Monday, November 30, 2009

Pick-ups


We are getting ready for the reduced unit pick-up shoot and our lightning trip to Kanowna, to get all the exterior shots which are currently missing from the edit.  As an indication that I have been thinking about this film for some time now, here is a photo I took of an area just east of Kanowna, I found this today, but I'd been talking about it with Sarah and Michael for the past week.  This exterior should cut into the scene with Brown and Clarke in the tent, to be used as the land which Brown is looking out at.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Lost in translation

We recorded Chomatsu's opening lines of the film today in Adrian's makeshift studio at his home.  The lines are off-screen and in Japanese, so Ben arranged a Japanese work colleague to come down and ensure that his pronunciation was correct.  He also got the same person to translate the words from English to Japanese.  The result was a Lost In Translation moment where the Japanese translation seemed much longer than what is said in English.  Ben did a great job and we were told it was better than the guy in Hero, it's good Japanese, but a Japanese person would know it isn't being spoken by someone native to the language. 
My last film had German speaking parts and a previous one had Indonesian, on each occasion the actor didn't know the language and had to be coached.  Seems to be a common thread in my films.  As one actor once said to George Lucas, "You can right it, but can you say it"?

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

The assemble

I finally got to see the first assemble edit today!  It was great to see the shots all laid out according to the script and also to see some of the shots for the first time.  Current running time is 18 minutes, but there is no need for concern, I gave Sarah, our Editor some notes about who to focus on in scenes and how the 2nd Unit shots will add more layers to the film, while giving the story spaces to breathe. 

Things I noticed, well it's working so that's great, it looks lovely and the performances are strong, believable and serve the story.  There is still a lot of work to be done to shape the edit to its best potential, but I am excited.  Editing is always a frustrating, fun, exhilarating and ultimately fulfilling process, but the problem is you come home with all these possibilities playing in your mind of how the cut could work or what edit serves the story the best. 

I can't wait to see the film take more shape!

So final notes about the edit: be true to the emotion, it was written as a slowly paced, lingering film, so keep that in mind without blowing our desired 12-15 minute duration and cut to Mathilda whenever possible (joke)!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Post Funding application

I've seen the quote to finish the vision part of post production, to deliver a quality Master, which is colour graded and meets all the technical requirments for festivals, distribution and screening.  It is scary and we still have to factor in the sound post, mixing and music recording.  So Michael has been busily looking into post funding through Screen Australia.

I can't believe the amount of paperwork you need to supply before you even step into the door.  I need to supply a one line synopsis, a one paragraph synopsis, a one page synopsis, a copy of the script, a director's statement describing my directorial approach to the project, CV, post production notes and a bio.

I can't understand the need for the various synopsis or the director's statement, the film has already been shot and we just want to finish it.  Anyway, I guess I'm going to need the various synopsis for our marketing and for festivals, so might as well do them now.  Well, at least we have until January to complete the paperwork.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

:o(

The biggest thing playing on my mind at the moment is, 'How are we going to finish this Kanowna'?

As I've mentioned before, we could get our mates to do everything, but unfortunately without access to high end gear, we will only finish with a DVD copy.  I believe we have a little gem in our hands and therefore I want to give it the best I can, at every step.  Much like a child really.

If we can get a professional Colourist to do the grade, if we can afford the pathway our Sound Editor is suggesting, if we could afford a couple real muscians for Geoff to record and us on the score, it would all make for a better finish in the end.  Also, we need to have a quality master from which to make dubs from and that means going to a Post Production facility.

There are various grants available for post funding, but how easy it is to get one is the question.  

Anyway, I've been busying myself with the design of the press kit and postcards.  I know that it will be a long time until they are needed, but they've got to be done sometime.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Thursday, November 12, 2009

The Fight





The philosophy behind the fight in this film was to make it a real scrap.  So, in the choreography of the fight we cut out any big arcing punches and added the use of elbows, headbutts.
Ben and Dustin did an amazing job at working out the story within the fight and I focused on the intent for each of them.
Doing the fight in the confined spaces of the set corridor added another dimension to it, having it constrained into the area and it also proved a challenge to film with such a big camera. 
There were a couple scary moments, a couple cuts and bruises, but I think we have a very believable and brutal little scene.
All credit goes to the boys for getting down and dirty, with no complaints, just the desire to make this the best it can be.

HDSR or D5?

Lots of discussions today about finishing formats. Do we master onto HDSR or D5 or what? 

Essentially we need to discuss the plan for going from RED Camera - Digital Intermediate (DI) - Master Tape - 35mm film.  Obviously this is dependant on invitations to particular festivals and receiving some post funding, but the discussion has to be had.

Low budget, independant filmmakers usually only finish to a DVD which the play to their friends and maybe send to a film festival which accepts DVD's, but if you are considering a theatrical print for festivals or even screening at one of the larger film festivals then more needs to be done.

