Direction Unit: My Final Piece

Direction Unit: Deadline Day

Today is deadline day and I am quite calm for a change as I have managed my time well with this project and have not had to do much work to my piece today apart from making sure the credits matched everyone elses. I'm pleased with how my film has come out I've worked really hard on it to make sure it looks professional and interesting. I've used everything I have learnt from previous projects to help me make a piece which I am really happy with. But from doing this project I have also learnt a few things which will help me on future projects and they are:

• To always make sure you have enough coverage
• Make sure the sound is being recorded properly by using a boom mic if the actors are far away
• Make sure you watch your actors carefully to make sure their movements are something you want their characters to be doing 

I also learnt from this project that I do enjoy being the director but it can be quite stressful keeping an eye on everything and there is alot of preparation involved and if you don't do that then you will be very unprepared.

I've finished everything now and I'm ready to upload.

Direction Unit: Editing

I've began to edit my clips so that the scene flows better and will be interesting for the viewer. I've realised that my video is not going to reach 3 minutes I think this is because I cut so much out of my script. I will do the best with the footage I have and make sure next time that my script is the correct length to make the scene the length I want it to be.

Direction Unit: Beginning My Editing

Today I started editing my shots together using Final Cut Pro. I first sorted all of my shots into separate bins so that they were organised and I could find the shot I was looking for more easily. I then began putting the clips I wanted on the time line as a rough idea of what I wanted and I will go back through and edit them together more thoroughly so that they flow much better together. I also made sure I left a gap at the beginning so that when I have finished editing completely I can insert the "Directors 13" titles as well as my own.

Direction Unit: My Shoot

Today it was my turn to film and I feel it went really well. I was pleased with my actors performances and my crew worked really hard to help me achieve the look I wanted and get all the shots I needed to create my scenes.
A big thank you to everyone who helped me today I really appreciate it.

Direction Unit: Shot List Updated

Shot List for Mistresses

Scene 1

1.    Wide of the whole scene from the doors

2.    Wide of whole scene from the oven

3.    Mid shot Jess – drying hands saying “You see married men...No mess, no fuss.”

4.    2 shot Jess and Katie whole scene – camera follows Katie when she sits down. When Jess says “We’ve been waiting...” she stands up and the camera follows.

5.    Mid shot Trudy

6.    Close Trudy

7.    Mid shot Jess

8.    Close Jess

9.    Mid shot Katie

10. Close Katie

11. 2 shot Jess & Trudy – Jess by the microwave reading letter and Trudy sitting down from Trudy “Fancy” to “It came this morning

12. Mid shot Jess – by the microwave reading letter from Trudy “fancy” to “it came this morning” camera follows Jess

13. Close up of the letter – “So you've scored a million and pulled on the same day”

Scene 2

14. 2 shot of Jess and Trudy – “see ya Trud”

15. Mid shot Trudy – Trudy shuts the door camera pans and follows her into the kitchen

Scene 3

16. Wide of whole scene from the doors

17. Wide of whole scene from the door frame

18. Long of Katie whole scene - Katie reading the letter

19. Over the shoulder of Katie whole scene

20. Mid close of Katie whole scene

21. Close of Katie whole scene

22. Long of Trudy whole scene– Trudy clearing up

23. Over shoulder of Trudy whole scene

24. Mid close of Trudy whole scene

25. Close of Trudy whole scene

Direction Unit: Final Script

1.INT.TRUDY'S KITCHEN-night

TRUDY a TIRED SCRUFFY looking mother and KATIE a SMARTLY dressed doctor walks through the door way into a bright yellow kitchen. JESSICA a TRENDY CASUALLY dressed events planner drys her hands on a tea towel and walks over to the LARGE dining table.

JESSICA

You see married men are a no brainer they're bedroom trained, they're low maintenance and you've got a ready made exit strategy. No mess, no fuss.

Jessica greets Katie with a kiss on the cheek.

