Category Archives: 3rd year
Films watched during the 3rd year
- Suffragette [Cinema Odeon Leicester Square] [BFI London Film Festival]
- Rear Window [mdx]
- Bicycle Thieves [mdx]
- Ratcatcher [mdx]
- Don’t Look Back
- I’m Not There.
- Kurt & Courtney
- High Art
- Terry Pratchett: Choosing to Die [mdx]
- Requiem for a Dream
- Trainwreck
- Memento [mdx]
- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 [Cinema Odeon Holloway]
- Carol [Cinema Odeon Holloway]
- “American Masters” Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens
- I Shot Andy Warhol
- Finding Vivian Maier
- Glastonbury
- 21 Jump Street
- Pulp Fiction [mdx]
- Imagine: John Lennon
- Tupac: Resurrection
- In the Heart of the Sea [Cinema in Pacos]
- Baby Mama
- The Ring
- Sisters [Cinema in Porto]
- Sicario
- Man of Steel
- All About Steve
- Life Partners
- Passion
- Straight Outta Compton
- Blue Jasmine
- Carol [Cinema Odeon Panton Street]
- Elizabeth: The Golden Age
- The Martian
- Bridge of Spies
- Carnage
- Freeheld
- Oldboy [mdx]
- Babel
- Veronica Guerin
- Hanna
- Burnt
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
- Truth
- Miss You Already
- Some Like It Hot [mdx]
- Labyrinth [Roxy Bar & Screen]
- Tig Notaro: Boyish Girl Interrupted
- Steve Jobs
- The Battle of Algiers [mdx]
- Room
- The Danish Girl
- Brooklyn
- Spotlight
- Gone Girl
- The Big Short
- The Bridge
- Happy Together [mdx]
- The Pass [Cinema BFI Southbank] [BFI Flare] [press screening]
- Summertime [Cinema BFI Southbank] [BFI Flare] [press screening]
- Kingsman: The Secret Service
- Departure [Cinema BFI Southbank] [BFI Flare]
- BFI Flare Shorts:
10:10
The Rabbit’s Tale
Allo?
Bedding Andrew
Float
Alexa to Exa
The Ballad of Ella Plummhoff
Dinner with Jeffrey
Elise
Discretion - The Intern
- Spy
- I Could Never Be Your Woman
- BFI Flare Shorts:
Floozy Suzy
Inner Jellyfishes (Les Méduses)
Lethargy (Letargo)
Let’s Talk About Gay, Sex and Drugs
Love Archive (Archion Ha’ahava)
Mama, Please Forgive Me
Paradigma
Passing
Trouser Bar
Breathe
Dawn - The Legend of Barney Thomson
- Black Mass
- Ex Machina
- My Week With Marilyn
- The Dressmaker
- Trumbo
- Spare Parts
- Joy
- Whiplash [mdx]
- The Celluloid Closet
- Paris is Burning
- Bound
- Carol
- Notes on a Scandal
MDA3400 2nd Secondary role: 1st AD?
I was almost running out of time to get my 2nd secondary role, but then I heard that Amnah and Fred are still shooting their second music Angels All Around video so I asked if maybe they need some help, and luckily Amnah said yes. I was doing the production assistant role for a bit, helping here and there with equipment. I only heard what the music video is about a day before we went filming. Once I got to set, Amnah asked me if I could do the 1st AD role. I had never been in that role and I didn’t really know the story of the video, and the shot lists were very unclear. But I agreed and did the best I could with what I had. We finished on time both shoot days that I was there, so success? While being the 1st AD, I also constantly helped out Filippo Locatelli who was the camera operator, and Nathalie Pitters, the director of photography. I was holding reflectors, LED lights, helping out with setting up the camera and other things. I had worked with Filippo and Nathalie on my film, so it was easy. I really enjoyed being on set and just helping out with everything and not being confined to one role. Everyone on set was very friendly and we got along so well.
