time to read it. 
Secondly was the shot of the character putting on her shoes. This was very time consuming and lead to the shot lasting longer than it was supposed to. We are going to change this by having her put her shoes on beforehand or by having a longer stalker's point of view shot when she leaves the kitchen, giving enough time for her to have put her shoes on off screen. 

Finally we noticed a continuity error between our last two shots. Our actress moves a few metres between the shots and it is noticeable as the location is quite different. We plan to improve this by changing the location of the previous shot and moving it slightly further down the street so that the locations are the same in both shots. This is due to the fact that the suspense and climax in the previous section didn't appear how we wanted. Instead of creating tension it created confusion and this is something we plan to change for our main shoot as well.

I found that our test shoot was extremely useful as it allowed us to see what we needed to improve and what worked well. Additionally it meant that we could find out what made sense to our audience as well as what confused them. To begin with the costumes we had planned were not ready in time for our test shoot and so we had to change our plans. However we realised that our lawyer's outfit wasn't appropriate for a high-profile work environment and so for our main shoot we are going to make sure that we have the more professional, formal dress. In addition to this the jogger's costume didn't connote the character well enough. By the main shoot we are hoping to use the costumes that we planned in order to represent each character better. 

We spoke to our teachers, technician and friends for their opinions on our test shoot and we can now use this feedback to improve our main shoot of the opening sequence. Below is the feedback we received typed up on a word document. 

The feedback and test shoot itself were helpful as it has lead to us making a lot of changes, helping us to develop and improve our project. 

R+P Post 17: Our editing arrangements

Our editing arrangements were based on our free periods. This made editing a lot more convenient and it also meant we could all spend a roughly equal time editing. If we needed to we used lunch times as well and as a back up we stayed after school. For our rough cut, no lunch time or after school sessions were needed and we met our deadline. We are most likely going to use the same arrangement as our rough cut edit schedule for our main shoot as it worked well and we were all happy with it. Below is a copy of our rough cut edit schedule.

R+P Post 16: Casting, costume, hair and make-up

Our two main characters that will be seen in our opening sequence are the lawyer (Shania Morcott) and the jogger. We have planned out both costumes for our main shoot.

The lawyer's main costume is going to be a black dress, blazer, tights and a belt. When we are filming outdoor shots she also will wear a coat and a pair of black heels. Additionally in the morning routine sequence, she will start by wearing a silk nightdress with a matching gown. Her hair will be kept open but neat and her make up is to be very professional. This will be done by using neutral colours for the eye make-up and keeping the face make-up as simple as possible. 

The jogger's costume will consist of a blue t-shirt, white shorts, a pair of white socks and trainers along with a sports watch. No make-up is required for the jogger and the hair will be left the same as the actor normally has it.

Below is a table which summarises the costume, hair and make-up for each character along with some photos of what they will look like on the day.