Test Footage, Location Scouting, and Storyboards
Today I took test footage at the Marina and at 'The Causeway' to get a first impression of how the imagery I have imagined so far might turn out in real life. As I have quoted one of my lecturers many times before, the film playing in our heads is always perfect, whereas implementing them into real life is the true challenge in filmmaking.
So I decided to take off with the equipment and test the waters to see whether I can actually achieve what I envisioned and keep the promise I made to our client. Since my experiments required filming an actor running, Craig tagged along to pose as a stand-in (or run-in, for that matter) and to help carry the equipment.
For the first, and as you can see in the footage below, I went to Marina and took a couple of test shots there, experimenting with:
1) the actual sound levels near the sea, especially wind, waves, and - as it turned out - a nearby factory
2) the lighting situation (what nd-filter and aperture to choose, how to keep both the texture of the water and the texture of the building while panning, how to avoid partial under- or overexposure since the surface of the sea reflects light differently than brick buildings)
3) how footage of a running person would look like with the equipment we have at hand and how I could improve it by panning or moving myself, and
4) to experiment with a Manfrotto slider and to get practice in operating it.
Halfway through the experiments, I realised that the slider was missing its plate. After a short search in all the bags, we concluded that it must have been missing already when it was handed out. However, since we were lacking a replacement on the spot, we were unable to experiment with the slider. In hindsight this was not too bad a happenstance since I realised that the running scene would need us using a track and dolly anyways in order to capture the movement in more detail and with more kinetic energy.
Futhermore, now looking back at the footage we shot, I realise that the camera movements are much to quick and unsteady. This is yet another interesting feat, since I repeatedly realise that the difference between what footage looks like on the LCD-display and on the computer is vast. So I not only need to remember to slow down but furthermore to mount the camera onto a tripod.
We then wandered down to a hotel quite near the college in an attempt to find a manager or possibly even an owner and ask for permission to film. After a bit of a search, we met two members of hotel staff that were eager to help and positive about the project, since they reported that they repeatedly had student film productions within their premises. We received a number and were told to return that evening to speak with the manager since he would be in that day. But as it turned out later this evening when calling in, our request of filming there was denied since the owner was not too happy about it.
After scouting the hotel, we went further down to The Causeway where I took another round of test footage to experiment with, gauge or establish:
1) a good scene/area/place to film within the bar that looks visually interesting
2) framing and camera movement at an actual premise with all its benefits and disadvantages
3) the sound levels of other customer's or music playing in the background
4) what the light looks like on camera and what kind of lighting equipment we would need to bring, since we're only allowed to film in there starting at 12pm but need to film a night scene, and
5) a well framed establishing shot of the entrance/exit of the bar.
Unfortunately, due to the customer frequentation in that bar and people not wanting to be captured on footage, we did not have many alternatives in taking footage without catching someones face, likeness or voice on camera. To at least diminish the last factor, I thus decided to film silently to get at least a bit of test footage covered for the shot.
While this looks like a very nice shot to film, the issue with the location here is not only the fact that the customers of the bar mostly tend to sit and talk here, but also that the sunlight (and thus time of day) is extremely visible on footage. Even colour correction, at least at our stage, would pose as extremely difficult since the highlights of the sun cast on reflecting objects would still be visible on the corrected footage and thus fool no one. So while I really do like it as a backdrop, we unfortunately cannot use that part of the location.
However, we managed to find a nice little snug room that not only looked really nice on camera but also allows us to mock up a night scene during the day.
This would still remain a bit of a challenge, but then again I am here to tackle challenges in filmmaking and to learn from these challenges and mistakes. A smooth sea does not make a skilled sailor after all.
So finally, Craig and I left and both parted our ways, Craig to call up and see the hotel manager, me - since the script was now mostly finalised - to finally get started on the storyboard.
And this is the result:
