2. PREPARATION
The evening before our shoot we tried
to set up the studio for our morning
DJ set which was going to be shot in
the morning. However, due to
another shoot taking place that
evening we couldn’t setup because
parts of our set were being used in
this video.
Despite this, we still collected
together all our props and outfits for
the video and laid them out for the
next day. We also prepped the camera
gear and the stabilization rig we were
going to be using for all the handheld
shots by charging batteries,
formatting memory cards and
adjusting the camera base plates so
they fitted onto the rig safely.
3. MORNING OF THE SHOOT
Waking up to a familiar feeling of angst
regarding the video, I was worried about
how everything would go despite our
preparation. After last year’s AS thriller
which I directed, I knew the stress involved
with directing actors as well as operating
the camera.
I headed into school at 7:45am and began to
setup the studio with a technician. We put
up lighting strips, assembled the DJ’s
performance stage, connected up the
electronic decks and started the smoke
machine. The help of a studio technician
was really valuable and helped us to get set
up quickly so we could begin shooting as
soon as possible due to our tight schedule.
Since we had already prepared the camera’s
and props the day before we could quickly
put our DJ on set and start shooting scenes
which was a good start to the morning.
4.
5. ROLES
During the shoot I took on a main
directorial and camera operating role,
working within our group we each had
our own job. Charlotte was accountable
for music playback at the start of each
scene whilst Andrew was in charge of
the actors and had to make sure they
weren’t getting angry or upset during
any of the intervals between shots as
we prepared the camera and set.
Having our own specific roles meant we
could concentrate on them and do
them to the best of our ability.
Cooperation is a key element of being
part of a production crew and learning
to let others do some of the work is
essential otherwise you cannot
concentrate.
6. ROLES
I felt I played my role well, there
were problems with time as we
were shooting on a Friday and the
studio couldn’t be set up the day
before. This meant I was
constantly under pressure to move
onto the next scene and get things
on the road which was a good test
of my directing ability, getting
actors to do what I needed within
a few shots.
I will also likely be the senior
editor of our project, with past
experience in visual effects editing
programs, I plan to make the final
cut for our video look fast paced
and flashy during the dance and
DJ scenes
7. EVALUATION
I felt our shoot was extremely successful,
having a shorter time period than most and
having to shoot the video without any kind
of help in terms of camera or actors. We
came up with and shot the video, it is our
creation and I’m really proud of how it looks
so far.
Whilst we had problems with time and a
few location issues, we were on the ball and
came up with ways to work around our
limitations. I felt that when directing I did a
good job of managing our talent but it
would have been nice if we had a larger
crew to deal with the smaller problems that
I was often too busy to handle. Regardless,
we still worked together well as a team.
I loved doing the camerawork for this video,
being able to showcase some nice looking
footage which comfortably fits in with the
track will be great. I cannot wait to get my
hands on this in the edit.
8. EVALUATION
Finishing the shoot, if I could have changed
anything it have been the location and
costume of our main character.
They both felt quite disjointed from one
another and didn’t make a lot of sense. The
atmosphere of the location didn’t feel right
for a school.
Ignoring these, our footage looks great and
looks promising for the final video. I hope
that it will fit nicely with the album cover
digipack we have been working on.
