Script to Screen - Blog Post 5

Blog post 5

 

Final evaluation

 

As the director of this project, I have learnt so much about working as team and how to direct the group towards my vision and our vision by the end of it.  At the start of the project, I felt a little apprehensive about volunteering myself to be director, but I did want to try a new role and to step out of my comfort zone.  I am glad I decided to do this because it has meant I have learnt a lot about myself and has helped me to develop my soft skills such as communication, teamwork and thinking creatively.

 

The workshops we had, helped me a lot with getting me more comfortable in my role.  We first had a workshop practicing lighting.  In this workshop we learnt how to create natural light without there actually being any natural light.  We used the lights and adjusted the settings on them.  We also practiced with getting different colour lights to get different effects.  We also practiced for the scene we had chosen in fleabag in the café and blocked that out and practiced lighting techniques to and creating depth of field.

 

We also had a workshop in the studio to practice with lighting and using different rigs which I enjoyed as it helped me to think of ideas for our production.

When it came to getting closer to the production I met with Sam (the producer) a few times and with the whole group to check what everyone had been doing for the production and to show what I had done too.

 

We had a very interesting workshop with Miranda Howard-Williams who is a director who has worked on shows such as Holby City and Casualty.  We had a meeting with her which was very interesting as we learnt all about what it is like to be a director.  We then got the chance to shoot a section of a script she had worked on in Holby City.  She introduced me to an app where you can block out where you want camera angles to be.  This day made me realise I needed to be more straight up and straight to the point for people to listen to me. 

 

 

When it came to the day of the shoot, I picked up our actors.  Then it all went well whilst filming.  Me and Adam (sound) started a system where he would signal me if there was a loud noise which meant that the audio was bad, and I would either decide to cut or carry on because I liked what was happening on the camera still.  We did have some issues with planes and helicopters flying overhead but that was
 expected, and we found a way around it quickly.  We were on schedule and managed to finish shooting at Vinter’s Park before lunch.  We got all the shots that me and Bella (DOP) had planned, and all the sound went well.

 

In the diner we also managed to get all our shots and camera angles we wanted.  This took longer to set up because we had to dress the set.  We had some issues when it came to deciding on lighting choices, but all came to agreement in the end and all looked good.  We also had issues with not being able to turn the main diner lights off as they were automatic, but we used gels for it and put them over the lights.  I enjoyed directing this shoot very much and am proud of how it has turned out.

 

My edit took me a long time as there was lots of footage to work through, but it all looked came together very well.  We got a lot of the movement in that I wanted, and I was especially pleased with the breaking of the 4^thwall.  Our actors were great and would work with us again they said.  I am pleased with my edit; however, I did have issues with colour grading which were quickly recognised after seeing my edit on a different screen.