Day: January 20, 2012

Posted in Post by Amy - Set Designer

Week 1 – Set Plans.

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On Monday 16th January, the set team were tasked with having all of the sets planned by the end of the week, even in a draft version, just as long as each one had been thought about. Because we were shooting Linda’s bedroom first, myself, Jack and Shiv got together to make a model of it using Sims 3 (see Jack’s post for pictures).

Set Meeting 1. Wednesday 18th January. 12pm. Library.

Shiv and I got together to get as much of the set preparations as done as possible before meeting the rest of the group at 4pm.

 By the end of the meeting we set a “to-do”list of things to do before Monday:

 Amy:

  •  3D drawing of sets
  • Go to Market and inquire about crates and boxes.
  • Check that the sofa in the foyer of the studio is still available to use.
  • Collect Bricks.
  • Posters of ABBA and other 70s music.
  • disco ball prices.
  • Ask for studio time for the set team alone to get a perspective on sizing etc. (ask for volunteers to help)
  • Research television sets from the era.
  • Wallpapers.

Shiv:

  • get garage measurements
  • make and/or obtain an ashtrays.
  • cigarette butts.
  • Streetcones (??)
  • Collect bricks.
  • research and/or collect punk posters.
Linda’s Room/Union Jack Scenes

Our aim for this set is to give the cameras as much room as possible to get the shots needed. Also, we can swap flats around when shots are needed from different angles. We would start by planning out the room before deciding where we would have flats and where we would not.

The Den

I realize that these are quite rudimentary and, dare I say it, amateur, But these are extremely early drafts that I intend to extend on in both computer programs (like Sims 3) and on paper.

 The Living Room set is still up in the air at the moment because we have decided to shoot what we need to shoot first and if we have the time we can reshoot the Living Room scenes we did before Christmas. Needless to say that Shiv and I will be totally prepared if that is the case.

Group Meeting 3. Wednesday 18th January. 4pm. Library.

 Here we put forward our set plans and I also came up with a plan. During week 0 I set up a google account for the group so that we can use the calender to our advantage by putting in the times each of us are unavailable so that we can plan meetings around then. It has proven to be very useful. So I started using the “Documents” to make a spreadsheet of the props list. This way, rather than hassling people about whether or not they have, or know someone who has, a particular prop we need, they can just say so on the spreadsheet.

  

 Group Meeting 4. Friday 20th January. 3pm. Library.

This meeting consisted of a script read-through with the whole group. This was to show us what has changed in the script since Christmas to familiarize ourselves with them. The notable change was the change in timeline: the show is now in a flashback format.

Aims for next week:

  • Get as many props for the bedroom as possible.
  • Finish drawings + plans.
  • Complete “to-do” list.
  • Have flats for bedroom finished by Friday 27th January. (optimistic! But it can be done!)


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Week 1, meetings, meetings meetings

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After a team building bowling game our group appears to be on the right tracks:
– I have had a meeting with all the producers to establish what flats, etc we want – we have got just what we wanted (perfect).
– i have a meeting with Gary and Steve about greenscreening, and after initially volunteering to help paint and pay for the new fabric flats they have bought us a huge piece of greenscreen fabric (AHH! HOW GOOD IS THAT)
– I have had a meeting with Director and PA and come up with a shooting scedule
– We have had two full group meetings to report on progress (as lack of communication was our weak link last year) during this meeting each subteam reported on progress, new targets were set and we have a filming date set.

We will be having a full cast and crew meeting on Tuesday, along with rehearsals if time and then another meeting on Friday with the cast depending on their availability.

By next week I hope to have come up with dates for filming, a calender for all the actors, locations for our opening ceremony and continue to support the group.

🙂 much improvement from last year guys

Posted in General, Post by Joel - Script and Cameras

Sequel to my first post

Posted on by Joel Garner

Very productive week with more of the script done, camera booked for shooting next week and camera cards under development for interior shooting! Group has come back from christmas raring to go and we seemed to have learnt from our mistakes in the first term. The next few weeks will be stressful but I’ll try my best to make the sessions as light hearted as possible with my amazing jokes (HA!) Lets see what week 2 brings…

Posted in Post by Amy - Set Designer

Week 0: Back to Work

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Group Meeting 1. Tuesday 10th January. 10am. Library.

