Directing the table play "The Date".

I was asked by Sarah Dewbery to Direct her table play and whenever I can find an opportunity to Direct I will gladly accept that chance. She sent me the script and I could find my own sense of humour in that so I was eager to Direct it. She was asking me to make any changes that I thought would be benefit the script. But it suited me fine, the only changes I would make would be during the actual shoot where the actors might differ from the characters in the script and their mannerisms. I proposed a few people that would, maybe, suit the script. But the end choice that Sarah made with casting the actors was perfect. John Mellor and Deb's (sorry forgot her last name) were the perfect cast. Deb's is a mature lady and knows the interaction between younger people very well. So she was perfect for the part of the mother and also has a comedic skill in her that is quit natural.

                                                                         Deb's as Trudy.

Jamie was played by Sarah's partner John Mellor and it was a first for him to be acting for a short. He was a bit awkward and the result was seen on the camera but then the character of Jamie was very much like that. The interaction between Deb's and John worked quit well and played of each other. 

John Mellor as Jamie.

The great idea was the card game in the script and the glass of water falling. I tried to speed up the tempo between Trudy and Jamie with the card game. With the slapping on the table and then the noise adding to that tempo. We tried to do it without the cards but then I noticed it to be fake so I said no play real cards and then the magi happened. When Trudy mentions SNAP Jamie flinches and staggers backward and is taken aback. Showing that Trudy has the advantage over Jamie and the viewer can notice that. But then that changes again as Jamie has the chance to SNAP but it does not go down well with Trudy. By showing Jamie smiling and then again looking at Trudy's expression that she is not amused. I wanted John to be showing "O no what have I done now, I can not do any good with this lady. They were both great and i would have loved to do some blocking and rehearsals with both of them. But due to time constraints, on my behalf and very sorry for that kicking myself, it was left out. But a great experience and shows the benefit of rehearsals and blocking. Here are a few more photos from that shoot.

The BMC.

Framing the shot.

Some of the crew.

Leeana and Sarah going over the shots.

John like a pro :) 

And action.

Table play and Cinematography assignments that I helped out on.

I was asked to help out on a few Cinematography assignments and table-play assignments from student. Namely Don Giwantha, Corey Fuimoano, Leeana Boyd and Matt Van Dorrestein. Here is a short impression of those ones.

I was asked by Don to play a Detective in his Cinematography assignment although I was quit insecure on my acting skills I said yes. There was going to be a suit that I would be wearing so that was a bonus. I met with the German students and at the repertory shop not far from Tay Street. This was a first for me and when I entered I was amazed at all the costumes they had. Friendly service and they way you would expect a store to be run. Namely by 2 older ladies who have been in the theatre business for a long time, a lot of material for a short film right there. We looked at suits that had the 1940's look and a brown stripped outfit came close to my size. It fit me like a glove and I got sold on the look. During the shoot I got into character and felt like the Detective so that helped me out a lot. A lesson learned that if the characters (actors) have the clothes for the part the transition towards that character will help them out greatly. The suit itself was about $25 so it was not that much so I might be looking into that for my end of the year film. The strain of film-noir and Detectives had been running through my time at SIT. And I have a few ideas to plan that again for my short film. Don's shoot went quit good as he and the German students had it well prepared. Storyboards, script and the way each shot was set up and organised impressed me. During one of my lines, which was quit large, I could not remember it. So they found the solution of leaving the script in front of me like the papers on a desk. I had a look of the finished project and the nuances of film-noir are quit well achieved. Don sent me a screen shot and the idea of the venetian blinds was well though of.

For a Photography assignment I made a film noir set up in the alley way just behind SIT. Where I made use of the parking lot. Looking at Don's final film it looked very well executed and close to what I tried to achieve in my photography assignment. The shadows and Chiaroscuro was well executed.

Alley-way photo shoot.

Here are a few more photos from that set:

Great costumes.

