R+P Post 18: Our test shoot

I enjoyed filming for the test shoot, and I think Tom and I worked well together as a team. We first made a shoot board for our filming, which included specific location, time of shot, dialogue, props and costumes needed, actors needed, and shot number. This was very useful as it meant we could stay organised throughout the day, and use our time efficiently. We then filmed using a Canon Legria HFG30 camera, with a Canon DM-100 Directional Microphone for each of our shots, also using the Libec TH-650 HD Tripod in our interview set-up to make it more steady. We also used a clapperboard befroe each of our shots with the shot number asnd take number, so that it would be easier to label our shots when editing.

Shootboard page 1

Shootboard page 2

Shootboard page 4

Shootboard page 3

I think that the test shoot went okay, but could have gone a lot better. Firstly, we should have better planned our shots with Toby better, because we found ourselves having to improvise in the shots where he is walking down the stairs. Additionaly, we are going to change actors for the person playing Toby, as we cast someone who doesn't really suit the role, and did not enjoy working in that sort of environment. There are lots of improvements that have to be made fore next time, and the majority of our overall improvements to be made came under filming.

 List of improvements to be made:

1. Change shot 4 (shot of Toby waking up) to a shot following Joyce into his room with breakfast in bed. This will make it make more sense as an individual shot, and as part of the narrative.
   
2. Remember to use the clapperboard as part of the shot in shot 6 (interview with Toby). We did do this, but because we were using the Toby puppet, we had to try and fix the string afterwards, and we did not do it again before we said action.
3. Use better lighting in all of the shots. For example, in the shot with Joyce drinking and doing squats, you can't see her face at all because it is a natural back-lit shot from the window, creating a silhouette. Also, we are going to use more professional lighting in the interview shots to show more of a difference between the interview set-up, and the more natural around-the-house set-ups.
   
4. Make better use of Kenny. After doing some psychoanalysis of Kenny, we decided that if Joyce does love Toby more, it makes more sense for Kenny to be a try-hard who loves himself. Also, he is currently an underused and generally boring character. We re going to turn him into a narcissist by changing his lines around and having him trying to be like Joyce in mor of the shots.
5. Make a clearer sense of Toby going to uni. We will use cardboard boxes and more suitcases (etc), to show that he is leaving. 
6. Lastly, we are going to replace Tamir as Toby with Ray, as Tamir didn't enjoy the shoot day and does not suit the role. 

Tamir as Toby.

Ray as Toby.

Ray.