In film for the last 6 months we have been making a singular narrative project. Which is a massive amount of time for a school project. But it also makes sense as making the films has involved brainstorming, pitching, writing, reviewing, script review, lining the scripts, making a shot list, making a shooting schedule, finding actors, finding locations, finding props, filming, more filming, and editing.
It is a long process a process your about to be taken through.
Pre Production
Every film starts with a pitch. Just lightly baking a idea, then throwing it out there to be scrutinized.
In class we made up ideas, got into a circle, and shared the ideas then discussed them. I had some idea about a intelligent shopping cart, but it had many dead ends. But there were many interesting ideas, like a con-man accidently curing cancer and becoming famous.
Then after sharing ideas and seeing what ones were good, we choose ideas and got into groups. Within these groups we developed the ideas, through planning. Then went into even more detailed planning with a screenplay. Then went into even more detailed planning by marking up the script, and listing every item we would need. Then we went into even more detail by lining the script, and making a list of every shot we needed for the film. Then we went into even more detail by writing a schedule of when and what we would film.
And all of that planning was just in the first semester. As in the second semester we would being production.
Production Practice
Before getting into real on set production we also did some in class practice. One of these practices was filming a basic dialogue scene. This involved having somebody operate the camera, somebody hold the boom mic, and somebody hold and manage the slate. Which is quite a number of people, but they are all necessary for a good result. As the camera person can focus on making the shots good, the mic person can focus on positioning and leveling the mic, and the slate person can focus on organization of the shots.
And through that production practice we put together this short scene.
(Dialog Scene Not Uploaded to Freestyle youtube)
Another production practice was trying acting. As we would be directing actors later, so having the acting experience would help with directing actors. This also involved more on set practice as people in the class look on roles operating the camera, mic, and slate.
(Acting Scene Not Uploaded to Freestyle youtube)
Production
The biggest fear in production was defentialy of missing something. As if we got on set and were missing a prop, missing a plan, or missing a actor, then we basically wouldn’t be able to film. So the start of production was a lot of finding actors, and finding props. But once we were settled in it was just a matter of continuing to film.
And after 2 months of occasionally filming, we made this film.
Overall Senior narrative ended up being more of a side project for me. It just fell to the background in comparison to other projects. And it didn’t come with any new challenges. So it is just another thing I have worked on.