Drama Project: Production - Shoot Stills

Drama Project: Preproduction - Shooting Schedule

This is the shooting schedule Rhys organised for the weekend. We want to get the majority of the shots we want on the saturday, so we had more time on Sunday to go over anything as well as get cutaways and extra shots if we wanted.

Drama Project: Preproduction - The Rehearsals

The Actors
We needed two actors for the main parts of the 'Father' and the 'Daughter', we also needed someone for the mother character, so we could take some 'family photos' for our set. This was very difficult because of the amount of time we had and the availability of actors, as well as the amount of time we'd be giving them to learn the script. Rhys emailed the university as well as using Casting Call Pro. We found many people interested in the 'Daughter' role (as we held auditions), however we struggled to find any middle aged actors for the 'Father' and mother characters. Luckily, Rhys found an actor on Casting Call Pro who was willing to do it, James was our last actor interested!

For the female mother character, we ended up using photoshopped images of Jess' cousins. It was unfortunate that we couldn't find anyone and had to rely on photoshop, but I feel it will work fine.

The Rehearsals
We held a rehearsal with the two actors, and we ran through the script and let them get to know each other before the shoot. It was also an opportunity to see how the actors responded to the lines and each other whilst acting as well. It was really useful and we had enough time to talk to the actors about all the details we wanted. Whilst Rhys and Lewis took charge of Rehearsals. I had a practice with the shoulder rig & DSLR. I'd previously had a brief tutorial with Rhys on using the camera so I was confident with that, however it was setting up the shoulder rig to be comfortable, as well as stable. Joeley & Jess helped me with that, so we could give the actors some space.

Drama Project: Preproduction - Female Actor Auditions

We held auditions for the 'daughter' role in our film as we received a lot of interest. We had 4 applicants for audition on that day:

#1 Fiona Wardle
We chose Fiona for the part. She was excellent in the audition and had loose availability for the shoot, which was great, because it was awkwardly on the weekend, so we needed to ensure people would be available - because of the lack of time we had. She showed great emotion and enthusiasm for the project.

#2 Hannah Sneldon
Very enthusiastic and lovely girl. She was a great actress, expressing a lot of emotion and asking a lot of questions about the piece. Unfortunately we felt she wasn't quite right for the part in the image we had created, but nevertheless, she is good at showing emotion and working with others (Rhys took the role of the Father in auditions)

#3 Devon Partington
Once again, great actress. She took the script very well and had the right image. Unfortunately, she wasn't able on the days we needed to shoot.

#4 Charmaine Mienhan
Very enthusiastic and emotional actress, she worked well with others. Unfortunately, we had problems with availability, but feel that from everyone, Fiona was the most available and image right for our part.

We thanked everyone for their time, they were all great!

Drama Project: Preproduction - Equipment List & Location Scouting

Below are the equipment lists created by Rhys & Lewis, of what we need to book for the shooting days. We wanted to get a lot of equipment because we wanted to fulfil each of our roles to the best of our abilities, and needed a lot of equipment to do so. Rhys supplied the Canon DSLR for the shoot, because he felt the quality would be much better, and the depth of field would be greater than the Sony PD170 could give us, so I required training on the rehearsal nights for this specific camera.

The Location scouting was completed by Rhys, James & Lewis. 

Drama Project: Preproduction - The Storyboard

Lewis & I were given the task of using the final shot list and creating a final storyboard for our shoot.  It was really helpful for me because it allowed me to visualise the shots before I would be taking them on the day, so I was much more confident with the shoot. The storyboard also helps put the shots together for the editing stage, so it was greatly considered and will be appreciated throughout our project by myself and the editors!! The storyboard is very important, and will act as a guideline throughout the shoot and editing stage.

Drama Project: Preproduction - The Final Script

This post contains our finalised script (of three) that we created in the pre-production stage of the Drama project. We worked together to bring the final script together, suggesting what we could add and take out. I liked that we all had input on the script as we all got to contribute different ideas to each draft, which I feel will make the final script a lot stronger than if one person that solely worked on it.

Here is our Final (Pre-Production) Script:

FADE IN:

INT. DINING ROOM #1 – DAY

DAUGHTER is layed down on back. She has tears running down her face and is laying still as if not daring to move. Her FATHER is stood up away from where she is laying and has the expression of both shock and guilt on his face. He leaves the room walking out the front door and is followed around by the eyeline of his DAUGHTER still unmoved on the floor.

As the door shuts cut to...

INT. DINING ROOM - DAY

FATHER is sitting next to DAUGHTER, on the table are open homework books. DAUGHTER is writing and FATHER is pointing to a page in a book.

