Missing in Action: Blog of production log by Alex Clinton

 

My Roles
1st assistant director -
The First Assistant Director (AD) is the Director's right hand person, taking responsibility for a number of important practicalities so that the Director is free to concentrate on the creative process.  During pre-production, First ADs break down the script into a shot-by-shot storyboard, and work with the Director to determine the shoot order, and how long each scene will take to film.  They then draw up the overall shooting schedule (a timetable for the filming period).  Once the film is in production, Firsts are in charge of making sure that every aspect of the shoot keeps to this schedule.  This job involved talking to the whole cast and crew as it is my job to organise the whole set and crew and to get them to the location to keep them quite when recording to get the correct talent to the right scenes. I the film i will be in charage of putting up the new call sheets and the getting the right actors in on the right days. My role as first assistant was continues through the pre production and the actual production itself but stopped as i played no part in the post production as the first AD.

Overall, they provide the key link between the Director, cast and crew, whilst also liaising with the production office, and providing regular progress reports about the shoot. Before the shoot, the Firsts' main task is to create the filming schedule, working in careful consultation with the Director.  When drawing up the shooting schedule, First ADs must also be aware of the budget, cast availability and script coverage. 

Director of photography - Directors of Photography (DoPs) are key Heads of Department on film productions, and theirs is one of the major creative roles. They are requested by the Director. DoPs must discover the photographic heart of a screenplay, using a variety of source material including stills photography, painting, other films, etc. They realise the desired look using lighting, framing, camera movement, etc. DoPs collaborate closely with the camera crew. The work that comes with this job involved me on set check the spirit level of the camera to make sure there isnt a tilted shot and also making sure that the boom microphone doesnt fall into shot while looking at the veiw finder. At the actual shoot i had to make sure that i got the shots i was asked to get by the director and when i was getting these shoots i also had to think about the edit. Directors of Photography (DoPs) are key Heads of Department on film productions and theirs is one of the major creative roles. They provide a film with its unique visual identity, or look. They create the desired look using lighting, framing, camera movement, etc. DoPs collaborate closely with the camera crew.After reading the screenplay, DoPs meet with the Director to discuss the visual style of the film. In this film i played a part in all 3 parts of making this film with the pre production i had the job of storyborads and of working out what the film would look like. In the actually production i had to make the storyborads actually come to life, and in the post production i had the job of making the edit along with our director so we could match up the storyborads with the real look.

Sound recorders -  Sound Recordists/Production Mixers record sound on location or in a studio, usually in synchronisation with the camera, to enable the highest quality 'real' sound to be recorded at the time of filming/recording. They monitor the quality of the sound recording through headphones, and work closely with the Director, Boom Operator and sometimes the Sound Editor, often using multiple microphones. A Sound Recordists prime function is to make sound recordings of outstanding quality, free from interference and all unwanted noise. Sound Recordists/Production Mixers may work on a wide range of single or multi-camera shoots, and their duties can vary considerably. Depending on the scale of the production, they may work closely with the Director and Producer at the planning stage to clarify technical requirements and budgets. On this production i had to work with a boom operator and since i was first assisstant on set i had to keep everyone quiet on set.

Log 1 - On day 1, our team was put together. The team consisted of 3 members. The reason the three of us have been put together is because the screenplays we wrote were all in similar context. We then decided what our storyline would be and what characters would be in the film. Having agreed we were ready for the script to be constructed.
 
Log 2 - Today we went over the story again choosing the characters names and their qualities. This lead to a big debate amongst us. In the end we decided that the characters from the original story would stay the same and they would be joined by two characters, one from my story and one from my fellow writer’s story. We also had a discussion on the stories that would go into this and this also lead to fiery discussion and we had squabbles about the stories but eventually we all decided that we would revert to having our teacher help us decide. After 45 minutes we had a storyline fit to win infinite Oscars and Baftas. We are well on our way to the best story the north east has seen since Billy Elliot.

Log 3 - Its a new day and things are looking good for the future we have a nice plan laid out and I'm feeling like when we do this production ours is going to be the showcase of the show. Yesterday we read through the script and we worked on our ideas chopping bits of to replace it with new more interesting ideas. The squabbles and the arguments have halted the groups harmony is back in shape and we are feeling like a unit (from my point of view anyway). i have just completed a presentation on what camera angles we will use, using examples i found from shows and films such as 'Band Of Brothers' and 'Saving Private Ryan'. I have used those examples because they are the best examples i can find of the War/Drama sequences i need.  

