Final screening now has arrived and our last practical work handed in.
With the last stages of tweaking it was not as easy as I had thought. I had to do post sound due to us not having anyone taking on this role and as director you soon learn, you have to be a jack of all trades. It was stressful but after getting the hang of it I managed to improve the sound...probably only slightly but I learnt a new skill.
The final screening was enjoyable as we just got to watch the documentary in full with the support from the editor to finalise the last bits of the doc and the cameraman who was teaching me Pro tools it became a finished piece.
With the BMX doc I enjoyed working on that project, my footage wasn't obvious to the audience who had shot what. This to me was really good feedback as I wanted to make sure I could match Tim's footage as his experience with cameras is much better than mine. Overall a positive experience and a nice end to a long and hard year!!
Friday 20 July 2012
Friday 13 July 2012
Crit screening
The final crit screening of the course. This time I was more nervous because it relied on me to whether our course leader thought we had delivered what we had pitched. Watching it through, I tried to gauge what people thought but you can never tell.
When the lights came back on, I was glad to hear the feedback. The feedback was positive and the documentary was at a stage where the feedback was very specific on what needed to be done. The relief on my face must have shown. For my first time directing I was nervous but am happy that it's finally paid off. Working alongside the editor to get the last phase of this work complete has been hard but to hear what needed to be done I knew it was going to be a day just tweaking the last pieces.
When the lights came back on, I was glad to hear the feedback. The feedback was positive and the documentary was at a stage where the feedback was very specific on what needed to be done. The relief on my face must have shown. For my first time directing I was nervous but am happy that it's finally paid off. Working alongside the editor to get the last phase of this work complete has been hard but to hear what needed to be done I knew it was going to be a day just tweaking the last pieces.
Monday 25 June 2012
BMX filming done and dusty!!
First day was the Olympic development programme, again a long drive to film at Manchester. Gaining access in though felt slightly overwhelming but the riders were nice and we just let them continue on whilst working with them. I struggled this day the most, the tripod was stiff and the handle didn't work so any movement caused big jolts in the footage. As well as that using the 70-200mm lens made it harder for my depth of field and I am always wanting to push myself but had focusing issues at the start and didn't know about the image stabiliser button which is normally on. After a day of defeat I felt very deflated as my work has been consistent. But with the support of the director without mistakes I wouldn't have learnt more about the equipment.
Saturday we spent the day at Peckham BMX track and then off to visit Flo our young rider. Peckham initially was something I was worried about, after the dilemmas of the other production company filming their riders I felt nervous. The production company was there, well students working for them were. To start off with I felt I was stepping on peoples toes but out of all the time filming I had the best time there. I filmed actuality of Quillan coaching and the riders practising whilst the other cameraman filmed interviews. I knew what the director wanted so used my initiative and got on with it. The riders made me feel welcome and you could tell the coach and them were one big family trying to make the best out of an area known for being rough. Spending time with Flo was enjoyable, she was much shyer and often when I filmed her she went the other way. To relax her as well as testing out other shots I got into a tunnel to film, which made her laugh but got her use to being told where to ride her bike and the camera being on. Whilst the cameraman was interviewing her dad, I spent time with her recording her playing on the swings, showing her as a normal 12 year old girl. By the end she was more relaxed and I even joined in with her doing cartwheels.
Final day was with Rob which was a short day filming. All we needed was some nice visuals for an opening montage and an interview. That day I felt a bit like a spare cog as this didn't require two camera operators and felt this day a 2 camera set up was too much. But on the one hand having 2 meant capturing him on the track meant we spent less time filming. All in all a busy couple of days.
Here's me filming Flo:-
Saturday we spent the day at Peckham BMX track and then off to visit Flo our young rider. Peckham initially was something I was worried about, after the dilemmas of the other production company filming their riders I felt nervous. The production company was there, well students working for them were. To start off with I felt I was stepping on peoples toes but out of all the time filming I had the best time there. I filmed actuality of Quillan coaching and the riders practising whilst the other cameraman filmed interviews. I knew what the director wanted so used my initiative and got on with it. The riders made me feel welcome and you could tell the coach and them were one big family trying to make the best out of an area known for being rough. Spending time with Flo was enjoyable, she was much shyer and often when I filmed her she went the other way. To relax her as well as testing out other shots I got into a tunnel to film, which made her laugh but got her use to being told where to ride her bike and the camera being on. Whilst the cameraman was interviewing her dad, I spent time with her recording her playing on the swings, showing her as a normal 12 year old girl. By the end she was more relaxed and I even joined in with her doing cartwheels.
Final day was with Rob which was a short day filming. All we needed was some nice visuals for an opening montage and an interview. That day I felt a bit like a spare cog as this didn't require two camera operators and felt this day a 2 camera set up was too much. But on the one hand having 2 meant capturing him on the track meant we spent less time filming. All in all a busy couple of days.
Here's me filming Flo:-
Thursday 21 June 2012
It's a wrap!!
