Preparing to Film: Problems and Details

 


Over the course of the last few weeks, I've been attempting to set down a hard schedule for filming- this has not been easy for several reasons. Firstly, I already have an awkward schedule on most weekends as I have responsibilities at my place of worship that take up 2 afternoons on the weeks I am performing. Additionally, I don't have my driver's lisence, so I need to organize my rides either through my parents or the people I want to work with. On top of that, everyone that I would be able to work with have extremely different schedules from mine.

On one end, this could be seen as a benefit- I have more time to plan and get all my props and specific details together, which means that i can get things done quicker than I may need if I had less time to organize. My movie is also centered toward one location- Right now, the most suitable and convenient would be Lake Forest Park, as it is decently close to get to and open long enough to film in the dawn. This means that the filming process itself will not take long, and most of my time will be spent on editing the scenes I have.

Another benefit is that my script itself is mainly general actor direction- there's no dialogue in this film opening, save for maybe one or two quick improvised lines by my actor. It's all cinematography and action based- which means nobody needs to memorize anything.

Overall, preparing to film has NOT been easy. I know that I'll be able to get everything done with time to spare once my schedule clears up a little- and it is, finally- and by then I'll have all my props available and ideas centered. 

Copy of Script:

OPEN ON A FULL MOON- CLOUDY NIGHT. DOWNWARD PAN TO THE TREELINE OF THE FOREST. STILL SHOT OF SOUNDS OF THE FOREST. BUGS CHIRP AND THE SOUND OF RUSTLING LEAVES AND WIND PLAY. 


ENTER TEENAGER: [WALKING TOWARDS TREELINE, BACK TO CAMERA. THEY HOLD A FLASHLIGHT IN THEIR RIGHT HAND]

 

CUT TO BUSHES, SWAYING IN THE WIND. SOMETHING SEEMS TO PASS IN THE DISTANCE BEHIND THEM, RUSTLING THE LEAVES. THE FLASHLIGHT CLICKS AND TURNS ON JUST A LITTLE TOO LATE, PANNING OVER THE BUSHES.


CUT FOLLOWS STREAM OF LIGHT FROM FLASHLIGHT UP TO A MID SHOT OF THE TEENAGER. HARSH LIGHTING, HEAVY SHADOWS. LEAVES CRUNCH UNDER THEIR FEET AS THEY WALK.


TEENAGER: [GASPS, BREATHES HEAVILY, STEPS BACKWARDS. THEY SPORT A CONFUSED, INTRIGUED LOOK. CUT TO POV AS THEY WHIP AROUND TO THE SIDE.]


CUT FOLLOWS FLASHLIGHT SHINE ON BUSHES- IT FLICKERS. SHUTS OFF. ON AGAIN- 


CUT TO THE GLIMMER OF EYES IN WOODED DISTANCE. A GASP AND THE SOUND OF THE FLASHLIGHT SHAKING. ON AGAIN, THOUGH NOTHING IS THERE. 


CUT TO TEENAGER’S FACE- THEY LOOK SCARED, NOW. SOUNDS OF RUSTLING IN DISTANCE GET CLOSER, LOUDER.


TEENAGER: [BOOKS IT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION- TRIPPING, FALLING. MORTIFIED LOOK ON THEIR FACE AS THEY RUN]


TRACKING SHOT FOLLOWS THEM RUNNING.


SHAKY POV AS THEY GET UP AFTER THE FALL, GROWLING SOUNDS.


CUT TO CLOSE UP AFTER SECOND FALL.


TEENAGER: [STRUGGLING TO GET UP AGAIN, GASPS, YELPS.]


CUT TO BLACK AS SOUND EFFECTS PLAY, DISCORDANT PIANO AND VIOLIN PLAY AS TITLE APPEARS ONSCREEN.





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