Making of

Overview

Filming my thriller opening was undoubtedly a rollercoaster, both rewarding and challenging. In retrospect I’ve come to appreciate how much work and passion goes into making something that appears so clean and easy on screen. I learned a lot about planning and problem solving under pressure from the experience despite having very little time and many unforeseen obstacles. Below i tried to summarize what happened.

Getting ready

The preparation phase went more smoothly than I anticipated. Regarding resources and equipment, I ran into no significant problems. I made sure to purchase all of my necessities well in advance, including makeup, costume components and even food for the crew. Given that I only had a few hours to record the whole project I couldn’t afford to waste time that day looking for things that were missing.

Performers

This was most likely the most difficult thing I had to do. Unfortunately many of the 22 actors I had originally scheduled canceled the day before or even just a few hours before the shoot. It was very challenging to adapt the script because of this. Furthermore it was a nightmare to move the actors around the school since I could only enter the gym during class and even then it was difficult as I had to film during that time and there were kids in the gym in the last 15 minutes that had a gym class.

Crew Assistance and Ideas

Although I lacked a sizable crew to assist with lighting, sound, or camera, Matei came up with a fantastic idea, and he truly deserves the praise for this one. Matei thought of the idea to tape the phone to the mirror so we could get a direct point of view for the scene where Ben looks in the mirror because I was only using my phone to record. The only problem with that was that we had to record a few test shots to figure out the angle because we couldn’t really adjust it. Nevertheless, it was a fantastic example of improvising with what we had, and it worked.

Plan and Script

I’m very happy that I followed the script. The actors fit well with the characters, and I kept it in front of me the entire time. I kept things organized and clear by not improvising too much. If I had, I believe It could have quickly descended into chaos.

The filming day’s conclusion

I was totally worn out by the end of the session. It was a long and demanding day filled with constant moving, actor management, filming, and problem solving. Coordinating all the actors in various locations was a significant challenge. For example some had to wait in the gym, while others had to join me in the bathroom for a scene. Additionally the school gatekeeper was not very helpful as he wouldn’t allow me to get the keys for the gym because of a personal dispute between him and the coach. I only had about 30 minutes to film at the gym, so it was a major setback when he refused to give us the key.

What I would do differently

If i were to do this again I would definitely make better plans and most likely search for a different location, somewhere easier to get to where I wouldn’t have to depend on getting a key in such a short amount of time. To ensure that the actors remain dedicated and actually show up, I might also think about paying them even if it’s only a little. I would have avoided a great deal of stress if I had.

Concluding remarks

I am proud of the end result that that i achieved in such a short period of time, despite the fact that it was difficult. I learned throught the process how much work goes into making even a small part of a movie and how satisfying it can be to see your idea realized.