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!

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.