Hi

KATIE

Hi

Jessica sits down and picks up a glass of wine from the table. Katie takes off her jacket and sits down.

TRUDY

Jess you don't die if you don't get your leg over

JESSICA

Clearly I would have buried you years ago

KATIE

No fighting

JESSICA

Ok. Katie multiple choice sex, love or kids?

KATIE

What can I only have one? Ummm. Love

Everyone pauses

TRUDY

I think someone asked me out today

KATIE

Really

JESSICA

Has a mouth full of wine and so can't speak but has an excited shocked expression on her face.

TRUDY

He's a new dad at school and we got chatting at the supermarket and he said that we should go for a coffee and I went "errrmmm errrmm"

Jessica

What did he say? Exact words

TRUDY

Do you fancy going for a coffee?

JESSICA

He said fancy?

TRUDY

I think so

JESSICA

If he said that he was asking you out

TRUDY

Oh no maybe he said want

JESSICA

Come on woman, think. We've been waiting 6 years for this. Want? Or fancy?

Stands up and takes an empty bottle of wine and puts it on the side.

TRUDY

Fancy

Jessica picks up a letter, with a cheque for £2,000,000 attached to it, from the side and looks at it quickly.

JESSICA

He was asking you out

She reads it properly. Then looks at Trudy.

TRUDY

Really

JESSICA

Walks back to the table and shows Trudy the letter.

Trud. When did this come?

Jessica passes the letter to Katie. Katie studies it for a while.

TRUDY

It came this morning

JESSICA

So you've scored a million and pulled on the same day

2.INT. TRUDY'S HALL WAY - night

Trudy sees Jessica out the door.

JESSICA

See ya Trud

Trudy walks back to the kitchen.

3.INT. TRUDY'S KITCHEN - night

Katie is standing up still looking at the cheque. Trudy is clearing the table.

KATIE

Why haven't you paid it in yet?

TRUDY

Guilt. I still don't know what happened to Paul. I mean what if he is still out there.

KATIE

... It's been 6 years Trudy let it go for christ sake. I'm sorry

TRUDY

Katie. Is everything alright?

KATIE

I've been having an affair

TRUDY

What?

KATIE

For 2 years. 

TRUDY

Oh my god. Why didn't you tell me?

KATIE

Because he was my patient and because you would have told me to stop.

Direction Unit: Script Breakdown

I have done a script breakdown so that I can make sure I am organised for the shoot.

Setting

- My Kitchen - During the day

Props

- Bottles of wine

- Glasses

- Cutlery

- Plates

- Bread

- Letter with 2,000,000 cheque at the bottom

- Pasta

Costume

- Katie - Smart with Jacket

- Jess - Jeans and casual top

- Trudy - Casual 

Lighting

- Practical

Style

- Natural

Direction Unit: Shot List and Script Feedback

I showed Simon my edited script and shot list today and he gave me some very helpful feedback. He looked through my script and found a few things which I could cut out to make it even shorter as they were not necessary bits of dialog. He also looked at my shot list and showed me how I could simplify it so that it makes my life easier and also allows me to get the best performance out of my actors.

I will take his advice onboard and edit my script again and change my shot list so that I am fully prepared for shooting on Sunday.

Direction Unit: Initial Shot List

This is my initial shot list:

