2013 Post 7: Additional Pre-production Documentation

In addition to the pre-production documentation you've already completed you will also need to do the following:

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  Location Recce
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  Technical Recce
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  Risk Assessments
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  Shooting Schedule
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  Mise-en-scene description
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  Cast, Crew, Equipment and Props lists.

When you do the main task there will be a few more to add but by doing the above you will be more efficient at it when it comes to your final assessment.

Examples of mixed ability can be found through the following links:
Examples of Carolyn Thornton's group work Class of 2010
Examples of Kelly Bluff's group work Class of 2010

Section A

1. 
   
   Below are explanations, descriptions and examples of each of the documents. Work as a team to produce the documents between you, it often helps to work in pairs so that you can support each other. However don't loose sight of what the rest of your team are doing because it all have to be interlinked, or it will fall apart in production.
2. 
   
   Blog all documents via PowerPoint, not forgetting an introduction to each explaining the document and how it has helped you.

Location Recce

In the film industry there will be a number of crew members working for "locations". A starting point for someone in this department is a Location Scout. Their job is to travel around the required area searching for appropriate locations. they take photographs of each possible place, arrange them on boards and then present them to the Director for consultation. This also includes some technical detail on lighting, power and where permission needs to be gained from.

You need to perform a scaled down version of this. You probably already have a location in mind and there wont be many other options due to logistics; so although as a team you wont need to decide between one location and another the photographs will help you decide if your shots will work, equipment you will need and your technical recce in which you double check your camera positions.

Technical Recce

Once the location has been agreed the department heads will go on a technical recce to decide how they might create the look the Director is after, and if shots that have been storyboarded are possible given the restrictions of the location. Although in the industry this is a physical activity you will need to do a diagram to demonstrate that you have thought through any difficulties.

This is also a good opportunity to check for unwanted Jump Cuts and for you to plan the order in which you are going to shoot your shots.

Risk Assessments

The world is health and safety mad these days and the film industry with all its technical equipment is no exception. You will find that if you actually manage to get work experience in the industry that they often require you to be 18 years old, so that you are classed as a adult and therefore a huge amount of the responsibility falls to you as an individual. However, there will be a Risk Assessment for every location and additional documents should there be stunts or physical effects (explosions etc).

To show that you can show that you have taken the time to consider risks to you, the equipment, the location, and members of the public, I have simplified this documentation to a table highlighting "Location", "Risks" and "Action to be Taken". See the example below for guidance, however everything needs to be thought through even the smallest item can have consequences. 

Shooting Schedule

Films run like a military operation and so every last element is planned out. The shooting schedule becomes the bible and in essence lists the filming order of your shots. So you will need to have amazing patients as you re-arrange your shot list and add columns and rows to plan out your shooting time.

It is important that you work out when the whole group can be present to shoot, which free's evenings and weekends you and your location are available. There is no point organising it and then nobody being able to make it, or only some of your group. There are only 4 of you which is nowhere near the number that would be on a normal crew so everyone have to play their part. If you are using people outside your group or class as actors don't forget to consider their availability as well.

An example is below. Once you have got your shooting schedule you will need to book the equipment. There are now a large number of students all using the media department resources so if you don't book what you need, at least 1 period in advance you will not be allowed to take the camera. It's time you got organised!

Mise-en-scene description

This is a written description of the following production elements that help to set the scene:

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  Set Design/Location
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  Props
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  Lighting
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  Character Movement
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  Props
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  Costume
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  Hair / Make-up

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Cast, Crew, Equipment and Props lists

The format of this information varies from group to group. I would suggest a table that describes the above per scene. I'll leave you to decide how to present it but try not to create yourself too much work by repeating information. It is also important to highlight who is responsible for collecting, bring what especially when it comes to costumes and props.

 

Note: I would also consider keeping costumes and vital props at school after you've started shooting, especially if you are shooting over a couple of days. This is to stop continuity errors between scenes/shots. I will make you re-shoot if there are big errors like this and I've lost count of the number of times that students' shooting schedules have been recked by people forgetting costumes and vital props.