                     DAUGHTER (exasperated)

               I'll never finish this! Only a week for planning!

                     FATHER (kindly)

               Don't worry, we'll get it done together, flower.

FATHER smiles as he watches DAUGHTER writing.

INT. BEDROOM #2 - DAY

Tracking through the bedroom, we see the bedside table with the pictures of the family happy in different places, a flower is beside a picture of the Wife. The camera tracks round to reveal FATHER in his bedroom smoking, we see him take up the picture of the Wife and look at it lovingly with tears in his eyes before he puts it down and taking up his pills, rattles them and sighs before popping off the cap and taking them.

INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

Fixed camera shot, FATHER paces up and down in room as he is unable to sleep.

CUT TO:

INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT

FATHER opens fridge and begins to pile up food.

CUT TO:

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

DAUGHTER walks into living room with school bag, getting ready for school. She see's FATHER slumped on sofa asleep, surrounded by wrappers. Sighing, DAUGHTER drops her school bag and begins to clean up the empty wrappers; she abandons the task and shakes FATHER awake, he wakes with a jump.

                     FATHER (groggily)

               Eh? Sorry, I didn't sleep.

                     DAUGHTER (annoyed)

               I can see that. I'm going to school.

DAUGHTER collects her school bag and leaves.

INT. DINING ROOM #3 - DAY

FATHER is sitting by the dining room table in front of two plates of pasta placed symmetrically on the table with an empty seat opposite him where someone should be sat. DAUGHTER walks into house through the front door wearing school bag.

DAUGHTER

Hi dad, I’m home.

FATHER

(Ecstatically) Hi flower, I made us dinner, look! Took me a long time. Come on, tuck in! How's your day been?

DAUGHTER

(Smiles unconvincing) Well... this is nice. Thanks dad. How are you feeling today? What have you done? Have you taken your pills?

DAUGHTER takes pills and reaches out to give them to him. He takes them kindly and puts them next to him.

FATHER

Yes, yeah. Don’t worry about me flower. I’m more bothered about you.

DAUGHTER

Thanks dad. (Smiles) It’s nice to see you like this.

They share a smile and carry on eating.

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

DAUGHTER brings FATHER a cup of tea, FATHER is sat on sofa beside side table with vacant expression on face, staring into middle distance. DAUGHTER tries to offer FATHER the cup of tea but he doesn't respond or acknowledge her presence so she puts the tea on the side table.

                    

DAUGHTER (reluctant to bring it up)

It's been a year…(pause) Shall we go visit mum tomorrow?

FATHER continues to blank DAUGHTER. DAUGHTER leaves, trying to hide her expression.

CUT TO:

INT.  KITCHEN - DAY

Opens with wide shot of kitchen, DAUGHTER is sat on kitchen surface with head in hands, sobbing is very audible and exaggerated.

I/E. CAR #4 - NIGHT

FATHER is sitting in car staring dreamlessly forward out of the windscreen. Stays there all evening.

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

DAUGHTER is sat reading, FATHER comes in with a bunch of flowers.

               FATHER (happily)

          I bought some flowers to take for mum.

         

               DAUGHTER (confused)

          I thought you didn't wanna go?

               FATHER

          Of course I want to go, flower! Are you coming?

INT. LIVING ROOM/DINING ROOM #5 - DAY

Daughter returns home from school. Her father is sat at the Dining Room table looking down at the food not eating with a cigarette in his mouth.

DAUGHTER

Dad, I’m home.

The father looks up angrily and stands up so fast as to allow his chair to fly back and the table to move slightly. He marches toward her

FATHER

(Raising voice) Where have you been? Dinner has been sitting here for 5 minutes now and it's probably cold, whilst you've been…what? Fucking around outside?!

DAUGHTER

(Trying to cut in) No dad, I was walking home from school…

FATHER (interrupting)

Don’t give me that excuse! You’ve been avoiding coming back because of me haven’t you? You’ve been trying to keep away from me because you think this condition makes me a freak, don’t you?

DAUGHTER

No Dad, it's not like that! I swear, I’m sorry...(Grabs Pills) Look, you need to take your pills.

Father reacts aggressively hitting the pills out of his daughters hand onto the floor. He pushes forward at her.

FATHER

If you hadn’t of been so eager to avoid me this wouldn’t have happened you’re just selfish, all you care about is yourself. You never bothered with anyone else. You'll drive everyone away from you. Just... (pause) Look at what you did to your mother.

Father pushes his daughter to the ground. She lands in the same position as described at the start. There is a moment of unfilled silence as tears stream from her eyes and her father looks at her with a shocked and guilty face. He then walks from the room and leaves the house through the front door. She lays still putting her hands to her face and cries. A car is heard starting and driving off in background.

