Before shooting on location
This video shows us practicing with the lighting for the cinema scene. We felt that this would be the best approach when filming this scene because we found it quite hard to get the lighting right especially because it was a mock cinema and they wouldn't be watching an actual film on the big screen, so therefore there was no natural lighting when we were filming the footage so we practiced with the lighting beforehand to make sure we had the perfect lighting so we knew what we were doing on the day of filming the footage. If we were to just do the footage on the day the lighting might have been all wrong and we would have wasted time sorting it out whereas this way we already knew what we were doing.
Shooting on Location - Day 1
The first scene that we filmed was the Cannock scene. This scene would see Carly and Jack having a day out together as friends. This scene was a very difficult one to film because we were trying to work in the rain, this came with many difficulties such as trying to keep the camera dry, trying not to get any rain droplets on the lens, trying to film the scene as quickly as possible so the actors wouldn't get wet. It was also a very difficult scene to film because it was in a public area so we didn't know whether members of the public would object to being filmed which was always an obvious worry, because then it meant we would have had to come back another day or juts thought of a completely different idea for that scene which would have taken a lot more time. However, no one objected to being filmed so it was overall a very good filming session apart from the weather.
On this day of filming there were only two shots to film. The first shot was of Carly and Jack walking through Cannock town center talking and having a laugh as friends do. It was just a shot of their day together. This shot went very well, it didn't take us long to film at all, however, we did have to re-film the shot a few times to get the proportion and camera technique perfect. The only difficulty we faced with this scene was the weather condition. Due to the weather, it felt like we were rushing to film the shot because we didn't want the camera to get wet and we didn't want the actors to either. Due to the fact that we were filming in a public place it was very difficult to hear sometimes due to how noisy it was so the actors sometimes didn't hear our cues to start filming, which was a little bit difficult but after a few attempts we got the perfect shot in the end.
The next shot we had to film in that scene was the pan of Carly and Jack running towards the elephant. This again was just showing two friends having a laugh. The same thing happened with this shot. We did have to re-film the shot a few times to get the proportion and camera technique perfect. The only difficulty we faced with this scene was the weather condition. Due to the weather, it felt like we were rushing to film the shot because we didn't want the camera to get wet and we didn't want the actors to either. Due to the fact that we were filming in a public place it was very difficult to hear sometimes due to how noisy it was so the actors sometimes didn't hear our cues to start filming, which was a little bit difficult but after a few attempts we got the perfect shot in the end.
On this day of filming there were only two shots to film. The first shot was of Carly and Jack walking through Cannock town center talking and having a laugh as friends do. It was just a shot of their day together. This shot went very well, it didn't take us long to film at all, however, we did have to re-film the shot a few times to get the proportion and camera technique perfect. The only difficulty we faced with this scene was the weather condition. Due to the weather, it felt like we were rushing to film the shot because we didn't want the camera to get wet and we didn't want the actors to either. Due to the fact that we were filming in a public place it was very difficult to hear sometimes due to how noisy it was so the actors sometimes didn't hear our cues to start filming, which was a little bit difficult but after a few attempts we got the perfect shot in the end.
The next shot we had to film in that scene was the pan of Carly and Jack running towards the elephant. This again was just showing two friends having a laugh. The same thing happened with this shot. We did have to re-film the shot a few times to get the proportion and camera technique perfect. The only difficulty we faced with this scene was the weather condition. Due to the weather, it felt like we were rushing to film the shot because we didn't want the camera to get wet and we didn't want the actors to either. Due to the fact that we were filming in a public place it was very difficult to hear sometimes due to how noisy it was so the actors sometimes didn't hear our cues to start filming, which was a little bit difficult but after a few attempts we got the perfect shot in the end.
