Thursday 10 May 2012

CUTAWAYS - Last minute Quick shoot.

Due to the structural problems as mentioned earlier. Today we shot cutways of myself walking through location from behind (so that I looked like nathaniel) I set up the static shot and crew member Alex Coates shot me upon location under my direction. We shot 2 minutes worth of cutaways; shots included pull focuses, static shots, tracking shots (using shoulder rig) and even more establishing loation shots.

To maintain continuity throughout the piece I were not only wearing his coat and hat but very similar clothing to himself - jeans, shoes and such.
The rushes were quickly taken to Editor stella who filled in any spaces within the edit where the cutaways could go. Just in time for the presentations the following day.







Editing Day 1 - Huge structure problems

Today, Editor Stella began the editor.. Soon after starting we had a group meeting with our tutor Debbie, Although the general skeleton of the edit was now in place.. Our tutor suggest that we need to completely change the structure.. This was due to the film taking place in two areas. One static city location and the others being tracking shots. She believed that switching throughout the film between static and trackign scenes prevented the film flowing properly and therefore suggested moving around the scenes.

Stella came up with the idea of using the majority of the static city location as a voice over...which will form over cutaways etc. The only problem with this is that although we have many cutaway clips, I shot only with intention of using them for location cutways and interview cutaways - in other words the shots were mearly tilts, pans and statics but didnt portray movement that the rest of the film does with tracking (talking to camera) shots. This was a scripting error.

I came up with the idea of trying to get the actor again for a few hours to shoot some cutaways of him walking. However he was unavailable on such short notice and therefore I suggested using his coat and hat and shooting cutaways of myself (due to looking more like the actor than the rest of the crew) walking around travelling between scenes and as sound was not required because we would be using these shots over a voice over.

Wednesday 9 May 2012

Shoot 2 - Scenes 9 and Flashback

Monday was the final day of the shoot, We met actor Nathaniel and went 45 minutes on the bus to a place called Killamarsh, in which we first shot he flashback sequence. I am very happy with how this went. I pushed the actor so that we could overshoot this scene and achieve lots of different camera angles and cutaways.

We then took a 10 minute walk with the crew to film the final scene of the Pathways, up in the countryside in which we shot the final scene. For this scene we used Clarice's dog Ben who took the role of Gary's dog. I am happy with how this scene turned out and glad the weather kept off!


Day 1 shoot

On friday we shot the majority of the scenes in just under 5 hours. It's been a very successful day. I believe we have achieved the shots required and have now planned an extra day to shoot on the Monday (scene 9 and flashback scene) this is due to the scene scheduled to be shot in Killamarsh around 45 minutes away from where the other scenes are shot (actor was only available until 5pm that day)

Having an extra day to shoot will also allow the actor to come back refreshed and ready to go.
I am very happy with the shots achieved today and the ators performance was great - using only one take in majority of cases.

Tuesday 8 May 2012

Bought Shoulder rig. + test.

After recently purchasing a shoulder rig for the walking shots. (It will allow me to achieve steady shots and a sense of flow)



Anyway, I wanted to test it out, this also gave me a chance to see how the actor is in front of the camera. So I arranged a small test shoot with nathaniel prior to shoot day. Below is a video of the test shoot


CLICK LINK BELOW TO SEE THE VIDEO

Nathaniel! - Found a new actor.





Screen Shot from -
"Antigonish" - A film by myself and James Mellors


From my experimental film project we used an actor. His name is Nathaniel and does Performance studies at sheffield Hallam University. Now with looking for a new actor I thought that it would be worth asking him if he'd like to play the role.



Reccy day. Bad weather = test shoot. New actor need?

Today we went out on the schedueled shoot, the rain was horrific which ultimately lead to cancelling the shoot. We used the day to practise through a few scenes in terms of acting, framing - essentially just a practice through everything. Another problem is that the script states out door moving shots using the shoulder rig - the wind was also an issue - this simply would have made the shot too shakey.




Below is a video of running through a few lines with our actor Sammy. Who isnt actually an actor. I feel that we should look for a NEW actor, however time is running out.


click to play video below





Thursday 3 May 2012

Locations

Due to my role, I thought it was neccessary to plan a location day to scout for potiental spots that are relevant and visually pleasing within the frame.



Location

1.   Bottom moor. Scenes 1,3,5,7 – parts of 9







1.   Aldi roundabout. Scenes 1,3,5,7, - parts of 9(contingency plan if it rains)




3.   Pure Gym Footpath - Scene 4



4.   Behind Train Station - scene 2.





5.   Graffiti bridge - cutaways and scene 2 reshoot if required


6. Suburban back street, cutaways and scene 4 reshoot if required



Final Draft Script

Here the script has been changed to suit around the new actor more, for example past flashback about being thrown out by his wife has been changed to his Mother;


[off screen]


Gary

 Yeah, Id say it’s got way out of control.

