Bram (Nick P) makes a point

Hooray! Another day of shooting completed. We have shot a large portion of episodes 1,2 and 3 now.

It is always an interesting feeling post shoot – there’s a sense of “I can’t believe it’s over” combined with “THANK GOD, it’s over.” Everyone once again put 200% into the shoot, and we got close to about 13 minutes of footage shot in one day.

I’m looking forward to checking the dailies to make sure that we got everything – and to ensure that we’re set for the next shoot. If one thing is important for next shoot, it will be a monitor.

 

Setting up the hallway scenes

 

I’ve included some behind the scene’s photos of the shoot – so feel excited, these are the first photos released to general public of the cast and crew working on the show.

Today’s shoot was primarily in the hall, kitchen and bedroom of our two main leads Tama and Bram. Whereas last shoot was all lounge party with fairly standard sitcom set ups, this shoot was much more a farcical style with several one take scenes with characters walking in and out of camera frame. One particular scene is nearly 3 minutes long and a single take – it was a grueling shoot and a huge demand on our actors. But I’m hoping we pulled it off – it felt like it on set, the dailies will show how well we made it work.

Special props have to go to Jenni and Kerina for their eccentric characters, Elliot for being up to his usual high standard despite suffering from sleep depravation (AGAIN!), Nick for keeping up with the crazier cast and managing to provide some great humour as well, Bernice for some great “Mary” moments – she pinches Nick’s cheek so hard he winces – and Norman for not only being our last minute Kaellos – but actually giving an excellent performance to boot.

 

Nick meets his biggest fan...

 

 

Finally I have to thank Adam for showing up to be filmed being carried out with a shirt over his head! It’s a great thing to have someone willing to show up and sit around for such a shot – especially when you get dropped multiple times by your cast mates.

The great thing about doing these shoots is how much I am learning about making films – learning to plan out shots, discuss lighting issues, do walk-throughs, set up lights, handle boom operation…

For me, at least, this project is definitely fulfilling it’s intended goal to date – to help teach me about movie-making, get some quality experience and produce something that all of the people working on it can be proud of.

Now this is going to sound a bit full of myself, but the dialogue we shot today has definitely convinced me that I am on par with many professionally made NZ shows. I am lucky to have a cast who have made the dialogue pop and zing along – with many wonderfully funny moments that I am proud to have been the author of.

 

Read-through

 

 

I am tired, drained and I feel GREAT! At this rate, we are going to have a truly awesome show and I am full of confidence that this is going to be a much talked about series when it goes to “air.”

Conan

 

Sarah (Jenni) and Tama (Elliot) take a break before the next scene