The two shoot days, were actually “night shoots”. We were freezing because we were filming outside, but I was prepared so it wasn’t too bad. I had already endured a 10 hours night shoot on the set of Survivor where I was completely unprepared, so this was no big deal compared. We didn’t have many problems, other than I guess the sun not setting fast enough. After finishing filming, I was still not sure what exactly happens in the music video, but I’m excited to see the finished product. The pictures I took are quite terrible but it’s something:
Day 2 on location
actors between takes
Protected: MDA3400 Production
MDA3400 Pre-production
Dragged two guitars to rehearsals to Peckham. Rehearsals were at Evie’s house with her and Rosie. Rosie was a bit late so in that time I went through more things with Evie and the scenes where it’s only Tuck and planned how we might approach them. Later all three of us went through the timeline of the film, to the very detail of what day of the week each scene could be. It was very interesting to go through that because I hadn’t done that prior. We also talked about clothing and other stuff. I’m glad I had time to have these talks and rehearsals because with all their questions, I got to explore the characters even more. Later I tried teaching Rosie how to play guitar, I sang my song Till My Last Day (that she will be singing in the film) and we went through that a bit. Because Evie had to go to work, me and Rosie left and we went to a park and rehearsed the song more. Afterwards we went to Rosie’s friend Daisy to go through the clothes and see if I can find anything for Ashley. I’ve been really struggling with figuring out what look Ash has in the film. With Tuck it was quite straight forward, but with Ashley, I had all these ideas and words in my head but I couldn’t see it all together, I just couldn’t see Ashley. I was feeling that it might be because I had expected the actress to have an “Ashley” vibe but Rosie was totally not what I was imagining. Which is not bad, it’s just extra stuff to figure out.
Later that day I tried looking for copy rights free songs that my actress could perform in the film, but nothing really fit from what I found, just adding to the list of things to worry about.
MDA3400 Pre-production
Went to university to pick up the equipment at 1pm. Forgot my card so had to go home and come back, rules are strict at the loan store. We took out so much equipment, I still don’t know how we managed that. After stuffing (gently and with great care) it all into an uber, we took it to my place. There I sorted it out and went to work more on the shot list.
MDA3400 Pre-production
Come for rehearsals with Evie and Rosie to university at 10am. Pushed that back because Rosie was a bit late. So we went onto doing make up tests for the scars with our make up artist Julia Roman. They looked really amazing and real. I filmed some for snapchat and it triggered my friend, that’s how real they look. After my friend told me that, I realised that no matter that it’s just make up, I should’ve put a trigger warning before the images.
Before putting the colour in (for Ashley)
right after applying the prosthetic mold (for Tuck)
after drying a little bit (for Tuck)
(for Tuck)
(for Ashley)
(for Ashley)
(for Tuck)
(for Tuck)
In the rehearsals we went through the script bits with dialogue, to make sure we’re all on the same page. We didn’t do the breakup scene anymore, because I had already seen them do it and we didn’t want to over rehearse it. We were done with the rehearsals at about 2:30pm because Evie had to leave. We managed to go through all the things I wanted to go through though.
After that I stayed at university to continue my shot list and shooting schedule with my 1st AD Catarina Ribeiro.
MDA3400 1st Secondary role: Set designer
This year again I struggled with finding secondary roles. I think it had a lot to do that I didn’t interact as much with my coursemates this year. No particular reason, I was just so focused on the film and other things. But then finally after asking around, Eugene asked me if he could hire me as a set designer for his film The Second Draw. It was quite last minute but of course I said yes. I’ve only done set design for my own films but I was sure I could manage. Because it was such short notice, I didn’t get to go too much into the story and just went on what Eugene wanted for the particular scenes. I was on set for two days and dressed two locations. Strange thing about this one was that the producer wasn’t on set either of the days. I wasn’t informed on why Hannah wasn’t on set, but throughout the whole process I only talked to Eugene about the film. I’m sure there was a legitimate reason for it, just thought that maybe Eugene wouldn’t have had to worry so much about everything on set if there was a helping hand from the producer.
I really enjoyed doing set design and found it very interesting, I would love to do it again. Here are some pictures from my time on set on The Second Draw and my work for it:
Day 1, office set up for the boss
DOP Sam and gaffer Dmitrij
Day 1
Day 1
Gaffer and set designer join forces
Day 2
Day 2
Day 2
1st AD extraordinaire Jess
Going for a take, had to hide
MDA3400 Producing workshop and Editing workflow workshop
Producers had a workshop with Eddie, but I attended it as well to better understand producer’s work. And Eddie actually had a lot to say to the directors as well.
Then later we had an editing workflow workshop with Anna and it was quite something. I understand the basics of editing and what she was telling us but it still was a lot to take in. I’m planning on having a tutorial with Anna and my editor Mariana to make sure that she knows what she’ll have to do in the post-production.