(Laughs)

You’d have thought I would have wised up by now.

ext. central Sheffield. early morning.

Gary, A young man of 25 is stood within a city landscape, some greenery and a park bench can be seen out of focus. He has ruffled black hair, unshaven however not untidy, and tanned skin. He is from a working class background. The man walks into focus of the camera with a grin.


Gary

I'd say iv always tried to stay positive, you've got to be today,, with all the conflict and shit! and to be honest I've had my share of it.

(Nervous chuckles)

Gary looks nervous almost as if he's holding something back. Any incline to this is dismissed by Gary shaking it off with a grin.

I wouldn't say I've got too many hobbies or interests, I suppose I quite like been creative, drawing and such. I sometimes go to the free ones just to have some quiet time.

I used to be quite into keeping healthy, I'd go walking with my mate Ben and in the summer we'd meet up with the lads and find a beer garden for a cheeky pint!..
Gary

I remember when i was in a kid, i was having a kick about in the back garden. Lets just say the neighbors new, posh green house didn't stand a chance.

Gary stops and kicks the air and looks into the distance as if he is reenacting. The sound of glass smashing is added over the top as the words are spoken.

Gary

Got into some rate trouble for that...

Gary's mum

GARRY!! What you done now!?
Gary gives a shy smile, whilst his mum shouts.

Gary

Oppps!
ext. Scenic Location. Behind train station/norfolk park.

Gary is walking along side camera, his happy go lucky attitude can be seen as he walks along pushing something out of shot. Occasionally though, his gaze wonders almost like he is daydreaming , and its then that hints towards something deeper that troubles him.
Gary

Family life's crazy, always ups and downs. Me and my dad have always had our differences, but he has always done his best for me, so has my mum. We can be shoutin' and swearin' one minute and the next we will be in stitches laughin' at each other.

(Gary stops suddenly and reaches straight for his pockets and pulls out a ragged wallet. CU of wallet. Gary pulls out what looks out what looks like multiple pieces of paper from the wallet and flicks through them, we see several scratch cards and betting slips before coming to a picture of a baby.)

Gary

This is my younger brother.

(smiles to himself)

I'd like to be there for him while he grows up, fending of the bullies.


EXT. CENTRAL SHEFFIELD. EARLY MORNING.

Gary is in the same location as before, sat on a bench.

GARY

The best holiday I had with my family, from before my brother was born.

(Pauses and seems to drift of in his own world after a while a smile comes on his face and he starts to laugh, Audio sounds of beach, such as children and waves)

We parked up on the beach front, me and my mum looked at each other, we thought he'd gone mad.....he had stripped down to his boxers and was of running down the beach in the pouring rain, mental! The crazy fuck went for a swim in torrential rain,

(laughs to himself)

think he went a bit mad stuck in a small caravan with me and mum. (pauses)

He proper made that holiday for me.

EXT. SCENIC LOCATION. BEHIND TRAIN STATION/NORFOLK PARK.

Same walking location as before.

Gary is just putting the wallet back into his jeans. As he does so, a stack of scratch cards fall out of his pocket. He scrambles to the floor trying to quickly pick them up, making embarrassed glances to camera.

Gary

I'm not close to my family anymore, nobody to blame other than myself i guess.

I'd started hanging round with an older crowd,looking back now it was a bad idea to be honest. We would all go to the dogs, or the footie and would always place bets, i felt like I'd have to join in....It just got out of control, every time I'd win it was the best feeling ever, like a thrill, a kind of high.

EXT. CENTRAL SHEFFIELD. EARLY MORNING.

GARY

My family didn't find out for a while, it got hard to keep it from them, i was always asking to borrow money.

INT. CORRIDOR. FLASHBACK

Gary is stood facing an older woman, his head is hanging in shame. The Woman is his mother and has her purse in her hand. She takes a few notes out and hands them over to Gary.

(Voice over)

Gary

I knew she knew what i was doing, but she didn't tell my dad, if she did then all hell would have broke loose.


EXT. CENTRAL SHEFFIELD. EARLY MORNING.

Gary

When they confronted me about it, it wasn't a great day.

It was so humiliating, they had found out I'd been stealing there stuff to sell it, so I could have money. It was the time when I stole a necklace of my mother’s that belonged to her dead mother.

EXT. HOUSE. DAYTIME. FLASHBACK.

Gary is walking out of the house with a big bag full of his belongings.

EXT. SCENIC LOCATION. BEHIND TRAIN STATION/NORFOLK PARK.

Gary

So yeah, my life has changed a lot since then. It's been like this for about a year now.

When i got chucked out, Ben, my best mates helped me through it, he was there for me, i cannot thank him enough.

But for now I'm on the streets, scraping by.

