Shooting 1: The Teacher Disappearance and The Corridor Shots

We had to re-shoot the teacher shot because our first shoot wasn't as successful as we hoped. In theory the idea was achievable, but the practical side needed working on. We first filmed on the 2nd of October, then again on the 15th.

TEACHER DISAPPEARANCE SHOT:

Also known as 'the Ged shot' took place in the Lecture theatre. We selected this location because of it's set up with rows of tables which allowed the composition of shot to function correctly. 

Firstly we organised the shoot with our media/literature, Ged, while he had a class, so we asked to use his current students to come in the lecture theatre too, to fill up seats. We planned for it to only last around ten minutes because we didn't want to hold everyone back and it was only one shot. Everyone was seated and Iain put on a history presentation as if the class was being taught. From that, Ged decided his line was 'the effects of the war hindered rather than helped the economy' which was good because then that helped set the scene. We directed him, so that once he ducks he stops his line. 

In achieving the camera work, we used the very back table as a surface and a jumper to sit on the table while the camera is placed on it, we pulled the jumper along the table to create a dolly effect. It was good because there was no background sound from the movement and it was smooth.  Iain was in charge of the camera for this shoot as we thought it would be good o have Michael and Eve in the class (not that you'd notice). 

However, a problem came from our timing. We used Clare (Selene) to signal Ged when to duck based on how far along the table the camera was/whether someone head passed the frame, as that was the perfect opportunity for Ged to duck. We kept catching a part of Ged as he ducked down. So in trying to resolved this we found a point in which the camera would be on the table when Ged disappeared, we then changed peoples seating to ensure there was a head in the frame, and we told Ged where exactly to stand. But we kept having the same problem so we tried directing which way Ged should go when ducking, like towards the desk or just where he was stood. This shoot was unsuccessful because it went on for too long, so we rescheduled it. 

On the re-shoot we had the same problem until finally we captured one good shot. Before there was many almost good shots but we would see just a little bit of Geds shoulder or head move down as the camera passed. Here a video with some examples and the successful shot:

THE CORRIDOR ESTABLISHING SHOT:
After the first Ged shot attempt, my group went to film the 'clinical corridor' in gathering the different establishing shots. I had to go to an English lesson so I couldn't participate, but it was okay because this shot didn't really require lots of attention, Iain and Lizzie handled it. 

We planned to use a zoom, experimenting with both zoom-ins and outs of looking down the corridor to see which was more effective. We felt it was important to have some interior location shots for a range of different ideas conveyed- this reminded me of  a very clean version of the hospital corridor in The Walking Dead TV series, a minor influence of mine. The clinical feel accentuated the emptiness to encourage the narrative.  We had no major problems.