Pre-Production
Needing to gather everything ready before the filming begins, the first things I had worked on was the script. Again, I only have a draft at the moment as there are a few adjustments that are needed to be made.
Before posting the draft here, I was going to leave it until it was 100% done but figured since it is pretty much done, I may as well share what I have so far.
The main section I would like editing is the part where the trio are walking home from college with two of the friends having a disagreement on the moon landing theory. Mainly going with that discussion as it was the first thing that came to mind and to just to fill the chapter out, I would prefer the two to be discussing something else. Maybe even something more relevant to the story that hints to something that will happen later on. As of now though, I am unsure of what.
Sticking with that draft though, I have managed to find a student music composer on one of the Facebook filmmaker groups I am apart of. Posting on there that they wanted to help out with someone's project for their university degree, I had reached out offering a partnership for her to produce the music for my product. Agreeing to it, the script was sent over to her to give her an idea of the short film.
Liking the draft, we had agreed to come back to each other once I was out of the post-production stage. As for that stage, it will need to be done in enough time leading up to the deadline so I am not having to rush her with getting back to me on the soundtrack.
Using the script, a storyboard has been drawn out.
I don't really get why each slide is blurry as every page was photocopied but I guess they are somewhat readable. And as difficult as they may be to understand, I can tell what each box is and that is all that matters for this really as it is my vision. But to help make it seems slightly clearer...
The first two slides are pretty much the opening scene. With the teacher telling the students of Mary Ann Cotton, I tried displaying the shots with camera angles as I had imagined them using close-ups, over the shoulder shots and even adding tilts.
When it comes to filming though, I still need to figure out what I should do exactly for the first few seconds as I don't want the short to begin right off the bat. Will need a few seconds to display the title setting up the story.
From the third slide, we are where the tension spikes as the ritual begins. With the kids already sat down, there is more to the scene that I do have in mind just I hadn't drawn it all out as they came across simpler like when the three meet up together and set up. Other than that, I would say it's more of where the "possession" begins revealing one being tormented by sounds as the other walks over to a crouched, crying woman.
Then at the end, the final moments with a hand grabbing hold of someone's shoulder leading to the death of one of the students, that last box will most likely be confusing as it is meant to be someone's leg being dragged out of frame as in the background the other two are to be seen running away from the scene.
Having another storyboarded part to share, I was meant to include it with the file above but didn't realise until it was too late that I had forgotten to photocopy that page. So, here it is separated...
Being more of a debate, for when the three main students are walking home from college, talking and arranging their plans for that night, it was the layout I was on trying to figure out in a way.
Drawing both ideas, in the first box you can see that the two who are meant to be seen chatting first are both further ahead from their other friend as they are placed in the middle walking with their head down stuck into their mobile device.
Thinking I will go with the second idea, where the three are all stood alongside one another presenting as equals.
From there, the silent one shares what they had been looking at on their phone bringing back up the topic of Mary Ann Cotton.
With that being all for the storyboard, the ritual was in need of figuring out.
Due to the killer's motives, it only made sense to have money involved somehow. Writing down shillings on both this page and the script, that may be changed to pound coins due to accessibility. I was thinking of just taking the coins that resemble shillings then if I could do what was needed to make them look more accurate. But to make things easier, pound coins may instead be the go-to.
Candles as well, every ritual game you look into, candles are always fitted in so that was another thing that made more sense to do. Going to be needing three, I may use two of the same colour for the two who live, whilst the one who is taken by the ghost it the odd one out with the colour. Either red or black will be the go to there.
Then going to doing the game itself, the pricking of the blood of course won't be real blood as I don't want anybody harmed during the making of this so fake blood will be used for that. And the chanting, although that is the cliché thing to do I couldn't think of what I could do for that instead. If another way to go about it comes to mind, then it may be changed.
Alongside that, is a layout design for the PowerPoint that will be needed for the History lesson during the opening sequence.
Needing a way to gather my cast, a casting call poster had been created. To show the process of this, a PowerPoint had been put together documenting the product from start to finish.
As for the final result...
Already, I do have people requesting to be a part of the short film so that is a great start. Even better the fact I hadn't even finished putting the poster together before gathering the cast I have so far.
Working on a quick prop for the start of the film, a slideshow was prepared ready for the background of the history lesson. Not wanting to waste too much time documenting the whole process, this is the result...
Needing something short and simple, the first page consists of an off-screen conversation showing that there was more to the lesson before they had got on to the topic of Mary Ann Cotton. It also helps push the time duration of them being there, showing the viewers the class was on longer than the five minutes those watching get to see.
Wanting something that linked in a way, I went with the 'Bradford Sweet Poisoning incident'. Still fitting with the killer of topic, in the research done it was found that she was there living in the area with her first husband during the unfortunate events.
Creating a second draft the script now, it still isn't 100% complete but with it I was able to strengthen out the structure, dialogue and actions. Names were also added to the two of three main characters connecting them more to the cast who will be playing them.
Unfortunately, I have lost a cast member due to scheduling conflicts. Having to pass them on the role, that gives me two characters I need to find someone to play. Not knowing many people, it doesn't help that the people who I do know, are all camera shy.
As I am in need of another two cast members, aside from that and completing the script, all I am having to gather now are the props, equipment and getting the paperwork complete. Once all that is done, I can finally make a start on filming.
With a collection of tasks to complete, rather than making this blog anymore complicated than it already is with the going back and forth on information, a journal type video is on being produced where I share and update on everything pre-production related. Another bonus of this, when it comes to the editing process of this journal, as awkward as this makes me feel, this will help in gaining the needed practice with technical skill in preparation of editing the upcoming short film.
Whilst I leave most of the work to be discussed in the upcoming journal, all I have outside of that now is patching up the script, and getting the paperwork complete.
Finally having the script ready in time of filming, here is my finalized product:
Happy with how it is now, I currently have one day left with my pre-production diary as I gather the last few bits and bobs tomorrow morning as filming will commence on the say day.
Before the pre-production diary, the paperwork.
Having multiple files to share, the first one is the personnel and equipment list.
The equipment list does look to me as if it is missing a few bits, but I can't think as to what.
With the personnel list, names had been lined out to due many dropping out of the project. But at least there it shows the people I have had to go through to gather the right and official cast and crew.
Consent forms:
Accidentally scanning the last one twice, I did put the sheets in a bit of an order. Starting with the main few who were fully apart of the production leading down to those who had dropped out as the paperwork is less relevant to them.
But with the consent forms, doing media practice it only adds to the professionalism of having proof that they all agreed to be apart of the film.
Similar to the cast and crew consent forms, the location consent sheets:
Since we were filming on private property for one of the scenes, consent there was also needed. Having two set locations though, I made note of where we were filming for both sets, and only needed to get consent for one with the other being on a public resort allowing me free access.Then finally, the safety forms:
And finally, here is the pre-production diary:
The filming of this was very awkward and somewhat uncomfortable for me as this is something I never do. It was definitely a step out of my comfort zone but it was needed.
Considering I was jumping back and forth constantly when writing out my plans, as much as I find myself to struggle to talking things out it definitely worked out for the best.
I thought as well, with having to edit this together it gets me back into the practice before editing the final product together so there were a good few bonuses to this method.
With the editing as well, as you will notice I messed around with it at first adding the few bits of stock footage and title card, but by the end I wanted to have the video just done due to the lack of time left to get everything complete.
So there, my second attempt at the pre-production blog, messy at the start but got there in the end.
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