I'm no expert and the RED camera adds another equation to the mix.  Also from a sound perspective we will probably do a mix for submissions to festivals and to play from DVD and would need to do another mix should the film be lucky enough to get funding for a 35mm blow-up.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

another of Ben's photos...


Ben's photos

Ben, one of our actors, did a little onset photography for us and just sent me a link to all his photos online.  There are some excellent ones there and we will definitely be using them in the promotional and behind-the-scenes material.  I will upload a couple to let you have a look.


The cramped filming space in the brothel corridor.



 
Peta Sergeant in front of the camera

Monday, November 9, 2009

Down the barrel

Dustin Clare and Clarke Richards as Trooper Brown and Trooper Clarke in the short film by Chris Richards-Scully entitled, Kanowna.

Post Crew

The pieces of the post production crew puzzle are starting to come together.

The day after the Kanowna shoot

I was so depressed today.  I would love to be making films everyday, but unfortunately that's not possible where we live...at the moment.
I am hanging out to see the rushes larger than a small image on Sam's computer and also hanging out to start the editing.  There are lots of Post Production questions which need to be answered, but that will be sorted in the coming days.
Michael and I are meeting tomorrow to start tracking where the film should be sent and when. We also need to decide on post funding and where we will premiere, but that's some time away.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

The Kanowna short film crew

Out brilliant crew!

Day 4 - Kanowna the short film

Day 4:

The final shoot day.

Another huge day.  We started the day picking up a scene with Chomatsu returning to his brothel, filmed in the corridor set, which was finished that morning.  Once again, Alana our Production Designer did an amazing job!

After this we moved onto the fight scene.  Dustin's character gets shot before the fight breaks out, so we had a squib hit rigged for the moment.  The set-up for this part took a little longer than anticipated, but the result was fantastic.  I didn't to the usual front hit, instead I wanted to see a rear exit wound and in the final shot be see an spray of blood and smoke, which really works.

Once Dustin is hit, Ben (Chomatsu) charges him and the fight begins.  The fight we rehearsed was a brutal, dirty, grappling fight, which when restrained to the corridor of the brothel really added to the intensity.  This was shot handheld, which will add to the ferocity of the moment.  The actors were fantastic, they got down and dirty and it will really show in the end film.  We can see the intensity and intent in their faces and the stakes of life and death.

One of the best shots we filmed in the corridor location we a tracking shot, which follows behind Brown's gun as he stalks up the corridor.  I'd envisioned when I was writing Kanowna and the resulting shot was exactly how I'd pictured it.

We had some extras on set in the afternoon that included my Mum, brother and cousin (a real family affair), the extras helped fill the exterior laundry and the Kanowna town scenes.  It is always a challenge to fill shots with only limited extras and a few didn't show on the day, which didn't help.  You have to make do with what you get and in the end we worked it out and the shots look very populated and real.  My Mum had a featured extra role, she had to tug on Dustin's sleave and point to where Osarno had gone to in the town.  It was so sweet, she rehearsed with Dustin and he really made her feel important.  She got the beats of the scene down and then we shot the scene.  Admittedly I was worried that she may have stage fright once the cameras rolled, but I didn't need to worry.  She did a great job and the scene worked really well.  I think her softness helped Dustin make an acting choice in the end of that scene, which I liked very much.

The day ended out in the middle of a field, picking up a shot of a doll to cut into the Meckering scenes.  With the production finished, I had to wander away from the crew, I was getting a little emotional, which can happen at the end of a shoot.  I haven't been emotional after a shoot for a long time, but I think this one has become personal.

I haven't written a script in a long time and I don't want to be a writer/director, but this story had become a personal one.

A huge, heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been involved thus far.  It was a challenging shoot with sets, costumes, guns, horses, extreme weather locations, fight scenes, squibs and a baby.  Everyone was working for the love of the craft and for the opportunity to be involved in the telling of a unique little Australian story.

I believe we've got a little beauty here, now Michael and I have to nurse it through the post production process and hit the festivals!

I usually don't like to single out people for thanks, but the MVP of the production has to go to our amazing Production Designer, Alana.  She did so much with so little and we love her work!  Thanks so much!

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Dustin Clare in Kanowna


Dustin Clare as Trooper Brown in the short film Kanowna.


Me and my Asian buddies!

Osarno (Peta Sergeant) deals with tragedy

Dustin Clare as Trooper Brown

Dustin Clare plays Trooper Brown in the short film, Kanowna.




Day 3 - Kanowna the short film

Day 3: Today was a dream compared to yesterday.  Not much sun, nice breeze, minimal flies and a much more comfortable schedule.  We shot scenes in the Troopers tent and in the Japanese brothel.  We also managed to pick-up a shot from yesterday, which I needed for the story.  The crew is really clicking into gear now, which is unfortunate because we only have one day left.
Clarkie was having trouble believing he achieved the right performance in his scene, I had to remind him and assure him that I wouldn't be sitting on his shot for 100% of the scene and we would be cutting around, because we want to see Dustin's character as well, so as a director, I was happy that we got the performances in different parts of various takes.  To his credit, he wanted to get it all in one take, which is something we all strive for.  Well done mate!
Dev and our camera crew (accept Aaron the 1st AD), working on the Red.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Bad Guy


The films 'bad guy', Chomatsu - Ben, who is really a very nice guy.

