If Those I Loved Were Lost
For this unit we worked closely with the third year acting class to produce a 2-3 minute short scene, which will be used for their course assessment. The actors we worked with were Kellie Branagan and Lewis Elliot.
We had to come up with a basic outline of characters and conflict for the actors to improvise in to a scene. These were recorded and used to help us create a 2-3 page script based from their improvisations.
I was paired with fellow student Alec Green for this project. We helped each other to create our individual scenes. For Alec’s Scene I recorded audio and assisted with camerawork and on my scene Alec recorded audio and assisted with camerawork.
Script writing in particular is one of my weak points as I find it extremely difficult to put ideas to paper. However, with a little inspiration from my co-director Alec Green, I was able to write a three page script.
My scene developed from a title I was given ‘If those I loved were lost’, I played around with different ideas of what this could mean to different people. E.g. Losing a loved one, becoming mentally insane, isolation from the outside world, nightmares.
I searched ‘If those I loved were lost’ online and found a poem by Emily Dickinson, which reads:
We had to come up with a basic outline of characters and conflict for the actors to improvise in to a scene. These were recorded and used to help us create a 2-3 page script based from their improvisations.
I was paired with fellow student Alec Green for this project. We helped each other to create our individual scenes. For Alec’s Scene I recorded audio and assisted with camerawork and on my scene Alec recorded audio and assisted with camerawork.
Script writing in particular is one of my weak points as I find it extremely difficult to put ideas to paper. However, with a little inspiration from my co-director Alec Green, I was able to write a three page script.
My scene developed from a title I was given ‘If those I loved were lost’, I played around with different ideas of what this could mean to different people. E.g. Losing a loved one, becoming mentally insane, isolation from the outside world, nightmares.
I searched ‘If those I loved were lost’ online and found a poem by Emily Dickinson, which reads:
If those I loved were lost
The Crier's voice would tell me
If those I loved were found
The bells of Ghent would ring
Did those I loved repose
The Daisy would impel me.
Philip -- when bewildered
Bore his riddle in!
The Crier's voice would tell me
If those I loved were found
The bells of Ghent would ring
Did those I loved repose
The Daisy would impel me.
Philip -- when bewildered
Bore his riddle in!
The poem itself reads like a story: If those I loved were lost, I would be told, if they were found I will be called. Do those I love rest, should I join them (death), shocked at your thoughts, destroyed this thought.
Emily Dickinson born in Amherst on December 10th 1830, is considered to be one of the finest poets in the English language, lived from 1830-1886. She could distill amazing sense from ordinary meanings. She produced over 1800 poems in her lifetime. (https://emilydickinsonmuseum.org/)
As well as the poem, I managed to find a short film with the same title which used Emily Dickinson’s poem as a basis of their film. This short film was by four Junior High School Students for a school project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS0lLmX9NpI
From her poem and the short films, I was able to get a basis of an idea, upon which I developed in to my script.
The main character had to lose something or believe that they had lost something and then receive a notification of what was lost. Whether this be losing someone or something or both.
My idea was two characters who are in love are expecting a baby, but as the truth comes out and the man finds out it’s not his but his best friends he storms out. Driving in rage he causes a fatal car accident. The female finds out via a phone call from his parents. Shocked, she begins to have a mental break down. She then passes out. Waking up in a pool of sweat she realises it was all a nightmare. Promising herself not to share her secret.
The idea is to start and finish the short scene in the same location with the reverse action.
- Scene One: Sitting at desk, moves to bed
- Scene Two: Conversation
- Scene Three: Moves from bed to desk.
By doing this the audience will have a sense of completion, as if the film has come full circle.
Both Alec and I met with the actors at a few different points during the script development stage, this allowed us to work with them and develop the characters through their abilities. We had a couple of issues when it came to rehearsals due to the actor’s lectures and jobs. One week we had Lewis, but no Kellie and the next week we had the reverse.
On both occasions, we had to use a stand in actor, this was to make sure that we had someone who could step in to replace the actors if they did not show on the filming days. Fortunately, we managed to get one good rehearsal in with both actors, this was only a few days before our filming day, but everything went smoothly.
Rehearsal one Lewis with stand in Actor:
Our first run through we focused on Lewis’ acting, pin pointing aspects which could be improved. Our second run through we read through the scripts with Kellie, making sure she was alright with the dialogue and improvised parts. The third run through was both Lewis and Kellie, in the park, where they acted through both scenes.
Our third run through:
Our third run through:
I found this both an advantage and disadvantage to the production. An advantage as it allowed us to focus on the actors individually making sure they are happy with the characters they are portraying. A disadvantage because, we only managed to have two rehearsals with both actor’s present, which could have been disastrous as the actors may have not worked well together or the characters may not have worked. Fortunately, everything worked out fine by the shoot day.
The final script was sent to the actors for them to read through their parts and send feedback about any adjustments to their characters. Fortunately, there were only a few changes to be made.
Here is the final script:
The final script was sent to the actors for them to read through their parts and send feedback about any adjustments to their characters. Fortunately, there were only a few changes to be made.
Here is the final script:
script_if_those_i_loved_were_lost.pdf |
Shooting days: We planned to shoot on Friday 07th April from 14:00 – 17:00, with the possibility of shooting on Sunday 09th April from 14:00 – 17:00 if we have any issues during filming on the Friday. Our biggest issue with our schedule, was organising our filming days and times around, university lectures and the actors and crew’s jobs. However, we all managed to agree to the above times.
