Studio Production: VT Fine Cut Viewing

Today we had a fine cut viewing of the VTs with Helen. Laura and I just had a few sound design changes to make to the trailer before showing it but we were finished before lunch ready for the viewing. We had a lot more positive feedback for the viewing and Helen seemed pleased with what we had achieved. In terms of the extra footage we shot on the 3rd and 4th shoot days, this was useful as it allowed us to have more edit points and more varying shots. We tightened up the mockumentary, shortening it to 2 1/2 mins. With the edit changes, this made the VT sustain that length effectively without it being too long or feeling dragged out like it had before. In terms of the trailer, Helen was pleased with it but suggested we have a voice over. I asked Josh to do the voice over for me as I thought his voice would be suitable. In an ideal world we would have had Darren do the voice over as  it was supposed to be a Norman-made trailer. However, the final result was effective and added to the production value of the VT. In terms of the final edit for the Trivia VT, the editors used some after effects including some animations and transitioning effects to tie the shots together which I think worked really well. Overall, I am pleased with the feedback we received for the final edits and think that the decision to re-shoot some of the footage was the right thing to do. The quality of the VTs could have been improved in areas such as the sound quality as there are elements where it is too quiet or there is some echo. However, I think after some adjustments on audition, this has been improved and brought to the best possible standard.

Studio Production: Camera Operation - Research

I have been researching the role of a studio camera operator which is the studio role I will be taking on for the production. It is the camera operators job to follow the Directors' shot list, based on a studio script and frame up the camera. The cameras used for a studio production will be of high quality and complexity. In the working environment, there would be another person to operate the iris of the camera. However, as a camera operator on this production, all of the operators will be managing every element of the camera for the show.

Other responsibilities of a camera operator include:

• Ensuring the cameras and associated equipment is rigged and ready for the required set up. 
• Using talk back, camera operators must be able to multitask to carry out several technical tasks,  listening to directions from the Director. 
• Assisting and supervising the Camera Assistant to move the cameras and carry out fault fixtures.
• They must also work with the contributors, giving them constructive advice, and giving feedback to the Director in order to achieve the required picture composition needed. 
• Working quickly and efficiently to a professional standard to provide the appropriate shots. 

I have found out that most camera operators start out by having training, as an apprentice. This means that they would learn most of their practical skills through hands on experience on the job. Throughout this production we have been rehearsing and having hands on experience with the cameras in a studio environment. I feel like this is the best way to learn about the many settings on the cameras and have as much practice and rehearsal time as possible. Being a technical role, it is essential that we learn through doing and exploring the features of the camera, as well as learning to troubleshoot to solve any problems on the day. 

Continual professional development is very important for this role, especially as technology is changing so rapidly. I found that some useful ways of obtaining information about this role in practice includes attending exhibitions, studying trade journals and joining industry forums. Basic photography skills, which help to develop visual and composition skills, provides a camera trainee with a useful starting point. I have an interest in photography and think that my attention to shot composition has helped me understand the basis of this. 

Studio Production: Editing Norman's Trailer

Today we were editing the VTs for the fine cut viewing. I was focussing predominately on the trailer as I was the lead Director for this VT. I worked with Laura who was the main editor for this VT so I could make some decisions regarding how I wanted the final edit to look and sound.
In terms of the montage section, I wasn't able to edit with Laura for the rough cut viewing and so had lots of changes to make for this sequence. I had imagined it to be snappy and fast paced to reflect the super hero theme and to account for the limited time frame. We went through the clips and chose the ones that would work best. As I had filmed several close ups of Norman's face for the mask and glasses etc, I wanted to use these throughout. There were some disputes with the Producer and other Director about whether to have the reveal of his face at the end. However, I had intended for the last shot to be a slow reveal which tilts up to show his final form. Therefore it made sense to use the close ups throughout rather than just at the end of the VT before the reveal. We then found sound effects to work with the actions to make the montage more dynamic and even snappier.
In terms of the other sequences, I decided to cut these down to only a few shots for each sequence so that Norman would be rushing around, delivering his DVDs in true super hero style. There were some issues with sound for the sequence with Saskia as she wasn't clip mic'd. Although, we managed to edit these in premiere to make them sound clearer.
Overall, I am relatively pleased with the trailer, however, the issues with the sound levels have brought the quality down slightly. However, I enjoyed editing with Laura as I felt like we agreed on the decisions and worked well as a team.