1. Wide – from beginning to Trudy “Jess you don’t die if you don’t get your leg over”
2. Wide – Silence then “ I think someone asked me out today”
3. Wide – from “Trud. When did this come” to end of first scene
4. Mid shot Jess – drying hands saying “You see married men...No mess, no fuss.”
5. 2 shot Jess and Katie – from Sitting down camera follows Katie down to Katie saying “What can I only have one...Love”
6. 2 shot Jess and Katie – from Jess “He said fancy?” to Trudy “fancy” when Jess says “We’ve been waiting...” she stands up and the camera follows.
7. Mid shot Trudy – from Trudy “Jess you don’t die...” to Jess  “Come on women...”
8. Mid shot Jess - from Trudy “Jess you don’t die...” to Jess “Come on women...”
9. Mid shot Katie - from Trudy “Jess you don’t die...” to Jess “Come on women...”
10. Mid close Trudy – From Trudy “really” to “it came this morning”
11. 2 shot Jess & Trudy – Jess by the microwave reading letter and Trudy sitting down from Trudy “Fancy” to “It came this morning
12. Mid shot Jess – by the microwave reading letter from Trudy “fancy” to “it came this morning” camera follows Jess
13. Close up of Katie – From Trudy “it came this morning” to the end of the scene.
14. Close up of the letter – “So you've scored a million and pulled on the same day”
15. 2 shot of Jess and Trudy – “see ya Trud”
16. Mid shot Trudy – Trudy shuts the door camera pans and follows her into the kitchen
17. Mid long of Katie – “Why haven't you paid it in yet?”
18. Mid of Katie – “Why haven't you paid it in yet?”
19. Wide – Trudy clearing up, Katie reading the letter from Katie “why haven’t you paid it in yet?” to “Thousands of people died...”
20. Over the shoulder of Katie – from Trudy “I mean what if he is still out there” to “Katie. Is everything alright?” when this line is said dolly/zoom in on Katie
21. Over shoulder of Trudy – from Trudy “You don't understand what it's like...” to “What”
22. Mid close of Katie – from Katie “I’ve been having an affair” to Trudy “Oh my god”
23. Close of Katie – from “I couldn’t...” to the end of the scene
24. Mid close of Trudy – from Katie “I’ve been having an affair” to Trudy “Oh my god”
25. Close of Trudy – from Trudy “why not” to the end of the scene

Direction Unit: Script Edited

I took on Simon's comments and I have edited my script so that it is shorter and there is 1 less character. Here is the edited script:

1.INT.TRUDY'S KITCHEN-night

TRUDY a TIRED SCRUFFY looking mother and KATIE a SMARTLY dressed doctor walks through the door way into a bright yellow kitchen. JESSICA a TRENDY CASUALLY dressed events planner drys her hands on a tea towel and walks over to the LARGE dining table.

JESSICA

You see married men are a no brainer they're bedroom trained, they're low maintenance and you've got a ready made exit strategy. No mess, no fuss.

Jessica greets Katie with a kiss on the cheek.

Hi

KATIE

Hi

Jessica sits down and picks up a glass of wine from the table. Katie takes off her jacket and sits down.

TRUDY

Jess you don't die if you don't get your leg over

JESSICA

Clearly I would have buried you years ago

KATIE

No fighting

JESSICA

Ok. Katie multiple choice sex, love or kids?

KATIE

What can I only have one? Ummm. Love

Everyone pauses

TRUDY

I think someone asked me out today

KATIE

Really

JESSICA

Has a mouth full of wine and so can't speak but has an excited shocked expression on her face.

TRUDY

He's a new dad at school and we got chatting at the supermarket and he said that we should go for a coffee and I went "errrmmm errrmm"

Jessica

What did he say? Exact words

TRUDY

Do you fancy going for a coffee?

JESSICA

He said fancy?

TRUDY

I think so

JESSICA

If he said that he was asking you out

TRUDY

Oh no maybe he said want

JESSICA

Come on woman, think. We've been waiting 6 years for this. Want? Or fancy?

Stands up and takes an empty bottle of wine and puts it on the side.

TRUDY

Fancy

Jessica picks up a letter, with a cheque for £2,000,000 attached to it, from the side and looks at it quickly.

JESSICA

He was asking you out

She reads it properly. Then looks at Trudy.

TRUDY

Really

JESSICA

Walks back to the table and shows Trudy the letter.

Trud. When did this come?

Jessica passes the letter to Katie. Katie studies it for a while.

