Tuesday we didn't go out to check out the locations and one team member didn't make it in. Such preparation would have been valuable, but I guess we'll survive. I could have just gone and done my own research but I don't have a copy of the script and I'm not entirely sure where the locations are. There was a Google map of the original script I've just remembered, I'm not sure if the location was current on it. It's also one of those things you sort of need to do as a team anyway.  And I'm feeling a bit apathetic about it all really...

However one of the team members showed me his work in producing a visual effect of a gun fight. He recorded himself shooting a toy gun, added a smoke and fire effect and of course the sound. It was rather impressive.

While the class in their various teams planned whatever they were planning, a video was put on for us to watch, Cream Master 4 directed by Matthew Barney. An avant guard piece of cinema had everyone scratching their heads.

Wednesday we started shooting park scenes. I was given position of director which you'd think would suit me as I so desperately want to control the quality of the shots, but it's a learning experience. Quite unexpectedly my team really did look to me for guidance on what to shoot and how to frame it and how the shots go together. But I think I really needed to take on the role better and actually give that guidance properly. I found some of it difficult as the portion of storyboard that we were working off was not visualised by me and so I had to visualise it as we went and also reconcile it with the actual location. I was also concerned with continuity of shots and that the camera didn't find itself crossing the line. Various challenges presented themselves such as a construction worker having morning tea and perching himself in shots from a certain angle rendering them unusable. Unless we want to add the element of mystery in the case of the disappearing and reappearing construction worker.

We only shot the park scene leaving quite a bit to get done tomorrow which is a mild worry but I suppose at the same time it allows us to review the current footage and determine if we're doing anything wrong. The idea was floated that we take the footage home and edit it and review each others work and the best edit wins. Once again, not how you'd want to usually do things but at the same time it appealed so I agreed.

I'm currently reviewing the footage and I really don't like the camera work. All of the shots I have looked at so far are far too loose. I wish I'd been a little bit more assertive on that front now. I didn't want to be too controlling of the camera work but now I might have to reduce the quality of the shots by enlarging them. Others are not framed well - one in particular cuts the subjects head off as she approaches. One I asked for an extreme close up and got something in between a mid shot ant a close up. I didn't use the shot anyway as it conveyed nothing that it was supposed to.

....

Right, just looked at everything and really... we need to re shoot all of this properly. It might it a hard sell. We've just created a lot of work for ourselves, no one can go home at 1 tomorrow, this is getting out of hand and I'm kind of getting sick of of winding up in these situations.