EXT. BRIDGE #6 - DAY

Father drives up and stops the car. He gets out and walks to the bridge stepping toward the edge. He lights a cigarette and takes out his wallet looking at a picture of his daughter and wife together. A tear rolls down his cheek before he bursts into tears. Shortly after his phone rings, he answers.

DAUGHTER

(Sobbing) Please come home dad. I'm sorry. I just...

FATHER (interrupting)

I’m so sorry flower. (pause) I’m so sorry for everything that's happened…(trails off and hangs up)

Father holds the phone for a moment before putting it away. Still crying, he puts the picture into his back pocket and flicks his fag over the side of the bridge. He then steps up to the side of the bridge looking down and slowly looks up until he is looking directly into the camera.

END

Drama Project: Preproduction - The Shot List

Next, we created a shot list from the script. Rhys created the main list and each of us were sent a copy to contribute and edit as we saw fit. When we all decided and agreed on our final shot list, the below information is what we came up with. As the cinematographer, I feel that there will be many shots we may wish to include later or on the shoot, which we will confirm on our camera logs.

The Shot List:

FADE IN:

INT. DINING ROOM #1 – DAY

·      Mid shot of daughters face panning out straight above her eyeline as she watches Father exit. 10secs cut by door shutting.

INT. DINING ROOM - DAY

·      Wide shot at Father and Daughters eyeline level of them at Dining room table. 4secs

·      2 shot from other side of table (Still at same eyeline) 7secs

·      Close up of Father Saying Don’t worry, we’ll get it done together flower 3secs

·      Close up of Daughters smiling back at Father. 2secs

·      Back to 2 shot as they carry on with work. 3secs

INT. BEDROOM #2 - DAY

·      Tracking shot starting at far right side of bedside table moving right to left through the pictures and over to a mid/long shot of Father sat on bed looking at a picture and smoking. Stays on until he puts down picture. 12secs

·      Cutaway shot of bedside table as he puts the picture back on it and takes the pill box from the surface. 4secs

·      Cuts back to mid/long shot of father taking pills. 5secs

INT. LIVING ROOM – DAY UNSURE OF SCENE

·      Static wide shot in corner of room throughout Fathers different mood swings.

INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT

·      Establishing shot of clock on bedside table (or on wall in bedroom) the time showing 1.30am focus pulls to father in bed shuffling.

·      Long shot looking straight down at Father layed in bed trying to get comfortable then sighing and getting straight out of bed.

·      Mid shot with bed in background, Father is pacing from right out of shot to left out of shot repeating this about 3 times.

·      Long shot to other side of bedroom looking at door as he decides to walk through it.

INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT

·      Shot inside fridge as Father opens door to get food

·      Mid shot side view of fridge as Father piles up food in his hands then closes it with his feet and exits toward Living Room.

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

·      Tracking mid shot or over the shoulder of Daughter walking into room and seeing Father slumped on sofa.

·      2 shot and over the Fathers shoulder shot as Daughter clears up mess around father and nudges Father.

·      Mid shot of father as he awakes.

·      Back to 2 Shot as she grabs her bag and leaves. (door slams in  background)

INT. DINING ROOM #3 - DAY

·      Long shot of front door as daughter arrives.

·      Long shot down hallway that Daughter is in as Father appears quickly into the frame.

·      Tracks and pans with daughter as she walks into the Dining Room

·      2 shot at Dining room table as they sit and talk.

·      Close up of Father

·      Close up of Daughter

·      Mid shot of Father

·      Mid Shot of Daughter

·      Cutaway shot of pills next to or on daughters side of the table.

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

·      Long shot framing daughter central but Father in the right side slumped on the sofa as daughter gives Father a cup of tea

·      Mid shot of Fathers vacant expression at his eyeline

·      Mid shot as Daughter speaks and her expression afterward

·      Mid shot of Fathers vacant expression

·      Back to 2 shot

·      Mid shot as daughter holds back tears and turns around to exit room

·      Back to mid shot of Father still with a vacant expression.

INT.  KITCHEN - DAY

·      Wide shot of daughter crying on kitchen surface.

I/E. CAR #4 - NIGHT

·      Establishing night shot looking up at stars but with trees at bottom of frame

·      Long shot of Father in car

·      Mid shot from back of car looking out of car windscreen

·      Mid shot inside car looking at Father dreamlessly staring at nothing.

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

·      Mid shot daughter reading at eyeline

·      Wide shot as Father enters room with flowers in hand and says line.

