What I did on my holidays
What with one thing and another (all mostly work related, which is another post entirely), it felt like time for a break. Given the time of year, what better way to spend the time standing around in woods for three days, followed by another two in a field? It was of course not quite that simple (cut for many pictures, one including tit)
I actually spent the week driving a minibus for the crew and actors shooting Gundog (sound warning), the graduating film project for some students from London College of Communication on the BA Film and Television course.
Meet (most of) the crew:
The first three days shooting were in Pulpit Wood, a National Trust woodland near High Wycombe. In order to make the best use of natural light, this meant getting everyone there by 7am so all the equipment could be got up in to place up a rather long, steep muddy climb in the dark, while I drove back to the accommodation to pick up the actor and either producer or production manager depending on who'd managed to get a lie in. The NT people were really helpful. Pulpit Fort dates from around 200BC and there are a number of other interesting features in a fairly small area.
I was able to sneak a shock picture proving sometimes it was necessary to resort to enhanced interr^W rehersal techniques to ensure a good performance.
Fortunately the locals didn't seem to mind too much...
Speaking of the accommodation, I just had to take a snap of the curtains although the camera was somewhat afraid to comply:
Apart from the first night I actually stayed at home since it was only 20 or so minutes away and more comfortable, even if it did mean getting up at 4.30 to be able get up and ready before heading over to pick everyone up at the right time.
For the last two days filming was in a field at Hughenden Manor, another National Trust property just on the outskirts of High Wycombe. What do you call a 1st AD in a field full of goose decoys? Scott, as it happens.
So, 5 days filming for what will be edited down in to a 10 minute short graduation film, expected to be completed in June. Pre-filming planning took around 8 months. It was really interesting to see the process from behind the camera and be at least in a small way, involved. If this were Germany I'd apparently have been fulfilling the role of Production Driver since as well as driving the bus I also helped the Production Manager with the unit base and catering, which doesn't appear to happen in the UK film industry. I would do it again but not too soon and possibly remember the hand warmers next time! Can't wait to see the final product and see how it all fit together.
I actually spent the week driving a minibus for the crew and actors shooting Gundog (sound warning), the graduating film project for some students from London College of Communication on the BA Film and Television course.
Meet (most of) the crew:
The first three days shooting were in Pulpit Wood, a National Trust woodland near High Wycombe. In order to make the best use of natural light, this meant getting everyone there by 7am so all the equipment could be got up in to place up a rather long, steep muddy climb in the dark, while I drove back to the accommodation to pick up the actor and either producer or production manager depending on who'd managed to get a lie in. The NT people were really helpful. Pulpit Fort dates from around 200BC and there are a number of other interesting features in a fairly small area.
I was able to sneak a shock picture proving sometimes it was necessary to resort to enhanced interr^W rehersal techniques to ensure a good performance.
Fortunately the locals didn't seem to mind too much...
Speaking of the accommodation, I just had to take a snap of the curtains although the camera was somewhat afraid to comply:
Apart from the first night I actually stayed at home since it was only 20 or so minutes away and more comfortable, even if it did mean getting up at 4.30 to be able get up and ready before heading over to pick everyone up at the right time.
For the last two days filming was in a field at Hughenden Manor, another National Trust property just on the outskirts of High Wycombe. What do you call a 1st AD in a field full of goose decoys? Scott, as it happens.
So, 5 days filming for what will be edited down in to a 10 minute short graduation film, expected to be completed in June. Pre-filming planning took around 8 months. It was really interesting to see the process from behind the camera and be at least in a small way, involved. If this were Germany I'd apparently have been fulfilling the role of Production Driver since as well as driving the bus I also helped the Production Manager with the unit base and catering, which doesn't appear to happen in the UK film industry. I would do it again but not too soon and possibly remember the hand warmers next time! Can't wait to see the final product and see how it all fit together.