Studio Production: Re-shoot - Mockumentary + Trailer

After a rough cut viewing of the VTs featuring the character Norman, we decided to re-shoot some footage to give us more coverage and allow us to change our approach. Some of the footage we had for the mockumentary, Helen said was quite slow in pace and was dragged out. The character was speaking slowly and was saying 'erm' quite a lot which meant that we couldn't cut it down very effectively.
We decided to schedule the day the same as we had before with the mockumentary in the morning and the trailer after lunch. In order to steer away from the one take approach, we booked out another camera. This will allow us to get a wider variety of shots to cut to in the edit which should dramatise the film a little more. We ran through the second half of the script where Norman is in his bedroom and changed some of the shot sizes to include some tighter shots. Throughout, Troy was capturing some cutaways such as objects falling on the ground and of the posters in the background. These should help to give the edit more context and allow the audience to get to know the character better.
As the director, Saskia ensured that Darren knew that he had to speed up the lines so that we could cut it more smoothly. In hindsight, I think this was a great decision as it added much more energy to the shots, which was apparent during filming. I noticed that the team were able to communicate more effectively for this time round as we were all aware of what we needed to get and how we wanted the edit to look. I think in terms of set up we were also much more organised and we were able to get on with filming very quickly.

After lunch we filmed some extra footage for the trailer. I was happy with the shots for the montage section so we didn't need to re-shoot those. However, I wanted to film the sequences with the crew cameos again to get a wider coverage of shots and improve on the first shoot. I focussed on ensuring I got several different shots for each sequence including wider and tighter shots to make it easier for the editors. I also ensured that we used two cameras for the sequence with Saskia, placing one of them from Saskia's point of view to get the shot reversal. Set up was pretty simple as we only needed to dress the room which meant that we were able to stick to the schedule. Overall, I think that the team work was better on this shoot day as I think we all knew what we wanted to achieve. I think some areas for improvement would be to communicate with each other with regard to equipment and setting up.

Studio Production: Rehearsal Progress

For the past few weeks we have been spending Tuesday with Del Brown who has been carrying out work shops and spending our rehearsal time with us. Many of us have never worked in a working studio environment so this has been a totally new experience. For the production we all have very important and key roles. Working in a studio is a very different experience to working on location which means that the time we have with Del is vital for the success of the show and our learning experience along the way. There are several studio roles including Vision Mixing and Floor Managing that none of us have done before. Throughout these rehearsals we have all been given the opportunity to try out everyone's role and understand the demands of it.
For the first few weeks, we had specialist work shops in some of the technical roles such as camera work and vision mixing. I particularly enjoyed the vision mixing work shop, which allowed us to all have a turn at cutting to a piece of music. We had to follow a script and a count to cut the cameras in time with the music. I found this to be challenging at first but enjoyable as it was something i'd never experienced before.
For another workshop, we rotated roles so that everyone had a chance to take on everyone's role. This was a really interesting experience as it allowed us to understand the demands of each role and how pressured they are. I was surprised that I enjoyed Directing. It is very high pressured as there are a lot of cues to remember, however, I found it to be really exciting. Another role I thought I would like was Floor Managing. However, this role I found to be quite challenging. It involved a lot of communication between the gallery and the set floor which I found rather confusing when several people are trying to communicate with you at once.
For today's workshop/rehearsal we have been undertaking our own roles. I think that having as much rehearsal time as possible is very important to ensure that we all feel as practised as we can. As a camera operator, I feel comfortable using the camera to a good standard as we have used them in other units. However, there are other demands including ensuring the cameras all match up and look identical. This was a totally new experience and demand for all of us, which we found rather challenging at first.
In reflection, I feel like I have learnt several new skills from the work shops and feel relatively confident in the rehearsals we have completed so far. Each rehearsal so far, we have made a few mistakes so I think that the week of the recording, the rehearsal time will be vital to ensure that the crew feel as prepared as possible.