·      Mid shot back to daughter

·      Mid shot of father

·      Back to 2 shot

INT. LIVING ROOM/DINING ROOM #5 - DAY

·      Long shot of front door as daughter arrives.

·      Long shot down hallway that Daughter is in.

·      Tracks and pans with daughter as she walks into the Dining Room

·      Wide shot at Dining room table as father stands up angrily

·      OTS shot of Father as he marches up to her

·      Mid shot of Father

·      Mid Shot of Daughter

·      Close up of Father

·      Close up of Daughter

·      2 shot as daughter grabs pills toward pills.

·      OTS shot looking at Father as he hits pills out of Daughters hand.

·      Close up father as he starts to push forward at her

·      Handheld 2 shot as Father talks and pushes daughter to the ground

·      Mid shot low angle from high up as we follow Daughter fall to the ground

·      Mid shot/reverse shot of both the reactions in silence starting at Father then at Daughter

·      Back to Father as he leaves the room at exits.

·      Back to Daughter (Same shot as opening scene) as we hear the car start and Father drive off

EXT. BRIDGE #6 - DAY

·      Wide shot of car arriving at entrance to bridge and Father getting out of car, smoking and walking toward bridge

·      Mid/Long shot of him walking away from camera toward bridge

·      Mid shot tracking in front of him as he walks and arrives at bridge edge

·      OTS shot of him as he looks down

·      Wide shot at other side of bridge looking at him

·      Wide X Long shot from away from the bridge as he is looking

·      Mid shot as he steps back and puts his hand into his back pocket

·      Cutaway Close up following his hand holding his wallet as he opens it and gets out a picture of his Wife and Daughter together putting his wallet back straight after.

·      Close up High angle looking up next to where his hand is looking at his expression as a tear runs from his face

·      Mid shot panning up slightly as he looks up and bursts into tears maybe handheld

·      Back to Wide shot.

·      Mid shot again as he gets phonecall and answers it

·      Close up of face whilst he is talking and looking at picture

·      Cutaway of pic again?

·      Back to mid shot as he puts down phone and puts pic back into back pocket. Starts to walk forward

·      POV shot as he steps up to edge looking at feet and then down to bottom of bridge

·      Wide shot at other side of bridge again

·      Mid shot from him looking down and examining bottom expressionlessly and then looking up to the camera for 5secs

END

Drama Project: Preproduction - The Original Plotline Idea

Below is the original plot line we created for our drama assignment. We decided that we wanted to create a story based on a broken family, a father who had bi-polar, the mother who had passed away from illness, and the daughter, who's been suffering the worst from the trauma the family has faced, as well as her father's condition. 


This is the plot line we presented in our Pitching Session. We feel this was our strongest idea and wanted to start working on further pre-production such as creating a script, shot list and storyboards, as well as get actors in good time. 


The main idea was to capture the ups and downs of the father's condition, and show the journey the family have faced and are currently going through. I really like this idea and hope it will be successful for our piece!

START:

·        Daughter lying on floor in tears camera tracking out on top of character her eyeline follows father as he stands there for a few secs then walks out of door (audible click) and cuts to flashback.

·        A single wide static shot in living room of dad showing all different emotions of bipolar depression: Angry-ecstatic, happy-sad. (Dancing on his own happily and then dancing the waltz sadly with his wife as she fades away. Cutting from jumping up and down in the air to curled in a ball

·        Tracking left to right or right to left looking at pictures of family happy. Tracks over to father in bedroom taking pills looking extremely warn out and sad.

·        Scene of father who has made dinner for daughter sitting at table as daughter walks in- He is ecstatic, very happy but taking pills. Daughter sits at table with a fake smile asking how he is feeling stressing about how he is.

·        Scene of father in car time-lapse as it becomes dark.

·        Scene next day- daughter walking into house and dad is sat smoking with dinner on table- she walks in says hi and he looks up angry and starts argument questioning ‘where have you been?’ very over the top. She tells him to calm down and to take his pills- he hits the pills from her hand and blames her for her mother’s death whilst pushing her to the floor.

·        He stands there for a second looking slightly shocked and guilty- he walks out of the house and we see the daughter lying there putting her hands over her face and crying.

·        Cuts to the father walking up to the side of a bridge standing at the edge and lighting a fag, he bursts into tears.

·        His mobile rings and he answers it, his daughter sobbing says please come home dad.

·        He replies I’m sorry for everything that has happened and hangs up the phone.

·        He takes out his wallet looking at a photo of his wife and daughter and still sobbing flicks his cigarette over the bridge and steps up to the edge of it looking down. After a few seconds he looks up slowly to the camera.

CUTS TO BLACK