 This meeting was mainly focused on getting back on our feet and improving ourselves, not just for the film, but what could very well mean the very outcome of our degrees. It was decided early on that I would step down as Head Editor and take on the role of Co-Head Set Designer due to my lack of knowledge of the software we use for editing. I simply could not get my head around it and did nothing to rectify this. I instead relied on the talents of Jack Wood who can operate the software. It was mutually agreed amongst the group that I was much better suited to the rectified role.

 

We were given “homework” prior to this meeting, in that we should come up with some objectives that we should aim to fulfill during the Term. Mine were:

  •  To not get stressed out. When I get stressed out, I can be rather unpleasant. Rachel, our producer, always puts me in my place when this happens and rightly so. My stress levels did not help with morale last term and I’m aiming to focus my stress levels on something that the whole team won’t be affected by.
  • To be more imaginative in the set design. When we put the set together last term, it was not until we looked at the footage that we realized we were very limited in camera movement. Myself and Shiv (Co Head of Set) are aiming to do something in which Joel (camera technician) can be really creative but at the same time make it a believable world on-screen. I also want to be more ambitious. Last term we were too cautious and this led to a good set but not a GREAT set.
  • Take constructive criticism better. I have to admit that this is just not an objective for my degree but my objective in life itself. I have never taken constructive criticism well at all and even when I try to take it on I always end up going along the lines of “No! I’m right!“. But if I am going to get anywhere in this industry then I’m not going to get very far thinking this way. So this is where I make a genuine effort.

One of the main objectives handed out to the whole group was to focus on what and how we can do something rather than saying how we cannot. Lack of ambition was mentioned in my feedback and we intend to turn that on it’s head.

It was also decided in this meeting that the first set of scenes we will aim to shoot first are the Bedroom/Union Jack scenes. We are extremely excited about this as there is a surreal element to it and, therefore, gives us much more creative freedom.

For me, it is incredibly exciting the scene in the script! It has so much potential. It is my personal opinion that this scene will make or break the film. Only time will tell…

We were set a task just before leaving: to watch “A Scandal in Belgravia” (dir Paul McGuigan) , the first episode of the second series of Sherlock (2010 – present, BBC, created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss) to look at the very distinctive uses of camera-work (which will be in a later post).

Group Meeting 2. Friday 13th January. 4pm. Library.

Here we discussed what we learned from watching Sherlock and came up with some fantastic ideas to do in the studio. (please see post on Sherlock).

 

Posted in Ideas, Influence, Post by Amy - Set Designer

Research: Sherlock, Camera and Technique.

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I may not be in the technical area of the project but I am on the Set Team. This means that I have to be aware of camera movements and consult with Joel and Sylvia at all times at make sure that the set we design is convenient for their vision.

We were asked to look at “A Scandal in Belgravia” (dir Paul McGuigan) from the second series of Sherlock  (2010 – present, BBC, created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss).

Source: BBC iPlayer. Date accessed: 12th January 2012.

[01:18 – 01:19]  Despite this being pat of the “Previously” segment of the episode I felt it interesting to note the use of the focus. To some it seems obvious to use such a technique: focus on one area of the mise-en-scene and the focus onto another part, changing the focus of the original point of sight immediately. However, I do believe this is a technique we can use.

 

 

[09:09 – 09:14] The transition from present to past is done exquisitely here with camera doing a 360-degree shot on in front of the character instead of around him. It is a striking shot and even though film and television have been around for several years now it just goes to show that there are still a few tricks. Since there are flashback scenes in the script it only seems logical that we find a worthy camera technique to make the transition into said flashbacks rather than leaving it to the editing. If we have a solid camera technique, it would be a major advantage, not just for flashbacks but for transitions in general.

 

 

[30:39] A great shot from the safe. As Sherlock presses the buttons, they come up on the screen. Perhaps not relevant to the project but I’m hopeful that a similar technique can be used, like with the mirror scene.

 

 

[33:33] Sherlock is drugged and the camera is side ways on the floor as he hits the ground.

[34:38 – 34:42] The same 360 technique is used here as he tries to get up. It really adds something to his state of mind. Sherlock is usually so level-headed. But he has just been out-done. Probably for the very first time. So the shot not only signifies the effects from the drug but also the effects of Irene Adler, the woman who beat him.

[35:48] Sherlock is having an hallucination because of the drug and a bed comes out of nowhere . It is not as if Sherlock himself is falling, but that the bed has risen up to greet him. then shot then goes back to reveal him in his bedroom.

 

 

I think we can use all of these techniques in the film at some point, or at least give them a go! Especially the last one with the bed. It will go very nicely in the Union Jack Scene.