Kanowna short film - Day 2

Day 2:  Flies, sun, horses and more flies!

Today we shot out on a salt lake, just East of Meckering.  I'd forgotten how difficult it is to sustain yourself out in the elements and many of the crew also didn't have much experience working in those conditions.  Plus, we lacked real resources to cope with sun and wind and hence, we suffered a little.
On the positive side, we had horses today which really gives the film a feeling of scope.  We shot the horses galloping in a wide-shot, which was fantastic!
We really started losing the light in the late afternoon, due to an approaching cold front and Dustin's last shot of the day was in cloud cover, but you have to take what you can get.  His performance is so strong that it didn't really matter.
Peta was a trooper today!  She had to do a scene running across the salt lake and she stumbled.  She didn't stop, she just got back up and kept going.
All-in-all, a very successful day with only a couple challenges for the performances and coverage.
  
Dustin Clare as Trooper Brown

  
Dustin Clare on horseback

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Kanowna short film - Day 1

Kanowna, day one.  A big day.  I don't think we realised how big an ask the Art Department's job is.  Lots of moving walls, building and dressing.  They did an amazing job and it is really showing on screen.

Working with a baby is always a challenge, but Mathilda did a fantastic job and truely added to scenes by her interaction with Dustin Clare and Peta Sergeant.  She did cry a little, initially, but in the end, there were some magic moments.

Chomastu is the Japanese Terminator!  Ben was fantastic!  The stillness in his shooting scene was great and the knife scene was scary.

Peta and Dustin's reunion was lovely and the shots were great.  My only worry here is the coverage and if scenes where Peta is carrying the stunt baby will cut with Mathilda's.

Dustin's scene with the Doll was awesome.  His guttural yell at the end, is chilling and gives me a good cutting point into the next scene.

Many of these discoveries were made in rehearsal yesterday or on set.  None could be planned for, which is the beauty of film and what I love about the process.

We start at 0700 in Meckering tomorrow!


Dustin Clare in a scene from Kanowna.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Kanowna rehearsals

It's been a mad couple of days for Kanowna, the short film.  The cast (Dustin Clare, Peta Sergeant and Clarke Richards), arrived in Perth yesterday and I could only manage an hour and a half to meet with them to talk script and other stuff.  It was fantastic to see them again and made everything seem really real.  It was also cool that Krisztian came along all the way from LA to join in the fun!
The production made good use of the time with costume fittings and makeup tests being organised for the day.  A few issues arose from the tests, with the biggest being the incorrect boots being chosen for the Troopers.  Michael and I really emphasised to Costume the importance of getting this correct.
Dev our DOP stayed at our place which was really good.  We could talk shots, plans, symbolism, anything we needed to chat about, which we hadn't had the time to.

Today was a full day of Kanowna rehearsals.  We made many new discoveries about the film and a few scenes were slightly adjusted to either ring more true or change the status of a character, to make the journey more of a undulating one, instead of a flat one.
During the day there were many challenges with boots, guns and props, but it seems everything was sorted out behind the scenes.  Our biggest challenge has been to get the baby confirmed.  In the end, we decided to use my daughter as Osarno and Brown's baby.


Monday, November 2, 2009

update

Everything seemed to be falling into place today.  We made great progress with the uniforms for the Troopers, finally finding ones used in Ned Kelly, in Sydney.  Clarke, who is playing Trooper Clarke made a mad dash across town and collected them, saving on courier costs.  He will bring them with him tomorrow.  What a champ.
I had a long chat on the phone with Dustin.  He arrived in Melbourne and is showing Krisztian around, before flying to Perth tomorrow.  Everyone is excited that we are closer to the camera turning over. 
Tomorrow will see the Actors busily doing fittings and whatever else the production needs them to be doing and Wednesday will be our full rehearsal day.
Michael even get a call from a Community Newspaper, without any prompting from us.  They had found out about the production from the local Police.  I wrote our own media release and hopefully it will get a little interest going.
Really looking forward to everyone arriving tomorrow and getting stuck into rehearsals.  We've got so little time, but that can be a blessing as we don't have time to over-bake things.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

more...


No, it's not all about guns, but here is the Troopers pistol.

Chomatsu's gun

















Chomatsu's gun will the the one at the top of the picture, but the handle will be changed to a wooden grip.
I know, everyone will now be saying it's not a period firearm.  The point is that on our budget, we can't get a period firearm which can actually fire a blank!  Chomatsu's gun is never focused on, so the alternative was to get any available revolver. We only see the gun shoot and bullets in the chamber, so it should be no issue.  Of course we will choose our angles appropriately also.
If anyone is spending time checking that our guns are correct for the period, they are either 'trainspotters' or we haven't done our job!