BDM 311 Personal project.

Here is the big Kahuna, my own project.

Due to Callum having to change his shooting days and Adam Browne coming over to be DOP I had the chance to have him DOP my film. This was a great opportunity for me, as my former DOP, Virat, could only do 2 days out of the 3. We went to the locations that I had planned for my shoot and took some photos on how we saw it visually.

We started by going to the SIT garage and looked at angles and areas to put the car in.

Which in the end worked out really nice and its always a good idea to take photos during your location and look at angles. As these also turned up in the film.

Below is a shot of me walking to a car and substitutes the angle and view from the first scene and opening shot of RASH.

The idea of using a boxing ring came from Adam last year as he mentioned doing a short film at a gym. So that seed got planted early and I got James Tobin to do some preliminary art for it. And below that is me and the camera angle me and Adam thought about, which is very close to the scene in finished film.

The back entrance to the gym which also features in RASH.

Another photo we took that is close to the on in my short. Here we can see Carla taking the position that Mark will take and I am in position for Andrew. Carla helped us out in a major way by giving us the time to film at her gym. The other location that would substitute as a gym could not be used but this location more than made up for that. My original idea of using the gyb was discarded as the logistics would have been way to difficult. For one we would have to practise and get the shot and then actually shoot it. We did not have the time to fully do it. And it was a lesson learned from Lee's shoot as we set it up but then the practicality of it just did not work out.

First day of shooting and we had most of teh actors on set, Debbie Watts was great as Mildred and really nailed the part down. Here she is on location with Kyle my sound guy. Who was on my shoot last year an dhe does a great job along with Callum who was the boom swinger :)

Mark Egginton was great as George and made a good replacement for David Shepherd who, unfortunately, was unavailable due to certain issues. Below is the scene in the office. When I first scouted the location my thought went to that little area as the office. Would make it more fun if the office was full with gym gear and not with a desk. Me and Adam just thought of teh idea of having mark sit on the exercise machine on the second scouting day.  

Slate :) 

 Setting up the shot while shenanigans are being offered. I try and give my crew a stress free shoot without also loosing the vibe to bring a good product about.

Mark Egginton is great to work with and also added a few changes to the part of George of which I was very please with. I'm always open for actors to bring their own ideas towards the character. Which is a good sign that they are pleased about the role and confident in their part.

We had a small issue with make up as Anna Obers could not make it on time. But what I learned with film making. If you have contacts then they might be able to help you out at the last minute. So I contacted Brogan and she helped me out in the last minute.

Brogan Marshall

Brogan and Sarah adding more make-up to Andrew. Steven Woller is being a stand in for Andrew in teh ring.  

   

The bruise on the eye and the rash look real and convincing.

Here we are on talking how to best tie Andrew down on the chair? The original idea was glad wrap and that was still the go. But for Andrew, and his comfort, we just wrapped his arms and ankles on the chair. 

Here we have Steven Woller doing his job for the art department.

This was a shot that I framed and then the camera would have been on the dolly. But we did not have the dolly with us and had so much time at the gym. It was mentioned that we could do a pick up but at this stage we are all still busy with our other assignments that it is quit difficult at the moment.

The 2 above photos are another missed opportunity for a camera angle. But we had are shot list made up and we were going to stick to that. If there was more time we would have gone for these shots, but unfortunately we had no time. I am by nature a photographer with a passion for framing and angles. But during my directing I should stick to that and not handle a camera in any which format. The way Mark is standing makes me really think cinematic. And the side on view would have been great with a dolly shot moving towards Andrew and Mark coming into the ring. Both being framed by the ropes.

Talking with my actors before we shoot the scene.

Throughout our joint project and our 3 year project. Aman was very professional as a first AC.

Above are more photos of my rehearsals with my actors. Now due to our tight shooting schedule and changes in that schedule I had no time with my actors and had to rehearse on set. But in saying that by being in contact with my actors and a early script for reading. They had the characters down to a fine art. I had some time with Andrew and as I mentioned before the characters are written for these people.

I had a great team around me and that worked out like a dream. I owe them a lot and they all worked well together.

  We're al getting ready for the next shot.

Day one went pretty well and everybody was on track. It was just a shame that I did not have enough time with my cast. The location was excellent but would have hoped on some more time.

Day 2 at the underground garage.

 I always wanted to shoot a film of use the camera in a car and an underground parking lot setting. So I got my wish

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Andrew played Walter.

Campbell played the part of Henry.

Tim played the part of Eunine.

I always like to see how the parts are being played out on screen. So I have a general realisation on what I want.

The space for filming and sound was very tight but we all managed to get a space in the car.

It was a great experience to film in the car. We had another vintage vehicle that we were going to film in. But that got cancelled at the last stage. Due to the availability on that certain shooting schedule. But the space (soccer mum) car certainly made up for it.

Debbie did a great job as the cleaning, aka Mildred, lady. I used the names George & Mildred from the 1970s TV show, George & Mildred. Thought it would be quit quirky as a reference to those who know of it.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073995/

As with the garage I was also looking forward to filming in an elevator and that work out great.

Adam had the right angle in mind and it looked great. My first thought was to do it completely front on wards but the high angle made it less flat.

Day 3.

Day 3 we shot the last scenes at Corey's flat. The set dressing by Anna and Steven worked out great.

So great that the actors felt themselves very comfortable and nearly fell asleep.

The infamous putting on the gaff tape again, sorry Deb's.

Talking through the scene with Andrew and Sarah.

Sarah was excellent as a first AD so I could throw ideas and reflect on what I wanted. And Andrew feels how I think and what I want. Always great to be working with people who get what I want.

Great set up and a very professional attitude on set. 

I wrote the characters with the actors in mind and it showed during the filming and on screen.

Debbie Wattes in the role of Mildred did suit it and the props that Anna Obers provided us with added to the character. As was the set up with trinkets and other valuables made it a fine scene. Again it a shame that we did not have more time for setting up and rehearsals but I was very happy with the result.

That's a wrap on RASH. Next my will be my last blog for the BDM course. 

Or will it ? 

Blog out.