MDA3400 Script Development
I started taking to my friend Shawn about this project around the middle of September. I told her the main things I want to have in the film, which were: two female characters at the center, mental health issues, self-harm, and such. I didn’t have a clear story because I trusted that she would come up with something great. I’ve only previously read her fanfiction work, but I knew that she’s had experience writing scripts too.
On October 12th I got the first clear story, that would be developed further. That was:
“Here’s the story:
Two women – mid twenties, somewhere of the like.
One night one (and we’ll see almost everything through her POV and eyes) walks into a store to get some groceries. As she’s there in the medicine aisle, she starts seeing this other woman touching things – like pills and razors and it’s all very strange and weird. The woman finally buys sleeping pills.
The next scene we see is the woman who bought the pills sitting on a bench overlooking water, the pills in her hands. Our POV sits down and hands her coffee. The conversation starts rough and combative but eventually the POV tells her she knows, she’s been there and they talk.
I’d like them to go do something – something lively and fun. Something that just reminds you that you’re alive (need you here because I presume you’ll be filming in London so what would this be?)
At the end of the night, they’re back on the bench. They talk and then the woman who bought the pills takes them out of her pocket and says, “I guess you want these now.” What follows is a conversation about choices and about hope and our POV gives her a piece of paper that says, “If you need someone to just shut up and listen or to stare at the lights with, give me a call.” “And if I’m too afraid to call?” “I like this bench. It’s a nice bench. Let’s say we meet here next Friday.” “You don’t know me. You don’t owe me anything.” “Maybe I owe me.” There’s a moment, then we fade forward…
A montage of scenes of them meeting – some different seasons and nights…a couple where our first girl doesn’t show up, a couple where she does…and then one night, the note…”Thank you for helping me find hope when I didn’t know how to. Whatever debt to yourself you owed…is paid.”
Or something along those lines – we can work through the exact wording once I start writing it.
Anyway, I figure the final shot should be her putting the piece of paper in her coat – something to help her always remember because sometimes she needs hope, too – and walking away with a smile.”
With that, I could actually go to a potential producer to talk about my idea. That producer was Rita. She approached me first, on the first day back at university actually. I also sent this to Helen for suggestions and recommendations and here’s what she had to say:
“First thoughts….
Wounded (2013)
http://m.imdb.com/title/tt2721712/ is a very interesting film, with a great deal of over the shoulder hand held camera work on the main protagonist, who is a woman with mental health issues. Great performance with little dialogue. Definitely one for you to see.
In terms of suicide, although it’s in a different time period, you should have a look at The Butcher Boy. There are some interesting representations of unchecked female mania.
All my Puny Sorrows is a novel you should read. Great writing on the desire to end life. Very useful reference.
Cassavetes Woman under the influence- a must in terms of Gena Rowlands performance.
You might also want to look at female relationships, I’m thinking of Hilary and Jackie the film about Jaqueline Du Pre.
This is more of a watch list based on my response to the ‘feeling’ rather than the thematics, but obviously there are films with suicide at the heart of the film, Virgin suicides would be an obvious one.
Looking at your initial idea I think there is a lot that you can look at in relation to the workshop today. I have a lot of questions around the woman’s age what the underlying cause of her unhappiness is, and what motivates the older woman to help her. At the moment the relationship is not formed and the suggestion that she would go off with a stranger and do something fun is not believable. It’s also very wordy and not very visual – It will seem quite clunky on screen to have a focus on notes and messages. You need to find visual ways of representing this relationship. At the moment it is not clear what this means to the other woman either. It is one thing to save somebody from a suicide attempt. But it is quite another to immerse oneself in that person’s life or to get more involved with volatile stranger. I think that this suggests it’s not all together and altruistic decision. What is that thing that connects them and how does that manifest in the story?
Trying to push the boundaries of the idea and the characters this week so we have something more solid by the beginning of next week. Email if you need, happy to talk more about the project.”
From there we started developing it further. Shawn was struggling a bit at one point but then I had my first screenwriting workshop and talked about the idea to the class and the tutor. The suggestions helped Shawn and on October 23rd she gave me the first draft of the script. I really liked it and got very excited to actually do the film. I talked to Rita about the script and she had a lot of ideas, suggestions and concerns. I passed the things we agreed on to Shwan and a few days later she gave me a second draft and an alternative to the second draft.
After a meeting with Rita and going through the second draft, I passed 10 pointers to Shawn and a few hours later she sent me the 3rd draft. And that’s what we’re currently working on.
My experience at Middlesex University 