I must say after the first two days being pretty straight forward I found the last two stressful. But then the pressure starts to build because you're trying to concentrate on what to film? have I missed any shots? and keeping an eye on the story.
Tuesday was the night shoot which made me uneasy before I had even got there which didn't help. On the way there me and the editor/sound sat in with Phil and his son whilst driving to try and record them just chatting casually as Phil always sticks to talking about his work when the camera is on and I wanted him to relax more. The more we filmed the more I got to see the real Phil. The journey took much longer than he had told us so before we started filming the light was disappearing. We did an interview with Matt sanders, which started off really well but after my questions I was ready to pick up the pace and get the actuality of them setting up before it was too dark. The producer and me disagreed on this situation, she wanted to continue the interview but I knew I needed this scene and we didn't have the time before it got too dark to film. In an ideal world we would have done the interview again or gone back to do it but we didn't have time on our side. The night shoot was tiring and we didn't get back until quite late, I have noticed more so than on other shoots, that being on location is tiring.
Wednesday was our last day, after feeling very tense from the night before I wasn't at first looking forward to filming. We had a break in the day where I could work out what was left to shoot before we met up with Phil in the early evening to finish the shoot. I got the producer to ask some final questions we wanted to get out of Phil and then headed off for our final interview with a guy who used to work in the military. This felt all secretive as we have to blur out his face and distort his voice to keep him from being identified. I was thrown off by his answers of "no comment" and "can we move on to another question" as what I had prepared were going to get the same response. I had to re think and got the producer to help as he had thrown me off track.
I have definitely found this role very difficult and can now understand why when I worked on the strip doc the director was panicking and I couldn't see why. Even when things are going well there is always in the back of your mind the pressure is on the director to deliver. At times I found it hard but have felt I have been given a great opportunity to try a new role, which at first I was surprised I convinced myself to do it but if you don't push yourself now, then going into the industry you will just sink!
Tuesday was the night shoot which made me uneasy before I had even got there which didn't help. On the way there me and the editor/sound sat in with Phil and his son whilst driving to try and record them just chatting casually as Phil always sticks to talking about his work when the camera is on and I wanted him to relax more. The more we filmed the more I got to see the real Phil. The journey took much longer than he had told us so before we started filming the light was disappearing. We did an interview with Matt sanders, which started off really well but after my questions I was ready to pick up the pace and get the actuality of them setting up before it was too dark. The producer and me disagreed on this situation, she wanted to continue the interview but I knew I needed this scene and we didn't have the time before it got too dark to film. In an ideal world we would have done the interview again or gone back to do it but we didn't have time on our side. The night shoot was tiring and we didn't get back until quite late, I have noticed more so than on other shoots, that being on location is tiring.
Wednesday was our last day, after feeling very tense from the night before I wasn't at first looking forward to filming. We had a break in the day where I could work out what was left to shoot before we met up with Phil in the early evening to finish the shoot. I got the producer to ask some final questions we wanted to get out of Phil and then headed off for our final interview with a guy who used to work in the military. This felt all secretive as we have to blur out his face and distort his voice to keep him from being identified. I was thrown off by his answers of "no comment" and "can we move on to another question" as what I had prepared were going to get the same response. I had to re think and got the producer to help as he had thrown me off track.
I have definitely found this role very difficult and can now understand why when I worked on the strip doc the director was panicking and I couldn't see why. Even when things are going well there is always in the back of your mind the pressure is on the director to deliver. At times I found it hard but have felt I have been given a great opportunity to try a new role, which at first I was surprised I convinced myself to do it but if you don't push yourself now, then going into the industry you will just sink!
Monday 18 June 2012
First couple of days of my first time directing!
Sunday was arrival day more than anything else and to meet Phil's son for the first time who I didn't even notice was in the house on the recce. I didn't really know what to expect before we met him but was prepared for the interview with him. He was not what I had expected, I didn't expect him to have the same beliefs in as much because from the research I had done, I had been ready for a football lover rather than a young lad interested in UFOs but he was a really nice guy and was confident on camera.
Structure was something I found didn't really work, as pin pointing with Phil when to film was often changing and after meeting him again I realised we had to just go with the flow and think on our feet. Monday arrangements had already changed, even after discussing with Phil on Sunday. Firstly we met with a witness who had seen a UFO which was hard to interview as the quiet road where he saw this sight was all so quiet until we hit record. Patience was a virtue, but looking at the time was a habit I seemed to have. Afterwards, Phil decided he wanted to find a farmer which was previously arranged for later on to give me and the producer time to find one. Instead we followed Phil down many lanes in order to find one and yes we hit the jackpot.
These last two days have ran quite smoothly, a few changes but I feel confident. Directing is a new role for me as I'm normally filming. So far, I have learnt that you have to think on your toes and it isn't always easy when people are asking you for the answers but I'm learning a lot and it's completely different to filming, even though you work with the cameraman to pick the visuals the pressure is on YOU to deliver.
