Post production developments

Back again for another update! It's been all go lately I have to say, mainly in the process of editing and adding the Devil's tail into most of the shots. As it's meant to be obviously fake and inconsistent, the movement isn't so I've decided to keep the position of the tail consistent to the previous shot but not identically so it conveys absolutely no movement at all. I'm certain that these shots will be done by the end of this week. In the meantime, there isn't really any point in uploading the shots to final cut until the tail has been added to all the shots I need.

Pickup shots may be another problem. The weather is forecast to be pretty good this weekend which will be in stark contrast to the rain and clouds over the shoot so difficulties lie there! May well have to postpone it until next week. (Though that will have to be the absolute limit as time is most definitely of the essence)

I'm also sorting out the voiceover to do the narration for the film so everything is running in the right direction, its all a question of carrying on!

Now back to the shots!

Main shoot over!

Right! A huge weight off my mind right now! at least 97% of the footage I need has been shot. Working in still photographs has been completely different to almost everything I have done recently. Much simpler for a start considering that I don't have to constantly worry about sound or anything like that. It has got it's downsides however as the blood spitting shot was difficult to capture with a stills camera. I got round that by having the minion character disappear and leave "bloodstains" in its place.

A number of the shots came out as blurry but I think I can make them work in the context of the story. It'll give it more of a sense of movement as well so I recon that it's serendipity in a way. However, I'll need to check that Emily's foot shots have come out relatively clear or else the Devil's tail insertion may be more difficult than I thought. Plus with the fact that I have to keep this fifteen minutes long and cutting out a lot of material may cut down the run time too much.

The shoot started a little bit later than I originally expected (12:40pm) but things went smoothly enough to say the least. Due to the characters having to walk through a muddy field most of the time, it became incredibly problematic. Fortunately, we weren't plagued with problems that threatened to stop the shoot. Emily only used her high heels on the shots she had with her feet. However, it was entirely nessecary for her to walk through some degree of ploughed earth in high heels because that's how the Devil had been characterised and THAT'S EXACTLY the kind of thing I wanted visually.

I had some assistance from other people. Emily's boyfriend David came along as production assistant and both my parents came along to provide food. Both of which I was grateful for to say the least!

The shoot took up most of the afternoon and come the final shots in the cemetary, the light was beginning to fade (About 4:30 pm). I may well come back to the location in order to do a few pickup shots - provided the weather is consistent enough for the sake of continuity - and maybe with a few extras if I can muster them.

All in all, I'm pleased with what I have achieved so far!

New year first post

2010 New Year first post! Now that christmas is over its time to get down to business once more. Dissertation inevitably took priority (involving a lot of nights of disrupted sleep, anxiety and frustration etc etc but got there in the end and now on the home stretch)

Now to crack on with the film and make a good job of it. A lot of snow and it is really a mixed blessing. On one hand, it may well make the shoot incredibly problematic but on the other hand, there is potential for some really good photography. As I have the intentions of shooting it with a stills camera instead of a HD, it allows for further potential and a slightly simpler shoot with fewer technical problems to worry about.

There are two spanners in the works though.

The first one being the fact that the church I originally intended to shoot the funeral scene won't allow it due to association with the Devil. Understandable to a degree but presented a problem as to shooting in a graveyard. However, I have found a fairly derelict one a mile or so away.

The second is extras for the funeral scene. I have had very little luck so far and would very much like to do a few wide shots. (Possibly as a homage to Doctor Zhivago but mainly because of the striking imagery and there will be very little potential for overuse of close up in my opinion.) I won't need many, possibly about ten or so and they'll have to get transport to the location and back. Emily (who'll be playing the Devil) could double up as an extra for the long shots and wide shots and her boyfriend kindly passed on that he would be willing to play an extra. I won't need a huge amount, just enough to make a small crowd. Ten would probably be the minimum but accessability is one of the biggest problems.

At a push I COULD ask some of my former neighbours as I used to live very close to the location but that would be at very short notice so the likelihood of their participation is still fairly low.

I think Dave has already gone to do his shoot today, not sure whether the weather will be a problem for him or not, pity though because I DID offer to help out in some way or other...

six days and counting.

EXCELLENT BLOODY NEWS!
I believe that I now have my She-Devil. It's not entirely certain yet as I'm still to be told whether she'll be able to find time off work on the 16th and 17th. However, things are really beginning to look up!

There are a few things I still have to get hold of. This includes fake blood, a metal detector, someone to play the minion and a few extras of different ages for the funeral scene at the end.

I also still need to schedule the times of the shoot. The first day will take longer obviously (but I wonder if the second would if I'm co-ordinating a lot of extras for the funeral scene) but It might have to be shot a little later as I don't want to get in an argument with churchgoers.

Onwards and upwards!

First bit of good news for the last few days today! Before thinking about auditions, I was asking Jo about contact details of a few people from her audition - albeit didn't get quite what she was looking for - who stood out as decent actors who would be good to reference in the future. I've asked Jo about getting hold of these contacts but had no result. Now she's finally delivered so things might not look so bleakly last-minute after all!

Most of this morning's work has gone into my dissertation introduction - something which has taken a backseat for the time being while I work on organising casting. (And properly get down to over Christmas) I still need a room booked but the situation is starting to look up!

Now that I have the set dates (16th and 17th of January) I can now look ahead and notify people well in advance of filming so that I know that they can be definitely availible. I still also need some additional adult extras but I've got a few to be going on with for the time being.

Despite it all being shot on a stills camera, I wonder if it would be worth it to have Adam Fitfield to come and shoot a couple of stills for the sake of some behind-the-scenes shots.

One step forward two steps back. Thats how things feel at the moment.

On one hand, I have scouted the location over this weekend. I've decided to use Middleton-on-the-Hill because every part of the location ties in well with each scene, it's very picturesque and should be fairly easy to shoot.

I have also finalised the 16th/17th of January for the shoot, giving me a couple of weeks to prepare on getting back after Christmas. I am also having little trouble in getting hold of extras for the funeral scene.

However, there have been TWO GIANT STEPS BACK because I have absolutely no Jack O Kent or She Devil. I can't book an audition room because James has to book it for me WHICH STILL HASN'T BEEN DONE! This, coupled with the fact that I can't notify anyone about auditions until I myself know when I have the room for, is making matters incredibly difficult. I DON'T want to be casting at the last minute like last year because every other person left me out to dry.

November nearly over and am now in the process of searching for cast members. I should be able to get filming as soon as the next semester starts.

I've decided to change the Devil's original deal from being over turnips to being over jewellry as it would be more fitting in a modern context and work well with a she-Devil.

Going to get hold of Kat tomorrow and discuss possible designs for the Devil's face patterns. I've made two base designs (the first one being a more final fantasy-esque tribal tattoo idea and the second one being African tribal/Kabuki in style) and come to the decision that the second design is the best one due to it being that little bit more striking and demonic. Kaz also recommended that it is the design that I use.

The jewellry will probably be fairly difficult to get together, particularly if it's to take after a sutton hoo type find. Having said that, I'll look around for anyone who is willing to make something of the like.

EVERYTHING HAS TO BE FINALISED BY THE END OF THIS WEEK AND THE BEGINNING OF NEXT WEEK!