PRODUCTION
HARDWARE: Black Magic Mini USRA camera
On the shoot day we used a Black Magic Mini USRA camera to film the sequence. To set up the camera you had to first open the box containing all of the camera equipment. Including the tripod, lens cover and the camera itself. Setting up the tripod included adjusting the height from bottom to top and then locking all of the clips in order to ensure that the camera would remain in the position that we set it up in. We then had to clip the camera onto the tripod, holding it with our right hand and using the left hand to press a button to allow it to slide on. Then using opposite hands, this would then be done on the other side. We then learned how to put the V mount battery into the camera. To do this, we had to perform a sliding action, ensuring that the “v” is lined up with the camera. To take the battery out, one of our fingers had to hold down the button. Additionally, another integral part of setting up the camera was checking the spirit level, which involves checking that the camera is stable. In order to adjust the spirit level, we turned the gear underneath the camera. To check that it was rotated it properly, we had to ensure that the circle was within the outer circle. In order to alter the focus level, we had to turn the ring closest to the body of the camera, and then use the focus ring (the ring furthest away). We focussed in on our actors’ eye, and then alter the focus accordingly. We white balanced the camera in order to make sure that the colours were adjusted to the correct colour according to the level of lighting, since it varies according to the time of day. To do this, I had to click WB and choosing a different setting throughout the day such as daylight, fluorescent, cloudy and shade. At the end of the shoot day. By plugging the microphone in we made sure that we recorded sound. At the end of the shoot we had to “strike the kit”, which means to pack up the camera equipment. We had to turn off the camera, close it, remove the battery, adjust the tripod to its shortest height and then place all of the components back into their original places in the box.
One particularly useful feature of the camera is that it allowed us to do panning shots. We created several panning down shots and were able to achieve this effect by holding the camera steady on its axis with your left hand and then holding on to the handle on the right and moving the camera downwards. This was a key part of our sequence as it allowed us to create the shot of the reveal of the woman tied up in the chair. This slow reveal created a very chilling and sinister effect. We also made sure to white balance the shot to the daylight setting to ensure that the shot came out clearly.
Towards the end of the day, we filmed the shots of the woman being tortured. However, at this point it was getting dark outside and so we had to use cardboard which we held at different angles in order to ensure the camera picked up the appropriate level of lighting.
SOFTWARE: Google docs
We also used Google docs on the day as we had created a shot list and call sheet that was accessible to be edited by all members of the group which we used on the day to contact our actors as well as work through the shot list chronologically to make sure that we remained on schedule. We created documents and added everyone by their email so that everyone could work on the documents at the same time. This meant that even when we had to work away from the lessons we were still able to contribute all our ideas and keep track of each other's work.
ONLINE: WhatsApp
On the shoot day we used WhatsApp as a means of communicating to make sure that everyone met at school ready to go to the shooting location on time. We also used it to ensure we brought all the correct equipment in and that we made it back to the bus on time after the lunch break to resume our shoot.
