Shoot day reflection write up

Yesterday we spent the day filming our opening sequence, at first I was nervous, but after ten minutes of shooting I quickly got into it and lost all the nerves. Originally we had planned on using the shed in the woods for only one shot and the garden shed for the rest, but after arriving we decided that the shed in the forest would be much more appropriate even though it was more dangerous, as it fit our opening sequence better.

Firstly, we started with getting a shot of our actor jumping over a fence and running desperately. We then went and got a shot of the actor running into the shed. After this we moved the camera into the shed and captured our actor walking around in the shed and panicking and then opening up the duffle bag. We had to get lots of shots in the shed as we had a few problems with the camera, as when filming we made a mistake and touched the screen which made the camera appear zoomed in, but actually it wasn't, so we had to re film a few shots as soon as we soon realised the mistake.

We then got a shot of our actor talking into a recording device in the shed.  We got a few shots of this to make sure we got the perfect shot, as this was a very important scene for us. After this we soon started to realise that due to the weather and the time frame, that setting up traps would not be feasible. Whilst this was not our original plan, we are happy, as in hindsight we think that the montage of setting up traps would have made the sequence too long and would have not fit with the sequence.

Our next shot was of our actor discovering a spade in the corner of the room and picking it up, this was a close up.  We then got a shot of him leaving the room from outside and then an over shoulder shot of him digging a hole and burying the drugs in the bag.  He then went back to the shed to collect the bag, followed by a shot of our actor texting on his phone his location.  Our final shot of our actor was of him running off.   The last shot of the day was of the shed with two voices in the background, shouting very loudly that they would soon be entering the shed where our actor had just left.  

To film our opening sequence we used a black magic camera with a tripod and we brought lights with us in case they were needed, however we ended up not needing the lights as the natural lighting hitting the shed gave a very nice effect. We used zoom lens and also exposure for the camera setting. 

If I was to do this again a learning from the process would be that I would go with are whole group a few weeks before filming, which would have made us all familiar with the site, when we arrived on the day of filming.

The camera workshops we had done before this, really helped me, as I was constantly remembering to make sure the camera was in focus and to make sure that the correct setting was used on the camera for outside lighting.  I had made this mistake in the workshop, which ensured I didn't do this on the day.