Studio Production: Re-shoot: Trivia

Today we had a re-shoot for some of the shots for the Trivia VT in the studio and gallery. We had decided as a team after the rough cut viewing that we needed a few more tighter shots and generally a wider coverage of shots for this VT.
In order to get a good sense of atmosphere in the studio, we filmed during a studio rehearsal with Del in the morning. Whilst everything was being set up for the day and after we had set up the cameras, we met with George - the host to film. We asked him to wear the same outfit to account for continuity with the other shots.
We were very pushed for time but were able to film the stare off with Cheyenne in the studio which was much more successful than the first time round. We also filmed the intro and ending again in the gallery, getting some tighter shots, making sure George walked in and out of frame for every shot so that it would be easier to cut around.
In terms of sound, we weren't able to have Sammi as she was setting up the sound for the rehearsal but I was able to take over and ensure that we had good sound recording throughout.
We struggled with the shot in the corridor, which features a watermelon as it was dropped a few takes into filming. During the editing process, this shot may need to be cut out as we weren't completely happy with the shots we got.
I think that getting some extra coverage was a good decision as we managed to get some cleaner shots for the final edit. It was also a positive thing to have people working in the background on the production as it gave the studio a much more visual back drop, giving the shots more content which still related to what George was telling us in the VT. From a directors point of view I would say that we could've been more organised with the filming of this VT and ensured that we had plenty of time to film it to the best possible standard, as we were very pushed for time. This meant that we had to make very quick decisions on the day. In conclusion, I am relatively pleased with what we have managed to film and think that there will be lots of improvement for the final edit.

Professional Practice: Shopping List and Excel Spreadsheets

During the prop buying process I undertook on my placement, I used several documents to assist me. I was given a shopping list on my first day so I knew what to shop for. I analysed the document and started by browsing some of the items online to get some quotes. Once I'd made a list of quotes I added these up to get a total to work with. I was given a budget of £1000 which is a very tight budget.  Once I had found some firm options for each prop and had worked out how I was going to obtain all of them, I documented the prices onto an Excel Spreadsheet which calculates how much you have spent. This was an incredibly useful tool as it allowed me to keep track of the expenditure and ensure that I stayed within budget!


Shopping List 

Excel Spreadsheet

Studio Production: Mockumentary Development

In reflection of the feedback we got from Helen during the rough cut viewings. I have made some notes for the mockumentary as this was the VT which required the most changes. The other two VTs will just need extra footage and a few of the shots re-filmed so that we have a wider range of shots. However, the approach to the mockumentary will need to be changed significantly.
Helen felt that the one take style we had gone for was too simplified and didn't tell us enough about who the character was. I agree with this as the set was dressed to reflect his character and none of this could be seen. To still get that documentary feel, we have decided to use an extra camera which will be responsible for the cutaways. Using an extra camera means that the shots will make sense with the continuity as they would have been able to get those whilst the action is happening. Helen also suggested that we utilised the cameras more and got some more close ups of Norman. I think this will dramatise the film somewhat and make it seem more sequenced.
The way we shot it meant that Norman spoke quite slowly with lots of 'erms'. However, when it came to cutting it for the rough cut, it meant that it seemed very dragged out and lost the interest of the viewer. Josh has decided that this VT will now be 2 1/2 minutes in length to allow for it to be cut down and less dragged out. I think this will engage the viewer for this time period and make it more enjoyable to watch. I'm glad that we were given the feedback we had as it has allowed us to strategise and plan some changes for the re shoot.

Professional Practice: Renegade Placement (Progress)

For the past couple of weeks, I have been completing my work placement at Renegade Pictures for the Professional Practice unit. I have been working on a brand new project entitled 'Evil Monkeys'. This project involves prepping for a taster tape for a new entertainment show. The taster tape will include games that the contestants will be attempting to complete. These will be edited together to create a 10 minute version of the show that will be sent off to be decided whether it will be commissioned or not. The Producer of the show also worked as a Producer on 'Release the Hounds', which has the same sort of theme as this new concept. The show revolves around sensory deprivation so the three contestants will all have a sense removed - sight, hearing or speech. They must then assist each other in the rounds to make up for their loss of senses. However, the rounds also include a variety of distractions including boxing gloves, 'beasties' - bugs and water balloons to make it more visually exciting.

