Production Diary - Prologue.

My men have arrived, and one of them is a little stiff.





It's the final day of the summer break, and you would think my biggest concern would be the presentation due in two days - which I forgot about. Or perhaps how I will manage to shoot, edit, mix, and print a five to seven minute film in eight weeks. In stop-motion: a format I've tackled only a couple of times many many many years ago on a computer screen, using stock photos. Did I mention I was doing it solo? And I haven't developed a story yet? You would think I'd be concerned by all of this. Even remotely, but the only thing I can think about right now is lighting.

Lighting and my "studio". I have two spaces that are ideal; ideal and practical because they are the only spaces that I can set-up and work in without being interrupted. They are also both located in the same part of the house. One is in an alcove, unaffected by windows; whilst the other has more room and is adjacent to a window and outside lighting. I've located three potential lighting sources, affordable, and practical. Possibly four depending on how the key lighting comes together.

This all rests on where I can find a table, which is the "floor" of my studio. Working with small objects, means the operating space will need to be as big as the floor, and since I'm trying to work on next to no budget, I'm trying to recycle or reuse as much as possible.

Which is also kinda exciting. I plan to use as much recycled material as I can for the set and backgrounds. The initial plan is to incorporate some green-screening for backgrounds, and utilise colourful off-sets to create the scene. I managed to pick-up the perfect green flat sheet for my green screen; with an equally adaptable blue one as an alternative. The only hang-up for the screen, is, well, how to hang it. I will probably have to DIY some railings this week, but of course, none of this is as important as my "floor".

Or my story, for that matter.

But hey, at least my cast is here!

They're camera shy.

The crew on Jaws nicknamed the shark "Bruce", I've yet to find a suitable nickname, although considering some of the plans I have for them, they may as well have one for me...

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