Shootin' Pickups

Just finished shooting variations on the same pick up shot for my short film, “Do Over.” We’re trying to keep a scene alive for rhythmic reasons; the key joke that makes a scene a scene just wasn’t selling with the way I asked the original prop for the scene to be framed. Plus, the prop just didn’t work as well as we wanted. Thanks to a huge favor by a friend of ours who is a graphic designer, we mocked up a much better prop, a gift card. From there it was all about matching this one little insert shot to the principal footage.

No small task.

I shot tests with different lenses and different lighting set ups myself all week. After receiving my DP’s device, I decided it was simple enough I could light it (per his notes) myself, and then ended up shooting it tonight with our two leads, my producer and my girlfriend.

There was a lot of debate about how Garrett, our leading male, should hand it to our leading lady, Jacobi. What felt natural vs. what played best on camera, etc. Then trying to nail the same sweet spot over and over for the right focus. Then making sure to get the right movement into the frame so it cuts into the scene well and looks interesting with a gag that’s playing (hopefully). I’m not sure if we got it exactly right but for something that will be on screen for a total of 3-4 seconds, I think it’ll work.

I enjoyed actually trying to figure out the lighting myself, and operating the camera as well. It re-taught me a lot of things about shooting that I hadn’t been exposed to in a long time. If nothing else, this little itty-bitty insert shot that took us two hours to film gave me the confidence that I understand lighting and photography a little bit better than I had given myself credit for.

Still doesn’t mean it’ll cut! Wait and see....

I also managed to record our last actor’s performance, a role that is all voice over. The actress and I recorded it ourselves in a sound proof room in the basement of the fine arts building at the private school I teach at. We got it in the can in under 45 min. -- record time for me. Productive day for my short today...

... but not for my other projects...

Heaven Can Wait

Just watched 'Heaven Can Wait' directed by Ernst Lubistch. Very strange movie. Anti-climactic. But some great word play, one liners and banter, especially when there are three or more characters on screen. Chaotic dialogue that bounces off of itself from one character to another is something I enjoy and appreciate, especially when done this well. The story overall, though, just doesn't amount to much. Very peculiar structure and ending. I was very surprised when it finished. Glad I finally saw it.