Well, once again I have gotten busy and not blogged as regularly as promised. So I'm super sorry for that, but here's your newest update on the life of the student filmmaker.
Production week is over. I can't even tell everyone how insanely much fun I had doing production. Ten minutes into the first day on the first set I was promoted to First Camera Assistant, which means that I am attached to the cinematographer and make sure that everything he needs is taken care of. I took light readings, focus measurements, held the camera when he got tired. It was a crazy amount of work, but I had a blast. The cinematographer I worked with that day, Jonathon, was also going to be cinematographer for another group, so I was asked to be their camera assistant too! Which I guess means I did a good job. Being assistant director was less fun, but I still really enjoyed the shoot for that group. Basically, I worked insane hours and got very little sleep and had a blast for ten days.
Shooting our project was different. Erika and I decided early on that the traditional titles of "director" and "cinematographer" didn't really work for us, so we both did both jobs. The first day of our shoot was indoors (shot at the boys' apartment upstairs, for which we are eternally grateful to them), and that day I acted as cinematographer and did all the work with the camera, while Erika communicated with the actors and got the scenes ready. We worked really really well together and wrapped two hours early, which for any non-filmmakers in the audience is very very good. We even got one shot that had originally been planned for the second day. Woot! Our second day went equally smoothly. We were shooting outdoors at one of the most beautiful cemeteries in Prague. The sunlight was on our side and clouds would cover when we needed things to be dark and gloomy and then the sun would peek right back out when we got to the nicer-looking things. You can't ask for better weather than we got for that day. It was awesome, and we were done by 1:00pm. We said farewell and thank you to our amazing actors, unloaded some equipment, and got some sleep for the next day's shoot.
Since shooting week ended, life has become somewhat calmer. I developed a chest cold, possibly just from being outside for shooting and not getting enough sleep. Someday I will learn how to take care of myself better for production, but I'm not really all that sick, so no complaints here. However, we all got our footage back from the lab and have been busily compiling rough cuts of our film to show our editing mentor. His name is Henry Hills (sounds pretty American, right? Well he is! He's from Colorado, actually), and he's a blast. He helped Erika and I originally just because neither of us was super confident on the editing software. I like him a lot and I can't wait to work with him. We are working with another American professor, Eric Rosensweig, as our sound mentor. He's helping us develop a soundscape for our films. I like post-production. Not as much as filming, but it's still fun, and I like seeing the film come together.
So, here's what's next for me. I come home in TWELVE days!!! In between now and then, I have to write two essays for classes and finish my film with Erika. Our screening is on December 18th, early in the morning, which is a little strange, but all will be well. In two days, my best friend Joel is coming to visit from England, where he's studying at Oxford this year. I'm psyched to see him!!! He'll be here until the 14th, and then he heads back to Jolly Old to finish the academic year there. Then, on the 15th, my DAD comes out! He's coming to see the screening and fly home with me! I cannot even tell everyone how nice it will be to have some tastes of home with me during the last two weeks. I also can't explain how excited I am to get to come home soon. I have loved this semester, but I miss everyone at home so much and I can't wait to be back in the States.
Well, that's Prague these days for you all. I hope everyone at home is doing well. I am busily compiling some cool, Prague-ian Christmas gifts for everyone, so if you have something specific in mind, please let me know. I miss you all and can't wait to see everyone!
Loves!
Christy
No comments:
Post a Comment