Marking Peers Scripts

This week we had been split into groups to mark one another's scripts. This was really helpful on a personal level as it helped to see how other scripts were written and to see if I am on the right tracks.

This was challenging nevertheless, being constructive in the analysis of the scripts with out sounding disheartening or rude. The scripts I read were very well structured with a obvious vision. Like all first scripts they needed touching up, but there is definitely quality in these scripts for filming in March.

In terms of my own script the feed back that I have seen is very positive and I feel people may want to film my script as it is simple yet has a moral and a meaning to the storyline.

Work Experience - "Cash in the Attic"

On Thursday 14th January I had some vital time watching the Leopard Productions crew filming an episode of 'Cash In the Attic" for the BBC. Being on set has furthered my understanding of the way media production works. Even though this is a televised programme rather than a feature, or short film, the processes in framing shots and the technical sides of the camera are very much the same. What was really relevant to the work I am doing at university was the use of the 'Z1' style camera they used for some of the smaller sequences. Coined the 'work horse of the industry' it is brilliant that as students of Bath Spa University we can be as literate as possible with the camera's.

From this experience I have found that I understand how the production of a film, or television show should run. I have seen how to manipulate the camera to give the correct illusions, as well as this I got first hand experience of professional equipment, setting up red heads, tri-pods and the camera. I feel this experience will stand me in good stead for the next filming production for our course.

Drafting the Script

This process is vital to getting a creditable script and to make sure the script works. The process is long winded as it is hard to get the right action and the important relevant things onto paper. With my idea of 'The Bully' I wanted to make it as simple and basic as possible a I have learnt in the past that over complicating films when you do not have a budget, ruins the film. Due to this fact i have chose a story line that is easy to follow and if one the the groups in our seminar were to choose the script it would be easy to shoot, but it also allows for creativity for the camera man.

The script it self is based around the idea of what goes around comes around or some would say Karma! this is done through a simple plot of a bully at a school playground.

The title of the film is a working progress, As it is at the moment i feel it is lacking pulling power to the audience. I am in search of a name that will entice people to want to see this short film. Titles are usually hard to come by and often are the last thing to be put onto a script. What I find easiest is to have a title to work from and create your ideas around that title.This is what I have done with the Title of the bully. It gave me a platform to work from, even if I am to change the title now this would be okay as the script has been written.

The next stage will be to do a re draft after feedback and tighten any loose features and cut anything that is not important to the film.

Short Film Outline

This section of our assignment was to outline our short scripts for film. The process looks simple and it would be if you were a hundred percent of your film. As I gave in my idea i was told that my idea to to large for a small film and could not be filmed in under 8minutes. So during the process of the outline i then had to alter the proposal in order for my film to be filmed in under 8minutes. After completing it I feel far more confident with the script writing stage of the film as we have broken the ideas down bit by bit. that is why these small processes in preproduction make a huge difference when writing and shooting the film, the more work you put in early the easier it becomes further down the production line.

Script Ideas for film 2

Emptiness describes my head at the moment as I cannot think of a proposal for my short story, I have two weeks to come up with an idea for a script. Unfortunately my major problem is I keep going into Hollywood mode with explosions and gun fights. Not only this but small simple things that one might think would be easy to do, become challenging such as, a train ride. For this there is the task of getting permission to use a train and film on it, once you have done that you would have to find a realistic way of filming on a train without it deviating from its times. Then getting the shots on a moving train without it looking like the 'Blair Witch Project'. Not only this, but you would then need release forms for any one who is in the shot, stopping people from messing up shots. All of a sudden a 15seconds sequence on a train to show a journey becomes a month of work to get it shot.

What is challenging is to get a great simple short film to be simple and shootable. It is all well and good writing a script that Spielberg would say is good if you cannot shoot it on a students budget and equipment. For example I have always wanted to do a World War II film, but this would be extremely difficult, just to find the right locations for it, let alone the costume and slight issue of War; guns, explosions and amputees.

To over come the challenge of writing a good script I feel i am going to have to rein in my thoughts and create something simple yet inspiring.

The Filming Weekend... "HEAD OVER HEELS"

DAY ONE: 21/11/2009.

09:00 the day begins with having to collect all of those who did not have cars and get them too the first setting of the film which was the University and as i am a nice producer i thought it's best to get them rather than make people wait in the cold for the bus which would have not been on time.

After collecting every one from various places across Oldfield Park we descended on Newton

Park Campus.

The first scene of the film was to be shot in the class room of our planning and making a film seminar room, this was chosen as it has good lighting from a wall of windows, as well as the artificial lights. The shoot got off to a slow start as the nerv's of the group started to kick in, nevertheless after a few takes the filming got under way and the ball rolled well from there.

After the class room we moved over to the library for the the opening scene of the movie, this scene was a good laugh to film as Andy and Emma had to have their on screen kiss which brought a good laugh and kept the mood high amongst cast and crew. Despite a few little rain delays we managed to film both the opening and closing scenes of the movie plus two others 2 hours ahead of schedule which was great for me as a producer, not having to move things along.

By far the best scene of the day was the 'bedroom' scene with Andy and Emma this time they are in bed together looking like they have just had sex, portraying this in my small, cramped, cold, single bed with the two looking naked under the covers brought both great laughter, and awkwardness to a very good scene of the movie.

Over 3 hours ahead of schedule we stopped for the day as I did not want to push every one too hard on the first day so all enthusiasm would be lost for the second.

DAY 2:

10:00 On the second day we started later as we had done so well the day before, we arranged to meet at Becky's house to do the outfit scene. This only involved Natasha as it is a scene all about her getting ready for a date. She was a superstar she did several costume changes, hair and make up changes and a million pairs of shoes for the take and did it really well each time and came into her own when the camera was rolling. This meant again we finished early and moved straight onto the Little Theatre this was one of two very short scenes which we had to do but it was also the first time we had to worry about the general public being in shot. For the Little theatre this was not so much of a problem, the problem came when we went over to Victoria Park as there were many young children in the park who we had to keep out of shot, for obvious reasons.

THAT'S A WRAP, after this scene that was it all of the scenes had been shot, all on tape and ready to be logged and captured.

The actors in the film were all fantastic and i would like to say a huge thank you to Natasha Ball, Andy Henry, Emma Reeves and Douglas McDougall who all did a wonderful job over the filming weekend and did not complain when it was cold or about to rain but just got on with the task in hand. So thanks Guys!!!