TRUDY

It came this morning

JESSICA

So you've scored a million and pulled on the same day

2.INT. TRUDY'S HALL WAY - night

Trudy sees Jessica out of the door.

JESSICA

See ya Trud

Trudy walks back to the kitchen.

3.INT. TRUDY'S KITCHEN - night

Katie is standing up still looking at the cheque. Trudy is clearing the table.

KATIE

Why haven't you paid it in yet?

TRUDY

Guilt. I know everything is screaming at me to move on but I still don't know what happened to Paul. I mean what if he is still out there.

KATIE

Thousands of people died in the towers Trudy where else would he be

TRUDY

You don't understand what it's like not being able to say goodbye to him properly ...

KATIE

... It's been 6 years Trudy let it go for christ sake. I'm sorry

TRUDY

Katie. Is everything alright?

KATIE

I've been having an affair

TRUDY

What?

KATIE

For 2 years. He was married. He was going to leave his wife but he got ill and he died last week. 

TRUDY

Oh my god. Why didn't you tell me?

KATIE

I couldn't. I wanted to loads of times and I know it sounds completely mad but I just couldn't

TRUDY

Why not?

KATIE

Because he was my patient and because you would have told me to stop

Direction Unit: Initial Script Feedback

I handed my script into Simon and I agreed with his feedback that the script was too long and would not fit into the 3 minute frame which we have been set in our brief. I will try and cut it down to 3 pages by getting rid of unnecessary dialog and maybe one of the characters. By getting rid of one of the characters it will make my script shorter but it will also make it easier for me when I come to shoot the scene as I will only have to concentrate on directing 3 characters rather than 4. I will also make sure that I am as descriptive as possible when I re-write the script so that my actresses know exactly what is expected of them.

Direction Unit: Initial Script

INT.TRUDY'S KITCHEN

               TRUDY a TIRED SCRUFFY looking mother and KATIE a SMARTLY
               dressed doctor walk through to join SIOBHAN a WELL DRESSED,
               WELL GROOMED LAWYER who is sitting at the LARGE dinning table
               drinking wine. JESSICA a TRENDY CASUALLY dressed events
               planner walks over from pouring drinks, greets Katie and sits
               down.

                                   JESSICA
                         You see married men are a no
                         brainer their bedroom changed,
                         their low maintenance and you've
                         got a ready made excite strategy.
                         No mess, no fuss. Hi

                                   KATIE
                         Hi

                                   SIOBHAN
                         Except sometimes the wives catch
                         you.

                                   TRUDY
                         Well isn't that the whole point?

                                   JESSICA
                         No the point was to shag him in the
                         top 3 Parisian bridal suites at our
                         client's expence.

                                   SIOBHAN
                         God I want your life Jess

                                   TRUDY
                         How can you say that. Harry's the
                         loveliest man in the world.

                                   SIOBHAN
                         Alright I'd only want her sex life.
                         And your kids.

                                   TRUDY
                         Ahh. Well at least your in love.

                                   KATIE
                         Put together you'd make one
                         perfectly satisfied individual.

                                   JESSICA
                         No I'm satisfied with sex.

                                   TRUDY
                         Jess you don't die if you don't get
                         your leg over.

                                   JESSICA
                         Clearly I would have buried you
                         years ago.

                                   KATIE
                         No fighting

                                   SIOBHAN
                         Ok. Katie multiple choice sex, love
                         or kids?

                                   KATIE
                         What can I only have one? Ummm.
                         Love

                                   TRUDY
                         I think someone asked me out today

                                   KATIE
                         Really

                                   JESSICA
                         Oh yeah

                                   SIOBHAN
                         Hello

                                   TRUDY
                         He's a new dad at school and I
                         think he's just got divorced and we
                         got chatting at the supermarket and
                         he said that we should go for a
                         coffee and I went "errrmmm errrmm"

                                   JESSICA
                         Hang on a minute he asked you out
                         for a coffee in Sainsbury's?

