editing stage 1

its awful.
its insane.
its driving every single one of us up the wall.

3 hours of raw footage, excluding alternative angles (another 3 hours on top)

So far we've just chopped the big clip down to subclips of specific action and angles, generating a first edit with the rough footages.

At least then we know where we want which clip when...thereafter it should just be a matter of condensing it down to its finest essence.

"China's Stolen Children"

this is a documentary broadcasted on Channel 4 (again) - the voice of documentaries and home to alternative programs.

The story follows a detective on his job - trying to 'rescue' children who've been snatched and stolen off the streets of China and traded for money.

It involve a desperate couple trying to retrieve their beloved son; another couple who's desperate to get rid of the new born girl as she's without a birth certificate; a detective, a buyer and one of the trafficker.

As the documentary goes on, the audience slowly realizes, that human trafficking is a result of the 'ever-so-right' One Child Policy - which is now the major underlying problem of the policy.

Facts and figures are being thrown at us whilst at the same time we follow the personal stories of these people who are all somehow intricately involved in this process of trafficking.
However, the 'addressing the actual problem itself' doesn't happen til right at the end - without obvious jumps, the director has managed to build the emotive jump for the conclusion.

It's very factual and informative - almost as if the producer was trying to make a point.
I learnt things I didn't, and I took away a lesson of treasuring loved ones.

That, means its a good documentary - not only was it moving and convincing, the audience was also able to walk away remembering a lesson that was taught through the medium of a documentary.

capturing...AARRGHH

capturing is any editors' nightmare if the camera guy filmed too much.

Because we went away on a day trip to an unfamiliar place - it was best to have more on film then less just so we have more choice.

So, my mini dv JVC gave me two tapes, and the Z1 gave us 3 tapes.

It's a nightmare.
Me and Mr Director will be capturing the 3rd tape tomorrow.

I have started editing the JVC tapes, freehand and behind the scene.

Raunds? Raunds!

its late at night (got back at 10.15pm), and im tired, but I'm so excited still!
we did it.

Having nowhere close to enough sleep, we started working away at 7.30am when Liam had to get up for school.

It was a long day, and yes very hectic - but the fact is, I'm happy with what we had managed by the end of the day. It was good fun and we all enjoyed it.

Because I'm too tired right now, pictures will have to follow tomorrow or over the weekend. I have photos to upload and tapes to capture.



(for a few more - http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=48147&l=ce960&id=501853784)

Post production war has begun, yikes.

preping the filming day

so, the day before shooting, we called a meeting to make sure everything that needs doing is done - we're off tomorrow, the remain checklist is here

• schedule - event log needs printing out
  
• call sheet updating with hosiptal info and first aider - and printing
• storyboard needs printing out after scanning and shrinking
• interview questions updated and printed
  
• shooting log needs printing
  
• expenditure log needs printing
• all the battery charged for camera and mini dv
  

bought some spare tapes - thought we better be safe than sorry just incase the one tape we have 'doesn't work' and last minute we'll have to spend the whole day running round trying to get another.

we will be travelling down to Raunds tomorrow evening and will start filming on the Wednesday morning bright and early when Liam gets up to go to school.

"director&producer small talks - sshhh"

throughout the so far preproduction process, I'm required to have small talks with my director frequently, making sure we're on the same track and acquiring his views and so adapting them to make his vision real.

so we had another small talk - sat down and discussed a list of things that needs doing -

• checking train times, availability and prices
• doing recce, release forms, risk assessments
• detailed shooting schedule
• draw up logs such as shooting log, continuity log and event log
• shrinking and tidying up storyboards
• delegate who does what during the shoot

so I'm gonna go now, and do all the above..

"Shot Design"

(source - filmcity.tv/miseenscene)
shot analysis The first thing that caught my eye was the source of light on the right - this is because for one there is an obvious break of pattern but more importantly it is much brighter than the rest of the image - contrast. My attention was then drawn towards the characters face - this was done with a piece of 'string' - a physical(though minor) connection - and the placement of his arm, leading the attention away from the fence but towards the body. The face comparatively is not as well lit - but contrast has done it again as the character has relatively darkish hair contrasting with the paler skin.


(source - filmcity.tv/miseenscene)

Very different from the previous shot - much brighter. However though the shot is very well lit, the black uniform against the white background makes the situation almost cynical (despite the obvious expressions carried by the actors).
Very deep space and feeling very enclosed - as if you can't run away from the situation.
Diagonal lines suggests tension and the position of the black uniform males are above the 'victim' suggesting power over him.