Shooting on Location - Day 2
The next scene we filmed was the park scene. This scene would be where Carly and Jack are just having a laugh playing on the swings together. It shows them having a laugh and talking. In this scene we also see the aftermath of Carly's death when Jack goes back to the swings where he and Carly used to go, to reminisce about the times him and Carly had together. The scene is supposed to create a sense of sadness for the audience and make them feel empathy towards Jack at the fact that he has lost his best friend. The scene was very hard to film. We had to film the scene at least three times before we could perfect it. The first time we filmed the scene, it was very grainy, there was a few jump cuts and there were a few continuity errors. We also found it very hard to match up some of the shots in this scene due to the fact that they were on swings which is a variable that was very hard to control. We couldn't help the way the swings were going or how fast or slow they were going causing a few continuity errors, especially when we moved the camera to film form different angles. On the third time of filming this scene we came up with an idea that we would film the scene in one continuous shot to reduce the possibility of continuity errors occurring. After we filmed the continuous shot we then filmed the over the shoulder shot of Marc picking up the teddy bear and then filmed the point of view shot of Marc (Jack) looking at Ellie (Carly), which we then inserted into the continuous shot that we filmed of them on the swings. By doing it this was we found that we reduced the amount of continuity errors ad jump cuts that would have otherwise been a possibility.
Shooting on Location - Day 3
The next scene we filmed was the memorial scene. This scene would show Jack mourning Carly. There is a memorial bench set up on it's own in the middle of nowhere to show the isolation that Jack is feeling. The bench has a couple of props on it that we used for filming. The first prop that was used was a memorial plaque that read "in loving memory of Carly Wilson 1998-2016," and a bunch of flowers that Jack had placed there. These props were used to make it look more like a memorial bench than just a normal everyday bench. Without these props, the audience would have been confused as to what is happening or where Jack is supposed to be. The audience would have probably been confused. The props allowed the audience to make sense of the situation.
This scene was filmed in a similar way to the park scene where Jack and Carly are on the swings. We again had to film the memorial scene a few times before we could perfect it due to the fact that there were many continuity errors and jump cuts. On the third time of filming this scene we came up with an idea that we would film the scene in one continuous shot to reduce the possibility of continuity errors occurring. After we filmed the continuous shot we then filmed the close up shot of the plaque and then filmed the close up of Marc putting down the teddy bear by the flowers, which we then inserted into the continuous shot that we filmed of Marc on the bench. By doing it this way we found that we reduced the amount of continuity errors ad jump cuts that would have otherwise been a possibility.
The close up shot of the plaque was difficult to film because we had to make sure that it matched up with the continuous long shot of Marc. In the long shot when he is about to leave the bench he touches the plaque as a kind of goodbye. We then did an insert of this same shot of Marc touching the plaque so we had to match up his hand movements and we also had to make sure that the position of his hand was the same which was very difficult to do. After watching the clip back we managed to make sure Marc's hand movements and positions were exactly the same or at least similar.
Shooting on Location - Day 4
The next scene we filmed was the cinema scene. This scene was again showing Carly and Jack having a good time together as friends and having a laugh with each other. The scene is going to be a close up shot of Ellie and Marc's face while they are watching a film. During the filming of this scene we were faced with many possibilities such as lighting and sound issues. The main issue that concerned us with this scene was the lighting. We needed to make it look like they were watching a film without actually having a film playing in the background. The whole time we were filming this shot the lights needed to be off so the room was dark. That is another thing that we struggled with, getting the proportion of light and dark perfect. We didn't want it to be too dark that you couldn't see anyone but we didn't want it too light so it looked like they weren't watching a film. We had many attempts at doing this. The final time we decided to put the torches on our phones and wave them around in front of Marc and Ellie to make it look like the light is reflecting from the "cinema screen." We found that this was the most effective way of making it look like they were in the cinema.
Another shot we filmed in this scene was the establishing shot. We tried a few different angles to see which one would be the most effective and look the best. We filmed the establishing shot straight on and then we filmed the establishing shot at an angle. We finally decided on using the angled shot of the cinema scene because we thought it looked the most effective. In the establishing shot we had all of our extra actors talking as if they were waiting for the film to start to make it look more realistic. We also had Ellie and Marc in the front row, talking to again look more realistic.
We also had a few close up shots and insert shots throughout this scene. For example, the insert shot we filmed was of the teddy bear falling. We did have a few difficulties with this shot because we couldn't get the teddy bear to fall smoothly, without it looking like we were trying to make it fall. We also found it difficult to use the tripod to film this shot because where the teddy bear was it was very awkward to set up the tripod. Therefore we had to film this shot hand held which made it look quite shaky. However, due to the fact that it was quite dark in the shot it wasn't very noticeable. We also had a few close up shots of Ellie and Marc and then Marc on his own to signify the loss of his best friend and how lonely he is feeling.