Log 4 - Today we have drawn up a itinerary of what actors/actresses are coming in at what time. This is a quick process that has been made long because we have to work with 2 other teams in the same room. Following the auditions we decided that we have the right people for the jobs we had to fill. We have a job in two days for the call-backs where we get the actors to team up with each other and try out their parts.

Log 5 - Today we did the call backs and we now have all the characters we wanted. Of course the other teams did their call back to but speed is everything on this course and when we got them first but now we are being told we can’t have them because the other group wants them. I mean no personal offence to those on the other team but I don’t like losing and this feels like a big loss.

Log 6 - In this week's meeting we gathered together our locations and we had our first production meeting where we allocated jobs to each other over the week and with one actor dropping the part that they auditioned for, for another film we now have the situation of being 1 actor down and now we need to get the actors together that are without a part and get them to audition for that role. The Film is coming on well and with the Facebook page up and running with 70 plus likes we are reaching an audience but there needs to be more if we are going for glory with this film. The link for my page and be seen below and I would appreciate it if you would like and share it.

https://www.facebook.com/TrioProdMIA

Log 7 - This week i will talk about what we did in our second meeting and how we are moving closer to that sacred production fortnight. Today we have gone to the hard graft of making an agenda for our meeting. Now the meeting has been done we achieved an amazing height work rate getting almost everything done with just two items left which are to be done on tomorrow (4/3/2014) and on the Wednesday (5/3/2014) so there is nothing we can do about those. When we have done the stuff on the agenda we had to do things with the script everything is moving at a good standard but not a good pace.
  
Log 8 – We now have many things partly done and we are moving towards having the whole thing done but it’s now time for us to go through what we have so far. We still have a few things to do which include risk assessments for our sets and we have to go through some rehearsals with our actors which have yet to arrange. We have all the sets and all the actors we just need to get all of the paperwork ready.

Log 9 – Today we have begun to get everything into place and we also begin rehearsals. We have 1 more costume but we still have others to get and when we get them we are fully ready. Now we have only a few days till we start filming and we are only doing voice overs then. We are stripping the tapes today which will stop the tapes overwriting themselves when we stop and start them. Today we are staying back to make sure everything is in order and is ready for us to go out and film our first day of actually filming is on the Wednesday which is 6 days from today. The excitement is still there but now we’re all a little nervous.

Log 10 - First day of production. The first day has gone we but it was cold and windy. We spent today at Preston park in Stockton on tees and it is a fantastic location but with the weather kicking our plans in the crotch. The wind has prove to be a big downfall to us because the shots that we have today will need to be redone because the wind was so strong it was blowing the hair of the actress all over the shot. So we have to go back and that means we have to arrange it for next week. We also had to work with a baby which was painful on the ears because the child was tired and making a tired baby act with only make it angry also the baby was cold and didn't like our female actor who had to work with her. With tomorrow also a filming day I now know what to expect in the days to come.

Log 11 - The second day of the production. It rained today at near enough 2pm. The upside to the rain was we knew it was coming we checked the weather report before leaving and we had a set time limit. Today we left with a set plan and with help from two runners which stood in as boom mic holders and just as helpers and with both runners having more experience than us that helped us with the shots that we got and this means our shots looked more professional.

Log 12 - Today was meant to be shot day 3 but in partial thanks to me and a lack or organisation. We went all the way to a set which is a 28 mile round trip all for nothing and now everything much be changed and since i take all the blame for this i will fix it.

Log 13 - Today was Monday but the Monday where i had to save myself from a massive verbal beating from my group and teachers i thought through a whole new scenario and a whole new way of doing our film. First i thought of a new explosion scene and where we can get the costumes from. I feel now like i have made the film a little bit better. Everything happens for a reason.

Log 14 - This was the real 3rd day of production in which we went back to the place where we had been on the second day because on that day it rained and was windy but today all was well and nothing went wrong the talent was on top form and the team worked well. We are going strong and though we need the extra pick up week, this film will still hold the same 'magic' as before.

Log 15 - Day 4 of production. We have a day at the Dormans museum in Middlesbrough which were fantastic and let us just go and film there was no hassle from them telling us what we could and couldn't do because we knew our limits in this place. We spent time in the model pub, cinema and classroom we are looking more like a professional film. Next week we have a photo shoot, another day at the gun battery in Hartlepool and then the break for Easter.

Log 16 - Today we went to a hill today to do our final scene and with a photo shoot to do times are always on the up at Trio productions. We did the gruesome death scene today and we are very proud with the outcome.