BTS and Don on the BMC.

Framing.

Aman.

Rehearsals.

Action.

Setting up the lights.

Aman was First AC.

Saturday 13/6 I helped out Corey as first AC and Grip/Gaffer. I quit enjoyed being First AC on Corey's shoot and got and the opportunity to use the slider which is always a learning curve. Not only the set up of the 'damn thing' but sliding it in such a way that the camera movements are smoothly executed. The crew worked well together and Lana, as Director, did a great job. Brogan had the task of first AD and she always hits that on the mark on every shoot. I want to mention she did a great job on the our 3rd year shoot also ! Tyler impressed me with being Gaff and did a good set up of the lights. Corey knew what he wanted and worked well with the camera and the shots he wanted. Tim and Natasha did a great job with the characters which Corey wrote. My sense of perfectionism wanted more shots or angles to work with but that is just me as a Cinematographer and my visual eye. Corey was happy with what he got on camera and wanted to move on. Josh Clive came later during the night and gave us a hand as did Wetini Rapana as he was on sound. Great to see some of the first year student on our shoots. I always took notice last year and the year before on the third and second year shoots which is a great way of learning. My only frustration is with the pull focus and the slider shots which I would like to have more practise on. It can get quit complicated to set up the ones and two's and maintain that smooth focus of the scene with the right speed of the slider and focus.

Corey.

Framing the scenes.

Tim and Natasha, main actors.

Setting up the shot.

Setting up the shot.

Set dressing by Lana Black.

Blood getting ready.

Rehearsals for the Bathroom scene.

More rehearsals for the Bathroom scene.

Matt's shoot was organised for Sunday the 14. This was another opportunity for more gaffing and grip work. What interested me the most on his shoot was the chance to work at the Regent cinema's as that was the location/set. The genre was a slasher/thriller and with minimal lighting Matt did a great job with the lenses and lighting provided like the dedo. Also the framing was well executed and making good usage with the corridors and provided set locations that one recognises as a movie theatre. As I was not first AC I was still envy on not taking the opportunity for framing some shots and see how that would work. Matt had only one (main) actor on set but he used it to the max as the other actor was mainly unseen. But by using noises and other stage tricks it worked quit well giving the impression he was really there. Great to add tension and fear.

Om Leeana's shoot I was Director and enjoyed the reading of the script with the actors where ideas were being offered and discussed. This is in my opinion a great way of preparing for a shoot. On the shooting day I could only make it for a few hours as I had to go to work. The logistics of making an elevator work on screen was a bit of a task, especially the sliding doors. Today (19/6) I am Directing Sarah's assignment and I will post my experience on that also with photos.

Blog out.
  

BDM 311 (3rd year project).

There was a bit of consternation on Thursday when it was mentioned that the teaser might be turned into a trailer. In my personal opinion I did not know how to react to that news. I know that the cut that Callum made was more than 4 minutes long. And yes it does make sense to trim it a bit shorter to a trailer format. But then my other thinking was we worked hard on it for the last few months. And to just give up now and not going forward with the teaser would be a sign of giving up. Kim and Don were being put forward as the optional editors for the trailer format. Callum was mentioned also but he had to focus on his Research studies. I could not really form an answer during the class meeting as it came to us as a surprise and I could not clearly think. And I had to go to work also. After work my head was a bit clearer and I watched Callum's final edit. Don showed me a dream sequence also and I did not quit like that either. It was being too rushed and it clearly did not make any sense. After that short catch up I went home and slept on it. When I woke up I sent Lee my reflection on what happened during that class, the night before. And made the point that we should progress with the cut that Callum made and forget the idea of the trailer. If time is of the essence then the animators can do what they can and a cut can be made with the material we got before the deadline. Lee gave me a call and we both shared the same opinion. I have spoken with Vincent and he gave me a of the design he made that features the space pod and it looks impressive. So a couple of tribulations but we are still very much on track.