Here is a photo of most of the crew (minus the cameraman taking the pic) after a non stressful two days let's see how I cope after the night shoot, which is the one shoot I'm nervous about.
Structure was something I found didn't really work, as pin pointing with Phil when to film was often changing and after meeting him again I realised we had to just go with the flow and think on our feet. Monday arrangements had already changed, even after discussing with Phil on Sunday. Firstly we met with a witness who had seen a UFO which was hard to interview as the quiet road where he saw this sight was all so quiet until we hit record. Patience was a virtue, but looking at the time was a habit I seemed to have. Afterwards, Phil decided he wanted to find a farmer which was previously arranged for later on to give me and the producer time to find one. Instead we followed Phil down many lanes in order to find one and yes we hit the jackpot.
These last two days have ran quite smoothly, a few changes but I feel confident. Directing is a new role for me as I'm normally filming. So far, I have learnt that you have to think on your toes and it isn't always easy when people are asking you for the answers but I'm learning a lot and it's completely different to filming, even though you work with the cameraman to pick the visuals the pressure is on YOU to deliver.
Here is a photo of most of the crew (minus the cameraman taking the pic) after a non stressful two days let's see how I cope after the night shoot, which is the one shoot I'm nervous about.
Saturday 16 June 2012
Run down after 2 weeks inter semester
Here's a run down of the last few weeks which has been busy with organising filming dates and working on scripts and shooting lists. After filming the BMX I've been researching more into the UFO doc over the inter semester break. Got the shooting wish list done, contributor research and have got a script. However, because this documentary is an ob doc, there is only so much structure I want. I want to allow the audience to get to know him and even though there are key scenes I want, I want to make sure we let the rest unfold. I've also looked into crowdfunding and although it's not been a huge success it has got us some extra cash. The producer has been on work experience for 2 weeks so has missed some of our conversations as I've spent a lot of time mainly bouncing ideas back with the cameraman and the editor to help with the visuals and the editorial style. Still not quite on the same pathway with the producer but slowly getting there. Filming starts tomorrow, which is exciting as Phil Hoyle has been a really big help in also looking for accommodation, organising the other contributors to meet within the same time frame to make our lives easier and cheaper, as well as looking into finding us a farmer to be on camera. He's like my assistant producer as well as a strong contributor.
As for the BMX doc, filming is due to happen the week after. I'm excited to do some more filming and am excited to say that we get to film inside the Olympic development programme in Manchester which allows us to film academy level riders. This filming is taking place a week later than expected but it's allowed the director time to get his way into the development programme aswell as the peckham BMX track to film Quillan and Tre. This will give us the contrast of the grass roots track to the World championships track.
Here is a picture of the peckham track:-
As for the BMX doc, filming is due to happen the week after. I'm excited to do some more filming and am excited to say that we get to film inside the Olympic development programme in Manchester which allows us to film academy level riders. This filming is taking place a week later than expected but it's allowed the director time to get his way into the development programme aswell as the peckham BMX track to film Quillan and Tre. This will give us the contrast of the grass roots track to the World championships track.
Here is a picture of the peckham track:-
Saturday 26 May 2012
BMX world champs!
Just got back from three days of probably the most intense but realistic shooting days which I've done whilst on this course. We were filming the world BMX championships in Birmingham from Thursday- Saturday, getting up at 6am to be there for 8am and filming pretty much constantly (especially saturday) until 10pm and then getting home and in bed by midnight.
I had to think a lot on my toes because we didn't know what to expect and at times I felt the pressure and felt a little bit intimidated by the olympic riders, filming alongside other production companies and generally running from race track side to the underground parking to get the reactions of the riders immediately after.
Even with these 3 tense days of not knowing what to do it has been a very amazing experience and I have learnt to cope in more stressful situations. There were some amazing riders and I have seen some awful crashes. It's made me experience more of this long driving and early starts which I can expect when I become a camera operator. Everything was constantly changing and it was an exciting environment to be in. On the plus we met people that could help us with this documentary and it's much easier when they can put a face to a name. Also got to meet the people we will be making this documentary about in person so it's helping us to build up these relationships to build up their confidence on camera.
Here is a picture of me filming by the track side
I had to think a lot on my toes because we didn't know what to expect and at times I felt the pressure and felt a little bit intimidated by the olympic riders, filming alongside other production companies and generally running from race track side to the underground parking to get the reactions of the riders immediately after.
Even with these 3 tense days of not knowing what to do it has been a very amazing experience and I have learnt to cope in more stressful situations. There were some amazing riders and I have seen some awful crashes. It's made me experience more of this long driving and early starts which I can expect when I become a camera operator. Everything was constantly changing and it was an exciting environment to be in. On the plus we met people that could help us with this documentary and it's much easier when they can put a face to a name. Also got to meet the people we will be making this documentary about in person so it's helping us to build up these relationships to build up their confidence on camera.
Here is a picture of me filming by the track side
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