I’m Back

It’s been a while since I’ve written in here. Things started getting quite hectic, and I just got out of the habit of writing everything down! Since I last wrote here there have been quite a lot of developments.

In my project, I have created a test piece using the latest version of my script. Really it was to see what the footage would look like if it really was pure home-video with no production values. I have written a separate analysis of it for the folder.

I have also tested the mediascape, which also has an analysis in the folder.

Dan has put me in contact with Yolanda Iseley, who is doing a great job in helping to cast a girl to play the part of the little girl in the film. She has contacted some schools and I have drafted a letter. I have had to rearrange my filming schedule a little to take into consideration that she will have school commitments, but the crew are all still available which is great.

I have continued to work on the script, which has evolved slightly and had a lot of subtle changes. Tom has shown it to Neil Grant so I am waiting to see what he thinks.

Also today I set up Facebook accounts for Shayne and Carli. This will create an almost ARG level of realism for the piece. There are references to putting photos on facebook made in the film, so if people actually search facebook they will be able to find the photos for themselves. I think this will help people who go on to experience the interactive side of things feel more involved with the added realism. To make them seem convincing, I have sent messages to a lot of people in order to give the characters more “friends” and some background posts etc. This gives the illusion of the characters having a past. I am going to kill off Carli at some point, as it happens in the film, and her facebook page will change on this date to reflect this.

In other projects:

The animation test in Tom’s project couldn’t have gone worse. We god told that we wouldn’t be able to use any of the animation studios because we weren’t doing the animation module. Tom has decided that we will animate in the TV studio at the same time as filming. This has a couple of problems:

• 1 week is not a long time to do 3 30 second animations.
• The studio will be busy and the camera/tripod/models could easily be bumped
• The lighting will keep changing as the main studio lights are adjusted for the main filming

We don’t really have much choice though.

In Dan Markland’s project I have created a test edit to see whether it would be a good idea to use a fake shop front made from a photograph instead of building one. I think it turned out as a success, since the shop can now be much more stylised and time can be saved in construction. His project is coming along very nicely!

I have also joined Dan Quinn’s crew as a technical supervisor, helping come up with ways to achieve certain effects. We did a test shoot which I am planning on attempting to edit later today. I’m not sure the green screen was set up well enough for it to work, but I’ll see what happens.

I am also now in Baz’s crew as a cameraman. I haven’t been required to do any work for this as of yet, other than familiarise myself with the script, because I came on board so late and he had already done the pre-productions thigns required such as shot lists etc.

~ by Ben on 14 January, 2008.