It was my role to buy props for the shoot. Karen, the Production Manager needed a Production Assistant to help with the prop buying as she had several other projects taking place at the same time and couldn't give this project the attention it needed. We had a time frame of two weeks in which to buy all of the props and a budget of £1000. This was a relatively tight budget, however, as it is only a test shoot, it won't require the budget of the real show. I began by making notes on the shopping list of some quotes I'd found online. Some things were very simple like tape which could be bought from a hardware shop. Other things such as four perspex boxes required ordering as there weren't any shops nearby that supplied what we were after. I also spoke to the Producer James about some of the props to give me more insight into what he was after. This was very useful as he directed me towards some props he'd seen and liked. He also went into more detail and what he was after in terms of style and appearance. Once I had worked out the best places to obtain all of the props, I put these onto a spreadsheet. Excel adds up the totals automatically so you can keep in track of your expenditure. This was very useful as the budget was a very important thing to stick to. I updated the spreadsheet throughout the buying process to ensure I was on target. Once all of the props had been obtained, I had the job of altering some of them. For example the perspex boxes didn't have holes in the top of them. Therefore I took the lids off and measured out an alternative lid made from cardboard, of which I cut a hole out of. To disguise the cardboard, I draped some black fabric over the lids and spent an afternoon ensuring that they all looked neat and identical to a professional standard. These were very successful in the end and the Producer was incredibly pleased with the outcomes.

Professional Practice: Test Shoot Day

On Sunday 19th March, we filmed the test shoot for the Evil Monkeys project. Everything Karen and I had been working towards needed to be completed by the end of the two week period. I had been prop buying for the past 2 weeks and making/customising props. We ensured that all of the props had been put into the studio space by Friday afternoon reading for filming on the 6th Floor at 35 High Holborn on the Sunday. There was quite a lot of props which meant that we had to send them over by taxi and meet them at the door.
I was really excited to work on the shoot as I had been working with the team for the past couple of weeks and was keen to do something very practical. Although, I had enjoyed working in the office, I was very pleased that I was going to be given the opportunity to take part in a shoot.
We started at 8am ready for setting up. Each round would require a substantial set up. I was given the role of a runner for the day, which meant that I was placing props and setting up. This included blowing up balloons and setting out tape on the floor. The Producer/Director was instructing us as to where he wanted everything and how he wanted each set laid out. As a runner, I was also given the role of obtaining any extra consumables needed such as food. This made the job more varied as it meant that I always on my feet and moving around in different locations.
When the filming was taking place, I was able to observe. It was a really interesting learning experience for me to see how a Director in the industry works and how he instructs his camera operators. The camera operators, however, were more than aware of what they needed to be doing which made the Producer/Director's job easier.
We wrapped up at around 6pm and I assisted the contestants to ensure they were fully debriefed after the shoot as well as providing them with towels and ensuring they felt comfortable. I also assisted in taking the set down and clearing everything up which took about an hour. Overall, I had a really enjoyable day and felt like I had been given a variety of tasks, making the role very varied and exciting. Karen was really impressed with the work I had been doing throughout the placement and on the final shoot day, offering to pay me for the final day. The Producer James also asked to have my CV for future projects which assured me that I had made a great impression!

