Post 18: Production Report

We filmed out short film Karma over a number of different days. Having to ensure our actor was free to film, finding extras and staying in after school had finished was one of the few problems we faced. However we found a way round all of them and successfully filmed each scene over time. The first major problem the group faced after filming was discovering the first two scenes we filmed didn't have any sound. This was frustrating but could not be duelled on. As a group we took this as a learning curve, leading us to check the sound was working after practically every shot in future filming.

The first scene we filmed after the problems with the first and second was scene 5 in the science classroom. We filmed this after school as we wanted to film in a science classroom to follow the script and storyboard. In total we had only three extras which lead us to discuss whether or not it would look like a real lesson. In the end we all agreed many sixth form classes only have around 4-5 class members, leading us to believe the lack of class members was not an issue. When preparing to film we had to work as a team to ensure the classroom fitted the scene as well. Books, pens, planners, bags and science experiment equipment were all used to help do this.






After filming the first two scenes without any sound we came back and had to re-film. As we had already filmed these scenes the group got straight into the filming already knowing where our bags needed to be, to be out of shot and putting group member Carolyn's dog on a lead outside to stop him from barking inside. This made filming the first scene much easier. I would not call it a skill but learnt from filming this first scene again patience is important. This is because we had to wait on many occasions for cars to pass by, train noise and plane noise to stop before we could continue filming. We faced the same problem with scene 2. As the alley way we used was next to a primary school, we consistently had parents walking up and down. From filming first time around we had learnt the nursery finished at 11am, we tried to work around this however still had parents using the alley way. As a group we had to be very patient, thinking about the next shot in more depth while waiting. The big decision we made when filming these two scenes was adding in a shot of Lucieanne walking out of her road. We felt this would link up the first and second scene, leading to better understanding from the audience.



Scene 4 was next up which we filmed on the same morning as the first two scenes. As a group the only decision we made was how far away the camera should be when zoomed into the school sign then zooming out onto Lucieanne. We shot this scene very sharply, sticking closely to the storyboard. I think we worked well as a team discussing each shot before filming and consistent checking of the sound.

The next scene we went onto film was scene 10. This was the final scene so we wanted to ensure it was perfect. During filming we decided to add a few shots in, deciding as a group it needed more shots. The problem we faced was the weather; with rain starting to fall we worked as a group having director Emily holding an umbrella over the camera. We took many shots for each shot aiming for perfection however a few was ruined by rain drops on the camera lens. In the end we got each shot we wanted with a few more to add in if needed.  

After logging and editing after each filming session the group booked the camera for a day after school and a whole morning aiming to finish filming and be able to crack on with the editing. We decided as a group to get the other classroom scene, scene 8, filmed. The group filmed this scene after school. After finding and convincing 3-4 extras to stay with us to star in the short film, we faced the problem with finding a room to film in. In the end we decided to use the Ps3 room next to the common room. I feel this was a good choice of room as it was small and once again did not question the amount of class mates she had in the class. As I was the camera operator worked closely with my director in this scene discussing where shots should be taken from and from which angle. In the end I came away from the filming feeling positive about the footage we gained and the acting.

When we reached this point in the filming the group faced a problem. After logging and editing each of the scenes we had filmed our teacher Miss Shipp watched the footage. She explained to us the short film at this stage did not show Lucieanne as a bully. The problem Miss Shipp explained to us, made us realised how important the last scenes we filmed were. Two of the three we filmed were of Lucieanne bulling following students so the group felt this would solve the problem we faced.

The next morning the group filmed the final three scenes. The first of the bulling scenes we filmed was outside the technology block doors. We decided the change on of the shots were the student getting bullied fell to the floor. This is because we felt it would not look realistic so changed it to her getting knocked to the wall. However the group stuck to the script luckily finding a free girl who had ginger hair to star as the victim. From this scene we went onto film the next. After walking into the technology corridor we realised the sound coming from each room would have an impact on the sound when editing. This lead us to decide moving to the English block corridor was a better idea. In the end the second bulling scene was not followed from the storyboards.

The main skill I have developed from this short film is with using the Sony PD150 camera. I feel I have grasped how to use the camera helped a lot from the pre-practice I had with it pre-filming. The skills I learnt in the pre-production helped me as I knew how to work the camera, this saved stress when filming as I did not have anything thrown at me in terms of working the camera. From our AS opening sequence I feel I have also learnt different camera angles are key. At AS I knew it was important to have many different camera angles however understanding how a different angle or height can manipulate a shot is what I improved my understanding on.