Bon Voyage to my DVD portfolio & my Production folder

I handed in my ‘breeze block size’ portfolio this morning and the Unit 140 is officially over; the whole experience has been incredibly challenging and I do not think that these short blog posts quite capture the steep learning curve I have been on.

I have learnt a great deal about people management and self-discipline in a drama production process.  It is definitely an experience during which you are pulled in every direction and you definately have to be prepared to problem-solve and crisis manage at the drop of a hat.

However, the end products are great which is incredibly gratifying and the kind letters and words which I have received from each of the three respective drama casts and crews that I have worked with are my greatest acheivement* during this module.

(*Wishful thinking - If I can get "buy-in" from my production collaborators then I can achieve the same "buy-in" from viewers.)

Final Shoot on 'Replacement' (04.03.12)
Photos courtesy of Matt Mirrington & Natasha Mitson

The Onesie Show is immense. Please everyone watch my DVD portfolio.

Today was the hand-in date for the Unit 140 DVD portfolio; I obviously had three DVDs to submit: The Replacement dir. Alice Reynolds, Lights dir. Rosy Pearce and ‘The Onsie Show’ dir. Alice Reynolds. 

Yes, we shot and edited our 30 minute TV Studio recording on Friday and the end result is fantastic especially considering that we only had three sessions booked in to prepare, practice and then record.  

The TV Studio is such a controlled and structured environment that it was a blessed relief after 10 days of intense drama shoots not to be looking for glass on the floor or spotting double shadows on-set. Additonally our contributors and presenters were consummate professionals and adapted to the environment, the auto-cue and my direction really well.

The name of the programme, ‘The Onesie Show’ has to be credited to James Harwood who pointed out that we were ‘the baby version of ‘The One Show’ and the name just stuck but it was entirely appropriate because the content and programme structure was intentionally modelled on ‘The One Show’ by me.

I hope everyone enjoys it when it goes online. I definitely think it makes for an interesting programme and again a big thank you to all our hard-working presenters and contributors as well as the wonderful crew who stepped up despite external pressures and deadlines.

'The Onesie Show', dir. Alice Reynolds  (23.03.12)
Photos courtesy of Natasha Mitson

‘Lights’ is wrapped but I am also 1st AD for ‘Me & My Bro’ and Director for TV Studio

Really enjoyed my first TV studio session yesterday; we have a really strong team in Group B including a visiting MA Broadcast Journalism student which is great because poor Group A did not have enough members whereas we have the right amount to create a really good 30 min programme.

However, I think we are going to need all the teamwork and support we can get from each other over the next three weeks in order to get the programme made because the show spectacularly clashes with the end of shooting and whole post-production process.

As Director, I am really excited to get the opportunity to work in the studio gallery but I am a bit apprehensive about succinctly communicating with the cameras to let them know what shots I will need. It seems to me that time is of the essence even more so than out on drama or documentary productions.

‘Lights’ wrapped on Friday and we completed the full shot list despite my worries that we would not; there was a point when we were running disconcertingly behind!

Also, we achieved all of the more challenging shots in the storyboard such as the blackout and the flickering light bulbs. Big achievement all round.

I have now been shooting for nine days straight on three different drama projects and have only one more day to go on ‘Me & My Bro’ which Christine kindly gave me the opportunity to 1^st AD on. It is really great experience and it is really interesting to observe how other crews and individuals work.

One more day to go!

Replacement wrapped 4 minutes ahead of schedule! :D

I was ecstatic when we finished ahead of time not really behind which I swore we were going to do and I was so desperate not to hold the actors up or irritate them. However, anyway, I need not have worried Tony, Jenny and Mel were fantastic, consummate professionals and so friendly to boot and anyway we wrapped four minutes early! J

(I did actually run about trying to think of an additional scene to cram into those final four minutes!)

Shooting Replacement was a great experience; I learnt a ridiculous amount about optimising both crew and cast performance also the importance of planning and preparation in Pre-Production because there is no doubt in my mind that all Simona and my hard work in the last couple of weeks really paid off on-set.

Anyway, starting traipsing around dark alleyways now for Lights; we are going to film the park scenes tonight and I must say all this night-time prowling and light bulbs smashing on the ground is playing havoc with my risk assessments.

I miss my cosy Cotttage 91 with it's comfy seats and bubble bath!

Learning lines and 'Replacement ' shooting starts tomorrow

So, I am having an extreme battle with Cornwall Council to get permission to film in this blessed park so much so even that I am starting to think either the man in charge is invisible or I imagined the park. Otherwise, ‘Lights’ is brewing quite nicely because the final script is done and distributed, we completed a final shooting schedule last night and I am nearly on-top of all the call-sheets and risk assessments. (Nearly, I just wish there was more time in the day!)

In regards to ‘Replacement’, I have had rehearsals now with all the cast members although Simona says there was more laughing than acting in the sessions; that bodes well for tomorrow?! I have created and distributed a shooting script, script breakdown, gathered props and tried to get my thoughts in order before tomorrow.

The location is Pendra Loweth which I only got confirmed on Tuesday but I was delighted when we did get the house because we will have the whole space, including home comforts like a fridge for two full shooting days which is just what we need.

I will admit I am a tad nervous about tomorrow but Carpe Diem and I suppose if all does fall flat I could just submit a film of the crew eating biscuits or something?! (No biscuit film, not really makes me feel queasy just thinking about it!)

Wish me luck. x