Studio Production: VT Rough Cut Edits + Feedback

Today we had a rough cut viewing of the VT edits with Helen. We filmed the VTs on Monday and Thursday and since then I have been on my work placement for the professional practice unit. Therefore, I haven't been able to sit with Laura and the edit for the viewing. However, she had a shot list for the trailer to give her a rough idea. Rosie was also given the shot list for the Mockumentary and they worked on the Trivia edit together.
I was a bit apprehensive to watch the VTs for the first time. They had just been cut together at this stage with no sound design. Helen gave us some positive feedback regarding Darren as the character of Norman. However, she suggested that we reshoot footage for all of the VTs to get better coverage and allow for edit changes. The mockumentary seemed too long at 3 1/2 minutes as there wasn't enough content to sustain that length of time. Helen also highlighted that the pace was too slow, with some elements being dragged out for too long. In terms of the one take style, Helen suggested we changed this as it made the film too simple and didn't show enough skill. Therefore, we have decided to include a second camera which will account for any cutaways we use, making it a more dramatic piece rather than just actuality.
For the trailer, there was good feedback regarding the montage section, which I would like to keep. However, the duration and speed of the montage was much more dragged out in the rough cut and for the final edit this is something that I will adapt to be much more snappy and fast paced. Other sequences need to be reshot to ensure there are enough close ups to cut to.
Lastly the trivia feedback, which was mixed. Helen was pleased with some of the shots but agreed that we needed to reshoot some of the studio and gallery shots in order to make it more dynamic and give us other edit options. There were a few issues with the variety of shots, which is something we will make sure we get during the rehearsal with George. Overall, we received mixed feedback regarding the VTs at their current stage of the edits but we just need to ensure we get plenty of extra footage and change/increase the shot types we have to build on the quality of the final VTs.

Studio Production: Shoot Day: Trivia

Today we filmed the third VT, which will be a short film including some trivia facts about famous films. This VT will be used to provide something visual for the audience whilst the crew are setting up for one of the rounds. We have decided to have the host present this VT as we felt that this would make sense, rather than pulling in another character that we wouldn't have met before on the show. In terms of the content, I researched a variety of facts, looking online to find the most unusual and shocking film facts that would be surprising and entertaining for the audience. I tried to find facts that were about popular films such as Jurassic Park and Titanic, as I felt these were a little more interesting than the more obscure films.

In terms of the shoot day, we had planned to film at the studios as we felt that this would be the most suitable back drop and would provide some context for some of the facts. Today was the first day I had met the host George, who was incredibly friendly and easy to talk to. We briefed him beforehand and made sure that he felt comfortable with the script and the actions that we wanted him to do. We also made sure he was prepared to use the props we had provided including a melon and a knife. He was more than happy to contribute which meant that the filming would be simple for us to carry out. We only had access to the studio and gallery for a limited time in the afternoon which meant that we needed to stick to the schedule. I worked with Saskia to decide which areas to cover first to ensure that we made the best use of the time we had. We decided to film the sections in the studio first whilst some technicians using the space were on a lunch break. For this scene we used a party popper which proved difficult to repeat takes. However, we were able to overcome this by having the crew throw the tinsel rather than popping it every time.
Each shot was relatively simple. We had George walk into each frame to introduce each new environment and to make it continuous. We used a variety of shots, both long and more close up to make them look as diverse as possible.
I think in terms of the schedule, we were very pushed for time which meant that some of the takes had to be rushed a little bit. This meant that we had to move on to the next shot before we were totally happy with all of them but the rough cut edit should highlight any changes to make before a final edit.  We will be in the studio with George for one of the rehearsals, which we discussed and decided in hindsight may work for some other studio shots, as it will provide some activity in the background. Overall, it was relatively successful but other footage may need to be obtained on a later date to ensure we have enough shots for the final VT.

Studio Production: Locations:Recce + Props/Costume

For the Mockumentary Trailer VTs we decided to film at Cheyenne's student house in Maidstone, as the living room was a  suitable sized area of space for filming and there was a small corner to dress with posters and shrine-type props. We wanted the room to look cluttered with DVDs and film related memorabilia. The walls would also be covered with posters. The inspiration came from some of the fictional characters we found such as 'Max' from Spiderman who had similar attributes to our character Norman and we felt like his bedroom should look similar.

In terms of the room, Cheyenne and Saskia cleared the space and put out things on the desk to make it look like a working desk. They put objects such as old plates and printed cut outs with scissors to give it a cluttered appearance. On the day we all brought other props such as DVDs which we filled a shelf with on the back wall. I also brought in some objects for the box including some long stripy socks, of which he throws out when he is looking for the camera in the mockumentary. Other set design included the posters that we printed out of some very well known films such as Superman and Twilight. Darren who plays Norman sent us some selfies that we used to stick onto the posters to give them a personal touch for the character and give the set more detail.
For Darren's costume, he said that he had a Superman t-shirt from a charity shop that he could wear. To complete his costume, he wore braces and some smart trousers and glasses. To avoid any copyright issues with the Superman t-shirt, we used chalk to draw a huge black 'N' on top which stands for his superhero character 'Nor-man'!