I need to build myself up again. It gets pretty lonely on the streets, everyone needs someone there for them no matter who it is.

TWO-SHOT: Gary and his dog, Ben.

Don't we Ben, Lad!

He feeds the dog a biscuit and ruffles his head. He gets up and walks off with the dog lead in one hand and pushing a trolley.

Drama Shot List

With the role of cinematographer, I have produced a shot list. This list displays each shot I will shoot on the day(s) when we record.


Drama Shot list

“Pathways”

Drama - assignment April/May 2012

Connor Elliott

1. EXT. Central Sheffield. Early Morning.

SHOT NUMBER
DESCRIPTION – Initial opening scene, where we meet Gary for the first time.
1
Establishing shots – Shots of location.. passing cars, groups of people walking by.  
2
Focus pull - Gary upon location. Gary in foreground. Upper body. Busy street / park in background
3
Mid shot  - Gary sat down on bench / stood on location.  (entire scene)
4
Medium close up – On face for reactions and words of significance (entire scene)
5
Close up on – Hands / shuffling of feet Specifically when he holds his hat. Or when he holds a nervous laugh – fiddling etc (entire scene)
6
Mid shot – Gary in art museum.
7
Focus pull of football  being kicked around? – Gary notices young people playing football – triggers flashback.
8
Close up of football being kicked around


2. EXT. SCENIC LOCATION. BEHIND TRAIN STATION/NORFOLK PARK

SHOT NUMBER
DESCRIPTION – Initial Walking scene upon scenic route
1
Tracking Shot  - (Whole scene) Using shoulder rig.
2
CU. Hands/pockets as he pulls wallet
3
CU. Face for expression and actions
4
CU. Reverse angle. Gary out of focus looking into the in focus wallet and objects.


3. EXT. CENTRAL SHEFFIELD. EARLY MORNING.

SHOT NUMBER
DESCRIPTION – GARY remembers an old story from when he was a Kid
1
Mid shot  - Gary sat down on bench / stood on location.  (entire scene)
2
Medium close up – On face for reactions and words of significance (entire scene)
3
Close up on – Hands / shuffling of feet Or when he holds a nervous laugh – fiddling etc (entire scene)
4
POV – Gary staring at something to trigger audio flash back.


4. EXT. SCENIC LOCATION. BEHIND TRAIN STATION/NORFOLK PARK

SHOT NUMBER
DESCRIPTION – The gambling problem comes into play.
1
CU – Hands /pockets – dropping scratch cards
2
CU reverse – Picking up old scratch cards off the floor.
3
CU Face – reaction to dropping etc
4
Mid shot picking up scratch cards and starts walking again (whole scene)
5
Tracking shot – rest of scene


5. EXT. CENTRAL SHEFFIELD. EARLY MORNING.

SHOT NUMBER
DESCRIPTION – Gary briefly mentions family
1
Mid shot  - Gary sat down on bench / stood on location.  (entire scene)
2
CU on face (entire scene)


6. INT. CORRIDOR OF A HOUSE. FLASH BACK

SHOT NUMBER
DESCRIPTION – Flashback Sequence, Gary -> Mother confrontation
1
Mid shot – Gary stood facing his mum
2
OTS – Woman’s facial expression – staring at Gary
3
OTS – Gary’s facial expression – looking down/ looking ashamed
4
CU – Money crossing hands
5
Mid shot – Gary walking out of shot


7. EXT. CENTRAL SHEFFIELD. EARLY MORNING.

SHOT NUMBER
DESCRIPTION – Gary continues his story in the city location.
1
Mid shot  - Gary sat down on bench / stood on location.  (entire scene)
2
CU on face (entire scene)


8. EXT. HOUSE. DAY TIME. FLASH BACK

SHOT NUMBER
DESCRIPTION – Gary has been kicked out of his house and walks from his house – hes now on the streets
1
Mid shot – Door Slamming in Gary’s face
2
Long shot – Stood in front of door walking towards path
3
Tracking shot – Gary walking down path and out of shot


9. EXT. SCENIC LOCATION. BEHIND TRAIN STATION/NORFOLK PARK

SHOT NUMBER
DESCRIPTION – Homeless realisation and final scene w/ Ben
1
Tracking shot – whole scene w/ shoulder rig.
2
Establishing shots location – he’s walking on. Graffiti etc
3
Shot in city location!!!! – Begging for money. Sat down looking sleepy mid shot w/ passers by.
4
Shot in city location!!!! – CU Gary interacting w/ passer by .
5
Wide shot in city location!!! – Looking rough in original position as before. But whole body is now visible
6
Tilt – Gary stops and patts beg on the head and continues to walk
7
CU Ben – as gary stops pat on the head
8
CU Gary – Gary’s face and reaciton.
9
Long shot – (reverse from behind) Gary, ben with trolley walking off into the distance.