For those of you who weren't aware, some new photos have been released on our Facebook page of location scouting for filming. You can check them out here.
Today I finally dug back up the storyboards for "Our Story" (our storyboards, as I like to call them) and realized something: yes, no matter how much I dislike storyboarding, I need to finish them. Damn it.
My experiences with "Stalin and Hitler" taught me one thing: organization is CRITICAL. Even for a film like this with some weirder shots, with the kind of experimental edge I'm playing with, needs to be planned out. If anything, the wilder stuff needs to be planned out even more to make sure it all goes perfectly. It's hard, though, because honestly in the past No Budget has kind of just gone with the flow. Hell, "Stalin and Hitler" was the first film we actually had a script for that we stuck to. Seriously.
However, as the final product indicates, we are A) funny and B) not living up to our full potential. The reason for "Stalin and Hitler" not going as planned is because the day to day stuff wasn't organized well enough. Who has the camera? Who has the light kit? Did they go home this weekend or are they somewhere else? Are we all good to go or does someone have to study for a big exam on Monday?
It got even more complicated once we actually set out to shoot: what angle are we in? Does Boris need to wear a shirt for this shot? Shit, we forgot that prop, how do we work around it?! We had to cut that part out, remember? Quick, someone work a way around the plot hole!
With "Our Story" a goal I've set out to accomplish that I'm sure my fellow crew will agree with is for more organization. Down to exact times: "this scene shoots here today. We need these people. If the weather is bad, we shoot this one instead. You are responsible for bringing the lights, you need to bring extra batteries..." Of course, our shooting atmosphere still needs the ease and relaxation of the Stalin and Hitler sessions; if we're not having fun making movies, then what are we even making movies for?
So, in an effort to organize the shoot better and to make sure everything is going according to plan, I've decided to document the entire process in our production diary with a thing I'd like to call "Pre-Productive Organs." With each blog entry, I'll include the following list of things necessary for a stable shooting environment to begin for the film on our planned first shooting date of September 5th, 2009. I will update the list regularly with a rough percentage progress and perhaps add new items to it depending on what comes up during pre-production.
And now I present to you: your first helping of my Pre-Productive Organs!
Script: 100% since 2/09 (May add another scene)
Cast: 100% (all 2 of them)
Crew: 90% (we still need some people to head up a "Making Of")
Camera Supplies: 25% (still need steadycam, dolly track, and chest harness)
Storyboards: 30%
Definitive Shooting Schedule: ~5%
Movement Rehearsals: 0%
Locations/Permissions: ~75%
Green Screen Construction: 0% (may remain that way until after filming begins)
See, I told you this blog would be up close and personal.
Call me,
-JD
< / 3 Storyboarding.
ReplyDeleteWe never did it, yet we'd always turn some scribbles in and get an "A" for it anyway. Proof my teacher never actually read anything we wrote on it... which consisted of stick figures, a few line of illegible words, perhaps in english, maybe spanish, depending on Richard's mood... and of course our camera angles and techniques we'd never use.
Sort of reminds me of doing storyboards in high school too. I have found, however, that stick figures don't necessarily work anymore...even if my artistic skills are somewhat lacking.
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