REFLECTION: UNIT 2

Directions: Blast Off

                         

So thats the second unit done and dusted and I have to say it was challenging and a great learning experience. The final piece I produced is almost what I wanted, but because of a few time constraints when filming, the 3rd part of my film is not as strong as I would have liked.

The great thing about this whole unit is that I have learned a huge amount first of all from Steve Finn who was a great help and gave me so much advice and secondly from going through the process of trying to direct a film myself. Throughout the process of production I garnered so much to take on for the rest of my life in terms of this industry. 

The big things I learned:

1. Rehearsals are vital and should be of prime importance prior to the filming process beginning.
2. See if I can explore a location before filming there find out the logistics and situation in terms of how it will be lit and how it will sound.
3. Make use of the frame more, so don't just place my actor in the centre and be done with it. 
4. A Master shot is a key part of filming a conversation (at least for me), it was something I learned from Steve and is something I will never forget.

The Script

Looking back at this unit I spent most of it complaining about how bad the script was we were provided with. What I should have been doing instead was making sure I used the script to the best of my ability by having rehearsals with my actors. I did rewrite the it slightly, but even this didn't really help in the long run. In retrospect I have to look at the script as something I shouldn't have worried about as much and look at the directing itself as the area I didn't focus on enough.

Winding-Refn and his wall of notes

Filming and Editing

Once I went through my Pre-Production process I arrived at filming where everything ran smoothly until the man in charge of the nightclub decided to cut us of short with hardly anytime to film my conversation. I only managed to do the 3 shots of the conversation that were the most basic, if I had had more time I would have been much more adventurous. The other two days of shooting consisted of a prison and a house where we shot one day fully and then did re-shoots on another. All in all it would have been nicer to have found some more interesting locations in the budget, but it was not to be.
Then I got into the editing suite and I have to say have found it very smooth and without much in terms of issues except for re-shooting a couple of shots which were relatively simple. The main thing I learned and had to work on was Sound design which I have not really had to do much of before. 

So To Conclude I have had a pretty great time and have produced a film which I can be fairly proud of for a first effort at directing i.e. not touching the camera which I have to say was surprisingly ok with. I have to give a special mention to Plamen for that as he was great as my Cinematographer and new very well what I had in mind for most shots. 
So its on to Documentary and to change up the way I think to Factual and away from the surreal and dark nature of Nicolas Winding-Refn, Its been great!!