                                   TRUDY
                         No. In Tesco actually and well I'm
                         not really sure he was asking me
                         out.

                                   SIOBHAN
                         What did he say? Exact words

                                   TRUDY
                         Do you fancy going for a coffee?

                                   SIOBHAN
                         He said fancy?

                                   TRUDY
                         I think so

                                   SIOBHAN
                         If he said that he was asking you
                         out

                                   TRUDY
                         Oh no maybe he said won't

                                   SIOBHAN
                         Well that's different. That's more
                         tricky to interpret.

                                   JESSICA

               Stands up and takes an empty bottle of wine and puts it on
               the side.
                         You see this is exactly why I
                         switched from English to modern
                         languages

                                   TRUDY
                         Sorry do we want to talk about your
                         sex life some more?

                                   SIOBHAN
                         Come on women think. We've been
                         waiting 6 years for this. Want? Or
                         fancy?

               Jessica picks up a letter, with a cheque for £2,000,000
               attached to it,from the side and reads it. Then looks at
               Trudy.

                                   TRUDY
                         Fancy

                                   SIOBHAN
                         He was asking you out

                                   TRUDY
                         Really

                                   JESSICA

               Walks back to the table and shows Trudy the letter she has
               found.
                         Trud. When did this come?

               Siobhan takes the letter and reads it

                                   TRUDY
                         It came this morning

                                   SIOBHAN
                         So you've scored a million and
                         pulled on the same day

               Siobhan passes the letter to Katie. She studies it for a
               while.



               INT. TRUDY'S HALL WAY

               Trudy sees Jessica and Siobhan out of the door.

                                   JESSICA
                         See ya Trude



               INT. TRUDY'S KITCHEN

               Katie is standing up still looking at the cheque. Trudy is
               clearing the table.

                                   KATIE
                         Why haven't you paid it in yet?

                                   TRUDY
                         Guilt. I know everything is
                         screaming at me to move on the
                         girls are both at school finally
                         settled for money and someone's
                         even asked me out after 6 years. I
                         mean someone I quite like. I mean
                         how can I move one? I still don't
                         know what happened to Paul. I mean
                         what if he is still out there.

                                   KATIE
                         No he's not out there

                                   TRUDY
                         There's phone calls

                                   KATIE
                         Police traced them

                                   TRUDY
                         But they were from public places

                                   KATIE
                         Thousands of people died in the
                         towers Trudy where else would he be

                                   TRUDY
                         Well maybe he lost his memory

                                   KATIE
                         Then he wouldn't be calling you
                         from pizza restaurants and cab
                         firms would he?

                                   TRUDY
                         You don't understand what it's like
                         not being able to say goodbye to
                         him properly ...

                                   KATIE
                         ... It's been 6 years Trudy let it
                         go for christ sake. I'm sorry

                                   TRUDY
                         Katie. Is everything alright?

                                   KATIE
                         I've been having an affair

                                   TRUDY
                         What?

                                   KATIE
                         For 2 years he was married. He was
                         going to leave his wife but he got
                         ill and he died last week. John's
                         funeral was this morning.

                                   TRUDY
                         Oh my god. Why didn't you tell me?

                                   KATIE
                         I couldn't. I wanted to loads of
                         times and oh god I know it sounds
                         completely mad but I just couldn't

                                   TRUDY
                         Why not?

                                   KATIE
                         Because he was my patient and
                         because you would have told me to
                         stop

Direction Unit: Opening Titles

After a long discussion we finally came up with a title and the idea for a title sequence which we all liked and agreed upon. The title we have chosen is "Directors 13" and if you click on this link http://daniel-baugh.blogspot.com/2011/09/direction-unit-series-titles.html it will take you to Dan's blog where you can see the final title sequence which he has put together for the group.