Shooting on Location - Day 5
Unfortunately for this scene there were no shooting on location pictures taken due to time constraints. The next scene we filmed was the library scene. In this scene we saw Marc (Jack) revising for his upcoming exams. Ellie (Carly) is trying her best to distract him form doing his work because she is bored and wants someone to talk to, however, he insists that he has got lots of work to do.
The first shot we filmed for this scene was a pan. The pan was very easy to film as it was just showing Marc (Jack) and his friends doing revision. We did have to re-film this shot a few times due to the position of the camera not being right or the shot was very blurry when we watched it back. The shot stops on Marc (Jack), we carry on filming when Ellie (Carly) comes into the shot to try and convince Marc (Jack) to read his book and stop doing his work. The scene had to be filmed a few times because we wanted to use the original dialogue that was being said in the scene so the surrounding area had to be really quiet so the camera didn't pick up any noise. However, due to the fact that there was background noise on location we had to film it a few times to make sure you could hear the dialogue perfectly.
The final shot we filmed was an insert shot of the teddy bear on the floor. This shot was fairly easy to film, however, we did face some difficulties. The insert shot was at the end of the scene so there was no risk of continuity errors or jump cuts. In that sense it was a very easy scene to film. However, when Marc (Jack) picked up the teddy bear we had to tilt the camera upwards to follow his movements picking up the bear. Due to the fact that the camera was very close to him and the fact that he was picking up the teddy bear at a normal pace it was very difficult to try and follow his movements perfectly without it looking too quick. However, in the end after telling Marc to slow down his movement it was much easier to do.
My next post is going to be editing the footage.
Another shot we filmed in this scene was the establishing shot. We tried a few different angles to see which one would be the most effective and look the best. We filmed the establishing shot straight on and then we filmed the establishing shot at an angle. We finally decided on using the angled shot of the cinema scene because we thought it looked the most effective. In the establishing shot we had all of our extra actors talking as if they were waiting for the film to start to make it look more realistic. We also had Ellie and Marc in the front row, talking to again look more realistic.
We also had a few close up shots and insert shots throughout this scene. For example, the insert shot we filmed was of the teddy bear falling. We did have a few difficulties with this shot because we couldn't get the teddy bear to fall smoothly, without it looking like we were trying to make it fall. We also found it difficult to use the tripod to film this shot because where the teddy bear was it was very awkward to set up the tripod. Therefore we had to film this shot hand held which made it look quite shaky. However, due to the fact that it was quite dark in the shot it wasn't very noticeable. We also had a few close up shots of Ellie and Marc and then Marc on his own to signify the loss of his best friend and how lonely he is feeling.
Shooting on Location - Day 5
Unfortunately for this scene there were no shooting on location pictures taken due to time constraints. The next scene we filmed was the library scene. In this scene we saw Marc (Jack) revising for his upcoming exams. Ellie (Carly) is trying her best to distract him form doing his work because she is bored and wants someone to talk to, however, he insists that he has got lots of work to do.
The first shot we filmed for this scene was a pan. The pan was very easy to film as it was just showing Marc (Jack) and his friends doing revision. We did have to re-film this shot a few times due to the position of the camera not being right or the shot was very blurry when we watched it back. The shot stops on Marc (Jack), we carry on filming when Ellie (Carly) comes into the shot to try and convince Marc (Jack) to read his book and stop doing his work. The scene had to be filmed a few times because we wanted to use the original dialogue that was being said in the scene so the surrounding area had to be really quiet so the camera didn't pick up any noise. However, due to the fact that there was background noise on location we had to film it a few times to make sure you could hear the dialogue perfectly.
The final shot we filmed was an insert shot of the teddy bear on the floor. This shot was fairly easy to film, however, we did face some difficulties. The insert shot was at the end of the scene so there was no risk of continuity errors or jump cuts. In that sense it was a very easy scene to film. However, when Marc (Jack) picked up the teddy bear we had to tilt the camera upwards to follow his movements picking up the bear. Due to the fact that the camera was very close to him and the fact that he was picking up the teddy bear at a normal pace it was very difficult to try and follow his movements perfectly without it looking too quick. However, in the end after telling Marc to slow down his movement it was much easier to do.
My next post is going to be editing the footage.