For the last VT - the trivia, the host will be wearing relatively smart clothing as we want it to look clean and professional. In terms of the location, we will be filming at the studios to have access to the studio floor and the gallery. We felt that this was the most suitable location as the back drop would have more context to what was being said than an every day setting such as a public environment.

Studio Production: Call Sheet

I have included the call sheet for the afternoon of the shoot with Norman. This is specifically for the Trailer so I could map out the schedule and have all of the contacts I needed to hand. Having a call sheet is essential before carrying out a shoot as you need to be able to contact all of the crew and contributors before the production time starts. I have also included timings and the location.

Studio Production: Shoot Day: Mockumentary + Trailer

On this day we filmed two of the VTs, the mockumentary and the trailer featuring the character Norman. We chose Darren to play Norman as a few of us had worked with him before and felt like he would be good for the role. The entire VT Team were crewing on the shoot as we wanted every role to be covered to ensure everything ran smoothly. The crew arrived at the location at around 9am to set up before Darren arrived. The overall set up was successful and we managed to begin shooting ready for the call time. We had scheduled to film the mockumentary before lunch and the trailer after, with a scheduled hour for lunch for the crew and cast.

Darren took to the role well and knew his lines prior to filming which meant that the takes ran pretty smoothly and we were able to get through the script within good time. We decided to go through the script in the order it was written as it made sense for continuity and this would ensure that everything was covered. In reflection, it took us some time to get into the swing of filming, as we were all finding our feet with our roles and how the Director wanted it to be carried out. In terms of the directing, Saskia was in charge of this VT and was making the executive decisions. However, we tried a few different approaches and did a few extra shots to get the best coverage overall. It had been scripted as a one take style which means that the mockumentary won't have any cutaways and will just be what is shot then and there. This was decided to give the film a more raw quality and to reflect the real and every day life of Norman. It was difficult to film in the space that we had because we were predominately just in one room, which meant that space for camera equipment was very limited. However, we overcame this by clearing everything that wasn't needed for the shoot out into the kitchen and placing the majority of the shrine type objects and whiteboard in the corner space of the room, as shown above. This worked as it meant that it wasn't in the way of the character but still added a good backdrop for the scene. As well as assisting Saskia throughout the shoot for this VT, I also operated the sound when Sammi needed to be in the shot. Sammi played the role of Norman's mum in the mockumentary which meant that her role as sound needed to be covered for this section. I think it's good that we all had opportunities to do other roles when it was needed as it gave me a more varied experience and made it more diverse. 

After lunch we filmed the trailer for Norman's film. This features in the show as a round set up so provides something for the audience whilst this is taking place. As the main director of this VT, I wanted it to be quite short and snappy, therefore I filmed plenty of options for the montage section so that it would look fast paced but still look dynamic. It was difficult to approach the trailer because it had to be shot as if Norman was making it which I found challenging. I decided to just keep the sequences quite simple with only a few shots for each one so it didn't over complicate it, especially with a limited time frame. I imagine the montage to be very fast paced to keep the tempo up throughout and maintain an energy to it. In terms of the other sections, we had the crew cameo for the rest of the cast. This was relatively successful as we all knew each other which meant that the interactions came across as natural. However, the crew not being actors meant that the process wasn't as smooth as it had been in the morning shoot. I followed my shot list carefully, ensuring I had covered all of the shots I'd intended for, whilst taking ideas from Cheyenne and Saskia as part of a team to ensure we had the best coverage possible. For Norman to be able to travel to each of the other characters, we filmed him running up the street, both with a static camera and a tracking shot to give the editors some options. I think that this section will be a good opportunity to emphasise on the low budget, home made quality that I was after for this VT. 

Overall, I would say that the day was relatively successful and we managed to get plenty of coverage within the time frame we had for it. Darren made the process very simple as he was prepared, he was also very easy to direct which made the day run smoothly. I would say that some areas for improvement would be with communication and team work as there were elements that could've been handled more professionally. 