Direction Unit: Performance Workshop

To day we had to take it in turns directing performers to create drama in a scene but at the same time we had to think of what camera angles we would be using to capture the drama as well.

Here is what I came up with.

I was pleased with how I directed my performers but I was disappointed with shots that I chose as they were not framed or as close up as I would have wanted but from doing this project i have learnt that I need to concentrate on all aspects of creating drama as with this task I was to busy thinking about my performance.

Direction Unit: I've Changed My Idea

From talking in class about everybodys ideas today I have realised that my initial ideas would turn the drama into a comical parody and that's not what I want to achieve. This project is about taking a drama and directing it in your own way so I need to make sure that I still keep the drama in the scene.I've decided to keep the scene as 4 women and have the scene set around a dinner party.

I have found a scene which I believe represents the whole series well and I have already thought of many ways I can turn the scene into my own by directing it differently but keeping the drama at the forefront.

This is the whole episode I couldn't find a clip and downloading it and editing it to the scene I wanted myself was proving difficult. The scene I am concentrating on is at 11mins to 15:19mins which I know is more then our briefed 3 minutes so I'm going to have to figure out a way of cutting it down so it still flows but still portrays the series and still contains lots of drama.

Direction Unit: Mistresses Research

Today I began researching Mistresses more in depth and here's what I found:

Tag line: Drama series about four female friends' marital and extramarital relationships.

3 series were produced with 6 weekly episodes each year between 2008 and 2010

Each episode was 60 minutes long

The show was broadcasted on BBC One and BBC HD

The series was mostly filmed in Bristol

It was created by SJ Clarkson and Lowri Glain

It was written by Rachel Pole, Richard Warlow, Harriet Braun and Catrin Clarke

It was directed by – SJ Clarkson, Philip John and Peter Hoar

It has now been broadcasted in 15 other countries

The 4 main characters are all very different and have very different careers but are all linked by their strong friendship but also by adultery and a web of lies.

The 4 Main Characters

Katie Roden – Doctor

Siobhan Dhillon – Mum and Lawyer

Trudi Malloy – Mum and Baker

Jessica Fraser – Events Organiser

Each of the characters have a few affairs throughout the series and they all fall out at some point but their friendship is too strong and important to stay apart for too long.

Direction Unit: Lighting Workshop

Today we had a workshop on lighting. We learnt how to light a scene properly to create a certain mood and help tell the story. We had to get into groups and practice with the lights to light a natural, expressive and experimental portrait as well as lighting a hero and a villain.

This is what we came up with.

Direction Unit: Director workshop

Today we had a workshop on directing a crew. We had to get into groups and take it in turns to direct each other, we were all given the same scene which we had to film in our own style. The scene was:

Two strangers meet at what is a clearly pre-arranged time and place. After a brief acknowledgement of each other, a written message is quietly passed from person A to person. Person A then walks away, leaving person B to discover the contents of the message.

I decided to make the story very simple and try and use a variety of shots to tell the story.

Direction Unit: Inital Ideas

When we first found out what we had to do for the Direction unit I imediatly started to think of dramas I watch and how I could adapt them.

My initial thought was to use the American drama FlashForward but I couldn't think of any ways to adapt any of the scenes from the show with the budget, equipment and locations available to me.

I've thought of another drama which I can adapt in a few ways and which I know I can achieve with the facilities I have. That drama is the British BBC drama Mistresses. Mistresses is a drama about 4 female friends who all lead very different lives but who are all linked by their friendship. They often all get together and discuss their problems over wine and this is the kind of scene I want to use from my piece of work as I believe it represents the drama perfectly and I have a few ideas on how I can adapt this.

First idea - 4 men in a pub/beer garden discussing their problems over pints.

Second idea - 4 builders discussing their problems in a cafe over cups of tea.

Thrid idea - 4 teenagers in a park discussing problems over alcopops.

I'm going to think about these ideas more in depth and try and develop one which I can use for my episode.