My production reflections for FMP

1. Production Reflection
Rhys Sadler-Scott

2. Process- Production week 1: Tuesday
Today I finished off my final script for the documentary including the interviews, narration
and general layouts of the shots I will do. I had to study other documentary scripts in order
to see how they are usually formatted. It is a lot more difficult to do this then to write the
script for a movie or TV show, as for a documentary in the style I am doing it, you can only
plan for what the presenter will say. Not the interviewees. I also left a note on the bottom of
the script detailing how this was only a general idea for the scenes that I could include I will
still film as much stock footage and interviews as I can, in order to make sure that I have a
lot of options available to me, and to make an extended edition for personal distribution
should time allow.

3. Process
I also fine tuned my pre production, and created a call sheet for my Documentary.
With this, all pre production is completed. I hope to start filming the Documentary
tonight. And edit the footage tomorrow.

4. Production week 1- Wednesday
Today I began my initial filming for the Documentary. To start it all off, I filmed my
first interview with the School psychologist; Elly. She was more than
accommodating to my filming and I was able to get several good shots of her office
and her opinion on autism and the School. Which I edited together into a coherent
interview later at college. Where Elly describes her professional view on autism and
the joy she has coming to work. I used PremierePro to tie these shots together, as
well as make a credit to Elly appear in front of her as she talks.

5. Process
Next I added a song from the licensed soundtrack that I have elected to use from the album
by the artist “Koethe” in the background. Which I think adds some interest and fits with the
tone of the scene very well, as well as emphasizing the point of the Documentary. The
gentle, uplifting melody is perfect for the inspirational, educational tone that I am aiming
for in my final film. Tonight, I plan to film another interview, and a few panning shots of the
school, which I will edit tomorrow. I will also look into recording my voiceovers for the
Documentary.

6. Production Week 1- Thursday
Today I put some finishing touches on my interview with Elly, like some stock footage
of the building, and rearranging the order of the shots so they flowed better. I took
some stock footage last night, as well as another interview with one of the care team
leaders at Breckenbrough. I shot us coming into her office from several angles, and
also took some stock footage of the units and rooms the boarding students sleep in, to
add to what she was saying. Tonight will be my busiest night for production, but also
my most lucrative, I have several interviews lined up, as well as some stock footage,
presenting shots and aerial shots. Which I will begin editing tomorrow if all goes well.

7. Production week 1- Friday
With my aerial shots of the building filmed, as well as several more interviews with both
students and staff at the School. I decided today would be a good time to start recording
voiceovers for the film. Though first, I started drafting together my first cut of the film.
Which as of now, amounts to about 6 minutes. The remaining time I have will most likely
be dedicated to voiceover shots and presenting shots, with perhaps one more interview
if I have time. The cut I have edited so far, I am very happy with, though there is the
occasional volume or lighting inconsistency that I am not always sure how to address,
they are much less than I would have expected from the first few shoots.

8. Process
I have recorded as much dialogue as I could in advance
of filming. And though I have not yet been able to
properly check the quality, I am hopeful that I will have
some usable narration by next production week.
Though I did hit a roadblock today when one of the
computers I used rejected my work on PremirePro, this
will not put me behind schedule for completing my
work. Which in fact is going faster than I would have
thought. Next week I will begin taking pictures for my
poster(s).