Studio Production: VT Contributors/Actor Choice

For the Mockumentary and Trailer VTs, we needed to find an actor for the role of Norman. Norman is a character who was written by the Producer - Josh. He is a friend of the Host and is a wannabe actor. Josh has described him as useless and a failure when it comes to acting. He is middle-aged and lives with his mum.
It was the job of the VT team to develop the character and come up with ideas for the physical appearance of the character and to find a suitable actor for the role. We brainstormed ideas and decided that we wanted him to look very geeky. His costume would include glasses and greasy hair. He will also wear braces and high waisted trousers to complete his look. To find a suitable actor to play the role of Norman, we advertised on Casting Call Pro, which is a website for sourcing contributors. We had a few options that we contacted but many of those interested dropped out as we were getting closer to the shoot date. Some of them were keen to work on the show but were put off by the fact that it was a student production which put extra pressure on us to find someone very quickly for the role. One of the applicants was Darren Hammock, who I have worked with as our presenter for the Documentary unit. Laura and I recommended him as our experience working with him was very easy going and pleasant. He seemed keen on playing the role as he had worked with us before and is happy to take part in student productions. We have sent him the scripts for the VTs and he is happy to take part.

For the last VT, we will be working with the host of the show - George Sesay. We felt that this was the best choice as we will be using the studio set and gallery space for this VT, which will give more context and make more sense with the rest of the show. Josh and the Assistant Producer - Sam sourced George for the show, so we just had to send him the script for this VT and email him about costume requirements.

Studio Production: VT Trailer Shot List - Revised/Final Version

For the trailer VT, I have revised my first draft of the shot list after seeing the completed script. I had used the ideas from my concept for it and the ideas for the scenes to write a shot list. There have just been some small changes. There is now a new scene featuring a couple in bed who get interrupted by Norman who throws the DVD which will be entitled 'Fifty Shades of Norm'. It will be a challenge to include all three scenes within the time frame so I intend to film all of them and then choose a minimum of two, depending which ones are the most successful. I will be using both my shot list and the original script on the day of filming to ensure that I have them both to refer to. I think that the shot list will be good to have as a guide but on the day I will probably get a wider coverage of shots to ensure that there are plenty of edit options. 

Professional Practice: Placement (Renegade)

For the professional practice unit, we had the option to either complete a work placement or a commission project which we will have to feedback from and write a report about. This will be taking place alongside the Studio Production unit and will be graded. I decided that I wanted to do a work placement as I haven't had much industry experience and wanted to spend some time in a working environment. I felt like the commission option was a little too like what we have done for the other units on the course and so felt like the placement would be a better learning experience for me. I looked at the options that Laura showed us and was interested in Renegade and Twenty Twenty, both are production companies with offices based in London. I also researched other placements and found a work placement for the BBC, however they were advertising for April, May and June which wouldn't have been suitable timing for this unit. I have however, applied to do a work placement with them in my own time for extra experience.
I applied for Renegade and initially was told that there wasn't anything coming up soon that would be beneficial for me or the company to work from. Since then, they contacted me again with a couple of weeks experience starting from the 6th March. I won't be taking myself out of uni for the entire two weeks as I was unable to miss the sessions with Del and other meetings with Helen and Louis.

Studio Production: Shot List - Norman's Trailer

For the Trailer VT which will be featuring the character Norman as his alter ego and super hero - 'Nor-man', I have written a shot list. The script isn't yet complete for this trailer so based on the concept that I came up with for this VT and the discussions we have been having as a group, I have written out an outline for each sequence, including several shot types. For the opening montage, I wanted these to all be close ups as I feel like this won't give away too much before the big reveal at the end which will be a tilt up to show Norman with his costume on.
The other sequences featuring cameos from the crew were relatively simple to map out. I wanted to include a few extreme close ups of the DVDs so that there is emphasis on these as they will be individually labelled to reflect the cast. Between each section there will be a very short transition of Norman running. I have mapped out a few options such as as him running past the camera and a tracking shot, showing his facial expressions.
Once the script is finalised I will be able to add scenes or take some away so that we can get good coverage on the day of filming.