Lazarus Day 4 part 2
OK it’s a good news, bad news post. Well work has begun in earnest on my first project outside of the world of Beacon. Well kind of.
While the project originates from outside of the club, Beacon has agreed to support us in the endeavour with equipment. Some of the members may also end up on screen, so don’t be surprised at the end of the day if the show carries a Beacon Productions card. All in, this is good news :)
So what’s the bad news? Obviously I want to document the new production, but I also want to keep this blog on topic and written in the style it currently is (firmly in the past tense, with a relatively strong narrative) so to this end I’m starting up a second blog (Check the subtle link) this is bad news as I’ve just doubled my blog work load :(
Never the less I shall attempt to keep this blog up to date over the next 10 weeks, but if things slip a little, well now you know why.
Anyway, on with the show!
Zombies and Camera in tow, I headed out to the cannonade designated for Witt’s last stand. Once there I walked Cameraman Matt and ‘star’ Page through the scene. All in a pretty simple sequence, but one which flew in the face of traditional methods as, due to the geography of the location, there would be no master shot. The entire sequence would essential be shot in montage and assembled in the editing room. In retrospect not necessarily the best choice of scene for my directorial début.
One hour later the scene was in the bag and we headed back to meet up with the others.
What that’s it? You were expecting more? Maybe a blow by blow account of the hour? I have a word limit per post you know (seriously I do) Suffice to say I learnt a lot in that hour. So much that trying to put it in a narrative form is tricky. Bullet points on the other hand…
Lesson 1: You can’t teach someone to ‘Delta walk’ in five minutes.
Lesson 2: You can’t teach someone proper weapons handling technique in five minutes, especially if you’re trying to teach them to ‘Delta walk’ at the same time.
Lesson 3: If you’re teaching someone to ‘Delta walk’ and handle their weapon properly you’re not shooting.
Lesson 4: Never, ever, ever forget the second ‘gagged’ knife.
Lesson 5: If you’re messing around with you’re only ‘gagged’ knife, trying to get it to do the work of two ‘gagged’ knives you’re not shooting.
Lesson 6: Never change your ‘knifed up’ zombies costume at the last minute, especially to something you’re not allowed to cut knife holes in. Doubly so if you’ve forgotten the second ‘gagged’ knife!
Lesson 7: If you’re messing around with the ‘knifed up’ zombies new costume to try and fit your ‘gagged’ knife you’re not shooting.
Lesson 8: Always shoot people flying through the air from a low angle
Lesson 9: Always check your camera man is shooting the person flying through the air from a low angle. No matter how stunned you are by the amount of air Damo is getting check!
Lesson 10: Always check to see if your stuntman and lead actress have any unresolved past issues. Ideally this check should occur before you tell the actress to ‘kick’ the stuntman and ‘slam’ him into a wall.
Lesson 11: Damo is indestructible! If you’re using Damo you can ignore lesson 10.
Lesson 12: rolled up A4 notes stuffed down the right trouser leg of a boiler suit produce unpleasant chaffing.
Here endeth the lessons.
Later that night I was sat in the pub surrounded by people with impossible to remove specks of zombie grey in their ears. They were universally bitching about the injuries they had picked up during the day (Well everyone except Damo) skinned knees, strange bruises and pulled muscles were the order of things (I kept quiet about the red marks on my right inside thigh, they’d never believe how I got them) But despite the bitching every single one of them had this crazy lopsided smile that they just couldn’t shift.
Wouldn’t it be great to make a zombie movie?
Yes, it would.
While the project originates from outside of the club, Beacon has agreed to support us in the endeavour with equipment. Some of the members may also end up on screen, so don’t be surprised at the end of the day if the show carries a Beacon Productions card. All in, this is good news :)
So what’s the bad news? Obviously I want to document the new production, but I also want to keep this blog on topic and written in the style it currently is (firmly in the past tense, with a relatively strong narrative) so to this end I’m starting up a second blog (Check the subtle link) this is bad news as I’ve just doubled my blog work load :(
Never the less I shall attempt to keep this blog up to date over the next 10 weeks, but if things slip a little, well now you know why.
Anyway, on with the show!
Zombies and Camera in tow, I headed out to the cannonade designated for Witt’s last stand. Once there I walked Cameraman Matt and ‘star’ Page through the scene. All in a pretty simple sequence, but one which flew in the face of traditional methods as, due to the geography of the location, there would be no master shot. The entire sequence would essential be shot in montage and assembled in the editing room. In retrospect not necessarily the best choice of scene for my directorial début.
One hour later the scene was in the bag and we headed back to meet up with the others.
What that’s it? You were expecting more? Maybe a blow by blow account of the hour? I have a word limit per post you know (seriously I do) Suffice to say I learnt a lot in that hour. So much that trying to put it in a narrative form is tricky. Bullet points on the other hand…
Lesson 1: You can’t teach someone to ‘Delta walk’ in five minutes.
Lesson 2: You can’t teach someone proper weapons handling technique in five minutes, especially if you’re trying to teach them to ‘Delta walk’ at the same time.
Lesson 3: If you’re teaching someone to ‘Delta walk’ and handle their weapon properly you’re not shooting.
Lesson 4: Never, ever, ever forget the second ‘gagged’ knife.
Lesson 5: If you’re messing around with you’re only ‘gagged’ knife, trying to get it to do the work of two ‘gagged’ knives you’re not shooting.
Lesson 6: Never change your ‘knifed up’ zombies costume at the last minute, especially to something you’re not allowed to cut knife holes in. Doubly so if you’ve forgotten the second ‘gagged’ knife!
Lesson 7: If you’re messing around with the ‘knifed up’ zombies new costume to try and fit your ‘gagged’ knife you’re not shooting.
Lesson 8: Always shoot people flying through the air from a low angle
Lesson 9: Always check your camera man is shooting the person flying through the air from a low angle. No matter how stunned you are by the amount of air Damo is getting check!
Lesson 10: Always check to see if your stuntman and lead actress have any unresolved past issues. Ideally this check should occur before you tell the actress to ‘kick’ the stuntman and ‘slam’ him into a wall.
Lesson 11: Damo is indestructible! If you’re using Damo you can ignore lesson 10.
Lesson 12: rolled up A4 notes stuffed down the right trouser leg of a boiler suit produce unpleasant chaffing.
Here endeth the lessons.
Later that night I was sat in the pub surrounded by people with impossible to remove specks of zombie grey in their ears. They were universally bitching about the injuries they had picked up during the day (Well everyone except Damo) skinned knees, strange bruises and pulled muscles were the order of things (I kept quiet about the red marks on my right inside thigh, they’d never believe how I got them) But despite the bitching every single one of them had this crazy lopsided smile that they just couldn’t shift.
Wouldn’t it be great to make a zombie movie?
Yes, it would.
1 Comments:
If you're on a schedule, make a plan and stick to it. Go off plan and you bust the schedule. Simple ;)
Next installment please :)
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