As part of my pre-production work for my story-telling unit I wanted to test out an effect I had would have to pull off for an essential part of my script to work. I needed to see whether I had the ability to fake a car accident. I went out a shot the footage in the same way I was planning to for the final shoot. I then imported the footage into After Effects. Next I used Photoshop to create a van graphic with separated wheels. Then I imported the van into After Effects and animated it. Next I put the scene together, adding the van to the footage I shot, animating it's movement, adding some motion blur and cropping myself out as the van hit me. And finally I added some artificial camera movement to make the scene look more realistic. Here is the finished product:
Thursday, 19 November 2015
Wednesday, 18 November 2015
Story-Telling: Script Feedback with Steve Combs & Draft 5
Recently I was able to sit down with Steve Combs, a professional script writer, and receive some feedback on my script.
Steven and I went through the script together and picked it apart, deciding what worked well and what could be changed. We started with the opening scene. Steve made some suggestions. He said I could give the van a reason to be there so the accident isn't just a coincidence. He said that maybe the van driver could be another expectant father who is rushing into the hospital, looking for somewhere to park.
Next we moved onto the main character, Dylan. Steve thought it would be good to think about his back story and what it is he might have done to annoy his fiancée. We both decided that Dylan was a gambler who had gambled all his and his fiancée's money away to buy the most expensive baby gadgets available. Unfortunately, it didn't work out how he thought it would and now he is broke. I thought about how I could write this into the script and we both agreed that Dylan could receive a text or call about betting at some point during the story.
Finally we looked at the structure of the script and how I could break the story up a little. Steve suggested that I split my first waiting room scene into two separate waiting room scenes. This is to help spread the story out a little. Steve also made some suggestions about the ending of my script and how I could use the accident more effectively.
Overall I loved the feedback I got from Steve and I'm glad he liked my script, he said it had a lot of potential. I made most of the changes he suggested and produced draft five of my script. This draft is the one I used during my shoot.
Steven and I went through the script together and picked it apart, deciding what worked well and what could be changed. We started with the opening scene. Steve made some suggestions. He said I could give the van a reason to be there so the accident isn't just a coincidence. He said that maybe the van driver could be another expectant father who is rushing into the hospital, looking for somewhere to park.
Next we moved onto the main character, Dylan. Steve thought it would be good to think about his back story and what it is he might have done to annoy his fiancée. We both decided that Dylan was a gambler who had gambled all his and his fiancée's money away to buy the most expensive baby gadgets available. Unfortunately, it didn't work out how he thought it would and now he is broke. I thought about how I could write this into the script and we both agreed that Dylan could receive a text or call about betting at some point during the story.
Finally we looked at the structure of the script and how I could break the story up a little. Steve suggested that I split my first waiting room scene into two separate waiting room scenes. This is to help spread the story out a little. Steve also made some suggestions about the ending of my script and how I could use the accident more effectively.
Overall I loved the feedback I got from Steve and I'm glad he liked my script, he said it had a lot of potential. I made most of the changes he suggested and produced draft five of my script. This draft is the one I used during my shoot.
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| Draft 5 Title Page |
Editing Workshop: Final Workshop
For our final editing workshop we put all the skills we had learnt to the test and began editing together some of the footage we had shot during the camera workshops. I decided to edit together the footage I shot during my final camera workshop called "Crossing The Line".
I wrote about the process I used to edit this footage together in this post:
http://joshuajonesucatv.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/camera-workshop-4-crossing-line.html
Overall I'm pleased with the editing workshops and I think I have picked up a lot of useful information that I can use when editing together my story-telling project.
I wrote about the process I used to edit this footage together in this post:
http://joshuajonesucatv.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/camera-workshop-4-crossing-line.html
Overall I'm pleased with the editing workshops and I think I have picked up a lot of useful information that I can use when editing together my story-telling project.
Story-Telling: Pre-production- Call Sheets & Schedules
Before I could begin filming my project I had to produce a call sheet and schedule for my cast and crew. These two documents will make production a lot easier by ensuring everyone knows important information and knows where to be and when to be there. Before I could complete either of the two documents I had to double checked that all my locations and crew were available when I needed them.
Once I completed them both, I emailed them to my cast and crew.
Once I completed them both, I emailed them to my cast and crew.
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| Call sheet (pg1) |
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| Schedule (pg1) |
Story-Telling: Pre-production- Risk Assessments
As part of my pre-production I had to fill out risk assessments for all the locations I wanted to film at. These assessments had to look at all the hazards a cast and crew could face, all the way from minor ones to major ones. I had to visit each location I was planning to shoot at and write about all the hazards I could see.
My main location was The Maidstone Studios, and to get permission to film there I had to fill out a very thorough risk assessment. I had to literally think about everything that could happen so that if it did happen I couldn't be held responsible for it.
For my second location I had to also fill out a thorough risk assessment. I wanted to film in a nature reserve close to the studios. I went to the location and walked around where I was planning to shoot. I wrote down everything I could think of and then filled out the risk assessments.
Overall I think my risk assessments were very thorough and I think I had thought of everything that could possibly happen.
My main location was The Maidstone Studios, and to get permission to film there I had to fill out a very thorough risk assessment. I had to literally think about everything that could happen so that if it did happen I couldn't be held responsible for it.
For my second location I had to also fill out a thorough risk assessment. I wanted to film in a nature reserve close to the studios. I went to the location and walked around where I was planning to shoot. I wrote down everything I could think of and then filled out the risk assessments.
Overall I think my risk assessments were very thorough and I think I had thought of everything that could possibly happen.
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| My risk assessment |
Story-Telling: Thrid & Fourth Draft
After reviewing my second draft I have decided to make some more edits and move onto my third and fourth drafts. For these drafts I have made a few minor changes. I have rewritten my opening scene and changed some of my characters dialogue. Finally I re-wrote my final sequence. Overall most of the changes were made because I wanted to use my car accident more throughout the whole script.
Soon I will have a script feedback session with Steve Combs, who is a professional script writer. After this session I will be able to start writing my fifth draft.
Soon I will have a script feedback session with Steve Combs, who is a professional script writer. After this session I will be able to start writing my fifth draft.
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| Draft 3 Title Page |
Work Experience- Runner on CBBC'S "Ultimate Brain"
Recently I was lucky enough to get the chance to spend two days working as a runner on the set of CBBC'S "Ultimate Brain".
During my time in the studio:
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| Ultimate Brain Logo |
- I helped the crew bring things on and off set.
- I kept food and water stocked up.
- I helped the chaperones look after the contestants.
- Provided drinks for the crew, contestants & celebrities.
- I stood-in as the contestants whilst the crew set up their shots.
- I helped the props department prepare props for the science based games (this included blowing up 600 balloons!)
Whilst I was there I got to watch a lot of the show and see how they prepare for and then shoot some of the games they play on the show. I was able to meet and chat with the stars of the show, and even spend some time with the celebrity contestants. I also spent some time in the gallery watching them mix the show together. I had a brilliant time and learnt so much about how a studio show is put together. I asked loads of questions and found out as much as a possibly could. Everyone was really friendly and happy to answer my questions. I really felt like I was part of the crew and I wish I could have done more than just two days. It was a brilliant piece of work experience and I made some great contacts. I even got to attend the wrap party!! It was a great experience!
Here are some of my photos:
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| They used a scissor lift to drop water balloons during a game |
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| The Gallery |
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| On set |