Monday 28 July 2008

Permits,last days of production. Special Thanks.

As most of you are probably wondering. "When is this damn thing going to be finished?"
We'll, the truth is, we still have a significant amount to be filmed. The actors are busy with other projects and this all has taken alot more time to film than I had originally planned. It is however, getting done. And getting it done right, rather than rushed is really what we're shooting for. Judging by the current schedule. It should be finished and digitized by the end of next week.
The tube permit (the paper allowing us to film the opening sequence of our film in the underground of Mornington Cresent station). Is currently in motion to be finalized. The Richmond Permit (the paper allowing us to film in Richmond Park, is also in need of a few tidbits. This all should be done by next week as well. I still need to talk to Beaumont Court student housing about the interior apartment scene, but it shouldn't be much of a problem. Everything is finally falling into place. And it has been a learning experience for us all.

I was planning on doing this at the end of production, but i have decided that it would be best to give credit, where it is due. This ladies and gentlemen. Is the best damn crew AIU London could ever produce.

1. Amanda Caldeira - DOP - Director Of Photography

Amanda is one of the most dedicated and inspiring people I have ever met. And her hard work on this project rivals my own. She is the best person on the crew to start with I think.

Let me begin by saying.. If It wasn't for Amanda, I couldn't have filmed anything...really. She has been helping me every day since before production began. Picking up the slack of my unexperienced pre-production. She and I together, sat down and began dreaming up how we were going to execute every shot in the film almost as soon as we first decided to work together. Her dedication knows no bounds. She taped together a giant tarp out of almost a million trash bags, by hand, for a very complicated scene. She was there helping me organize and execute my second casting session (this was the session I found my two leads) by making a zillion phone calls on her own phone bill. She took time out of her busy day to location scout with me. helped me organize the shooting schedule. She executed camera tests, gave me advice, gave me ideas, took every idea I had, and made it come to life the best she could. She was always...ALWAYS there when I needed her and I am being totally honest when I say, I could NEVER have done this without her. She went way out of her way; far past the duty of just a D.O.P, to bring this film to life. And I'm pretty sure you could never find another dedicated and inspiring individual such as Amanda Caldeira for your own film. She is a well rounded, talented, creative person. In short, if she's in your credits. You've got a quality product.

I met Amanda at the MES desk. It was here that I recruited Tabitha as my 1st AD before the first few casting sessions during the month of June. Amanda said that she would like to help me with my 2nd mandy casting session shortly after the end of my first. She took hold of all my incoming actors and scheduled and called them for me. Later on, I was beside myself when she agreed to also be my D.O.P. I remember thinking to myself, Amanda is a graduating student who has plenty of experience making films. Among other qualities, I couldn't ask for more. Her experience as a film-maker and knowledge of camera's and technique would most absolutely make this production all the better. And what do you know.. it did!

Amanda is also a fellow Anime fan as well. She watches and appreciates the Japanese style of story telling just as much as me. This style in particular is where I as a director am most influenced. Both her and I work on a totally in tune level when it comes to this. If I were to film anything else. She would be my first choice as D.O.P (Director of Photography.) She directs photography and she directs it good (haha). And shes a really wicked person to hang out with. What more could you want?

Thank you again for your advice Amanda. Your experience, your creativity, your camera work and your friendship. Please don't let anyone take you for granted. I'll never know how to thank you for all your hard work.
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2. Fareed Shafeeg (Production Manager, Assistant Director2, Production Assistant)

Fareed has been with me since day one. He knows the story. He knows me. He knows what I've went through to make this film come to life. If it wasn't for Fareed in the background, pulling curtains, getting drinks, helping people to and from the main building. Smiling, Laughing, Joking and talking to the actors. Then this production including all of pre-production would fall into a big deep pile of smoldering rubble with me standing over it scratching my head. It really urks me, because alot of people take Fareed for granted; yet It's his dedication that makes him one of the most valuable individuals on your crew. I know it, because he was the one on mine. He was that one single person that made things happen. He was that guy that knew what was going on and despite the weather, would wake up and get to the place he needed to be to make it all work. And if he wasn't there, everyone. And I mean EVERYONE, would stop what they were doing and say. "Where is Fareed?", 'When is Fareed getting here!" Why you ask? Because he does everything! He's one of those guys that gets his hands on every part of production! You look one way, he's clapping the clapper board. You look the other way. He's getting drinks. You look behind, in front of you, on the ceiling; he balancing boom polls, recording audio, building sets, making the actors feel at home, organizing equipment, carrying equipment.. But Fareed doesn't stop there. He helps with paper work in pre-production! He helped Amanda and I figure out how we were going to execute some of the most complicated shots in this film. And he did it without breaking a sweat. Fareed is a former business major. Hiding deep within him is this fighting spirit that seizes the day, kicks ass, takes names and solves those ultra hard to solve problems. He's a natural problem solver! And when your filming on a budget. Believe me, theres plenty of problems to solve. If you ever see a guy with a Mohawk from Maldives standing on set. Things are getting done. BELIEVE ME.