Before our shoot day, we met with our actors at Alec’s filming location and ran through both scenes. We decided to do this as it allowed us to choose the right area to film and allowed us time to make adjustment to the script.
On the day of the shoot Alec and I collected the equipment from the university and headed to the park to set up for Alec’s shoot. The equipment we used are as followed:
Unfortunately, we couldn’t get the equipment we had hoped for as we wanted to film on an Ursa Mini, with an LED panel and lens kit. These were all booked out and we were unable to get any.
We headed to Alec’s location and set up the equipment while we waited for our actors to arrive. Upon setting up I noticed that the sound equipment was not picking up any sound when connected to the boom. After a couple of different tests to see which part of the equipment had stopped working we had found out that it was a small cable which connects the boom to the long cable. We removed this cable and worked straight through the long cable.
We also found out that SD card slot A on the Canon C100 was also broken, however, slot B was working perfectly, so we could continue with filming.
We filmed the short films in the following order:
Before our shoot day, we met with our actors at Alec’s filming location and ran through both scenes. We decided to do this as it allowed us to choose the right area to film and allowed us time to make adjustment to the script.
On the day of the shoot Alec and I collected the equipment from the university and headed to the park to set up for Alec’s shoot. The equipment we used are as followed:
- Canon C100
- Tripod
- Boom Pole
- Zoom H4n
- Boom
- Batteries
Unfortunately, we couldn’t get the equipment we had hoped for as we wanted to film on an Ursa Mini, with an LED panel and lens kit. These were all booked out and we were unable to get any.
We headed to Alec’s location and set up the equipment while we waited for our actors to arrive. Upon setting up I noticed that the sound equipment was not picking up any sound when connected to the boom. After a couple of different tests to see which part of the equipment had stopped working we had found out that it was a small cable which connects the boom to the long cable. We removed this cable and worked straight through the long cable.
We also found out that SD card slot A on the Canon C100 was also broken, however, slot B was working perfectly, so we could continue with filming.
We filmed the short films in the following order:
While filming the outside scene, we had an issue with flies, constantly being in front of the lens, we tried our best to swat them away from the camera just before the takes, with little success. We decided to carry on, ignoring them. We also had an issue with planes flying overhead as we are near Southampton Airport. We just paused for a break until they passed over.
The actors we were given, were very easy to work with and were extremely helpful when it came to improving their characters. Both of the actors had to warm up for their parts in different ways, according to their characters. Kellie's character had more of an emotional breakdown throughout the scene, which if not prepared for correctly could create an emotional strain on the actor. Lewis’ character had an emotional outburst during the scene, so he had to be prepared to raise his voice, this required a vocal warm up.
We managed to film both scenes in one day which was very useful. As mentioned before it is extremely difficult to find a time where both the actors and both the crew were available on the same day/time. It was also convenient that both the films only had one location each, Alec’s was in a park, and mine was in a flat (living room / bedroom). By having limited locations, we could film the scenes quickly, with only a few retakes. (Including safety shot)
How to fix audio on one channel:
While editing In Adobe Premier Pro I noticed that I could only hear the audio out of one side of my headphones. The audio had been recorded in mono, and had to be changed to stereo. This issue is most likely linked to the cable which stopped working. The process was done by Ashley Cherrett who studies Live Sound Technology at Solent University. I queried him about the issue I had and he was able to fix it within an hour. To fix this he took the footage in to Adobe Audition (DAW).
The actors we were given, were very easy to work with and were extremely helpful when it came to improving their characters. Both of the actors had to warm up for their parts in different ways, according to their characters. Kellie's character had more of an emotional breakdown throughout the scene, which if not prepared for correctly could create an emotional strain on the actor. Lewis’ character had an emotional outburst during the scene, so he had to be prepared to raise his voice, this required a vocal warm up.
We managed to film both scenes in one day which was very useful. As mentioned before it is extremely difficult to find a time where both the actors and both the crew were available on the same day/time. It was also convenient that both the films only had one location each, Alec’s was in a park, and mine was in a flat (living room / bedroom). By having limited locations, we could film the scenes quickly, with only a few retakes. (Including safety shot)
How to fix audio on one channel:
While editing In Adobe Premier Pro I noticed that I could only hear the audio out of one side of my headphones. The audio had been recorded in mono, and had to be changed to stereo. This issue is most likely linked to the cable which stopped working. The process was done by Ashley Cherrett who studies Live Sound Technology at Solent University. I queried him about the issue I had and he was able to fix it within an hour. To fix this he took the footage in to Adobe Audition (DAW).
Using a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) the audio files were split into two mono files. The correct stereo file was then imported back into the timeline.
If I were to repeat this unit, I would concentrate more on improving my script and the amount of time I work on character development with my actors. I am overly happy with the outcome of this unit, and I would gladly work with the actors and crew involved on other future projects. I will also continue to improve my script, adapting the idea in to a longer short film.
If I were to repeat this unit, I would concentrate more on improving my script and the amount of time I work on character development with my actors. I am overly happy with the outcome of this unit, and I would gladly work with the actors and crew involved on other future projects. I will also continue to improve my script, adapting the idea in to a longer short film.