Summary
For this film I collaborated with the director and screenwriter to choose what the camera should do to convey their visions. I ultimately chose camera angles, movement, lighting, and focal length. The director and I chose locations together to ensure that the locations were best for the film.
Test Shots
Testing lighting inside & camera angle (commons)
Testing lighting outside – absolute fail (parking lot)
Solution: adjust the ISO or the aperture of the lens
Testing focal length (I-Hall)
These were all locations that we may use in our film, so it was important that we test them out and see what different kinds of equipment we will need to make the shots look good.
Equipment Checklist
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- [camera]
- Boom mic
- [lighting stuff]
- Car (crash scene)
- Computer
- Margarine tub
- Football uniform & football
- Random objects to throw
Collaboration with Director
Once our screenwriter finished the screenplay, the director and I went through the whole thing to choose the best angles for each shot. We chose locations together that would look best and work with the equipment we had. We also discussed mise-en-scene to ensure that I was portraying her vision of the film, while still using cinematic elements of film.
Set-up Sequence
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- Set up location
- Interview background
- Set up camera
- Set up lighting equipment
- Set up audio / boom mic
- Set up shots
- Set up pre-chosen mise-en-scene
- Review blocking for scene
- Set up camera at desired angle
- Pull focus & shoot
- Set up location
Storyboard Notation
We decided these shots would be most effective in portraying what we wanted from the story to keep suspense and drama.
What I Learned
Pre-production is incredibly important to making a good film. Without proper planning your film will not come out good, and it will not portray the story the way you want it to. Collaboration and communication is also very important, otherwise your team will not work as a team. Knowing your angles and mise-en-scene before hand make setting up your shots the day of filming way easier, as you don’t have to make those decisions wile also trying to shoot your film.