Thank you Fareed for coming in every single day I needed you. And standing side me since I wrote the very first draft of this script. You are both a A+ friend, and an A for AWESOME crew member. Couldn't have done it without you. I mean that.
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3. Dr. Richard Wynn (1st AD- Assistant Director)

WHAT TIME IS!? It's time to get shit done! Were on a schedule!
So what does Dr. Richard Wynn do on a film set you ask? Let me break it down for you. He is the best DAMN AD(assistant director) you could ever have on a set. He takes that schedule and makes you stick to it. For example: If we were scheduled to film at the bottom of a mountain at 3:00pm - 4:00pm, and the mountain erupted at 3:30pm. Richard would stand on a giant rock and systematically punch through giant rocks that would rain from the sky. All the while diverting giant lava rivers and mudslides with his BARE HANDS to make sure we finish ON TIME. I could not trust anyone more than Richard to take our schedule and abide by it. He has been on plenty of top notch film sets as an AD. And when he asked me to be AD on this one, I was beside myself. I couldn't believe he wanted to take time out of his busy day to come and help me with this small production. Yet he did, and it made things run so much smoother. He talked with actors, called them when they needed to be called. And took care of all the paper work that needed to be taken care of. He came to me in the beginning and took the mess I called Pre-Production and organized it in working order, so that it could be filmed. He gave excellent advice to everyone on the crew, and I learned an exceptional amount from him. He made the set that much more fun to be on. Richard is also one dedicated person. He's also a really strong guy so don't worry about carrying that really heavy equipment! I am so glad that Richard helped out on the shoot. I know for a fact that we would never have started shooting if it wasn't for him. He was always one of the first of the crew to show up at 8am every morning during production. And I can count on him If i ever needed anything. Hes the best to have on your crew because he keeps things running smoothly. He's that oil that makes that machine press on without faults. And we all know what happens when you run out of oil... (watch waiting for welfare movie).

Thank you Richard for keeping our heads out of our...for keeping our heads out of the clouds. :D
And thank you for teaching me, giving me hints and advice and allowing me to learn from you.
I couldn't have done it without you.
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4. Christian and Kate - AUDIO TECHNICIANS

What was that sound? That's what Christian and Kate would ask themselves. The best audio field team from AIU. These guys are ALWAYS ON TIME. ALWAYS reliable. Always ready for action. You never have to worry about audio when Christian is on set. And at our university, Everyone. Wants. Christian. I was lucky enough to get Christian for my own shoot. And when you get Christian, you get Kate. It's like a two for one awesome team deal. Kate is a former buisness major. Not only is she Christians right hand ma.. er girl. She's knowledgeable about everything. And shes damn good at logging all them audio bits on paper. When Christian and Kate arn't kicking ass at audio, they're taking a smoke break discussing the next scene. I absolutly love working with these two. I can come talk to them about anything. And they are always willing to give their experience and advice. Christian went out of his way plenty of times for this film. His back was injured at one point from dedicating himself so badly that he could hardly stand.Even on top of that, he was willing to help us with the audio! I have been so blessed
with such dedicated crew members such as this. Kate also hurt herself during the shoot. I felt so bad about all of that of course. And I really hope that both of them get better soon. They are VERY IMPORTANT to this film. Without sound. There is nothing. And thats that. Christian knows his mics. He knows the way sound acts in just about every environment, from here to mount everest. Right down to every nook and cranny of your grandmas apartment building. He is the one person that would probably ride on the hood of a car to get that sound recorded right. Of course i wouldn't recommend that. None the less, Christian is both an Excellent friend, associate and partner when it comes to anything dealing with audio or film. I am VERY VERY ..did i mention. VERY lucky to have these two on my shoot. God only knows what it would have been like without them. ...oh yea.. there would be no film. I owe a hell of alot from these two.

THANKYOU GUYS. I'm really sorry about what happened to both of you. You really put everything you had into this shoot. And I don't know how i will ever be able to thank you.
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thanks again everyone for helping me shoot my first short film in London. You are my first full film crew. I really appreciate your help. I really do.

Tuesday 15 July 2008

First Day of Production

Scenes Filmed:
1. Chris' Walk Home
2. Chris' Office Scene

The actor that plays Chris "Jerome Aarts" did a fantastic job today. All the scenes turned out great. And tomorrow, we will be filming the Dead End Alley scene. We got the okay to film in the alley beside our university; however, we are required to inform security so they may open a door to the alley. Also, to be allowed down there, we are required to allow a member of security watch us to make sure we don't hurt ourselves... this I think is a little rediculous seeing as how were all grown adults.. but thats film-making i guess.
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When I come to think about it, I have been saying the words 'Action and Cut' ever since my brother David and I first hit the record button during my first short film ever. It was a short piece called flash-back which would originally go on to be called 'Waiting for Welfare'.
Never did I think that one day, an ocean away, a crew of motivated individuals would be awaiting both my commands and judgements. Fully intrusting me with all creative aspects. To create something that would be fully crafted, from the first moment I wrote the script. To the last cut in production, and on again to the last edit in post. This is the beauty and sometimes the horrors of film-making. And i'm loving every minute of it.

Monday 14 July 2008

PRODUCTION finally.

PRODUCTION TOMORROW.

Yes ladies and gentleman, we begin filming tomorrow!
I have a crew of several dedicated people, food for the actors; a crew and a schedule!
Tomorrow is my first actual shooting day, but I will let you know exactly what happens at the end of every day of filming this week!

I know it's been awhile since I've posted, so allow me to update you.
I have casted both Joseph and Chris' characters. I have found all of the locations and acquired an experienced 'Assistant Director and several producers(seniors) from this graduation year. For the past week, we have been building a giant tarp out of trash bags to hang over an alley way to make it appear as if night has consumed the day! We also have been locating all the locations we will need during the shoot.

We still haven't gotten proper permission from surrounding boroughs, but I doubt it will be a big deal that day since the scene we're filming tomorrow only last a few minutes.
I will be very busy this week taking care of business, so please wish me luck. I will be providing pictures of the shoot as well as detailed descriptions.

Thank goodness, the day has finally come.
Time to actually shoot a film!

- Jason