MOIP2 - Day 06 (Production Day 01)

As usual, in point form...

• We met at 0930hrs in school outside the Equipment Store to borrow the equipments needed.
• There was no trolley for us to borrow so it actually caused inconveniences to us as we had borrowed quite a number of equipments and lightings. We were mainly drained of our energy just by carrying the heavy equipments. So it actaully kind of slowed down our progress and we were behind schedule.
• Firstly, we (except Benjamin) went to our first outdoor venue to shoot the various scenes needed there. It was Wesley's Uncle's house in Bedok South area.
• We had a problem with lighting initially for it was a still a little dim and there was little space for us.
• There were a few NGs for the first scene (involving the cleaner leaving his home) as Guo Xiang did not act very well and he walked unnaturally by taking big steps over the wires and some other stuff on the ground.
• We used the straight track for one shot in the lift area. We encountered a problem in the different contrast in lighting as the lift area was dim but beside the lift area was th common corridor and the direct sunlight was just too bright. We tried using the reflector to reflect the light away but it does not seem to help much.
• In the end, we decided to change the angle of the shot and position of the camera.
• Soon, it was around 1pm and we decided to have lunch here before going back to school to meet up with Benjamin and the takents at around 1430hrs.
• We finally returned to school and Wesley went to meet up with the talents while the rest of us proceeded to the first venue in school for the shoot.
• At the taxi stand, we set up the lighting and decided on where the carea should be placed to get the shot we wanted in the storyboard.
• Crowd control was a problem as a few people still walked past the scene and even looked into the camera when the camera was rolling. A few vehicles also drove by.
• Wesley decided to take time off for the talents to have lunch while we make use of their break to set up. But however, Wesley accompanied them so we were one man short to set up the scene.
• The next scene has to be shot at the design school slope and the 03-10 corridor.
• We set up the straight tracks just outside the 03-10 main entrance and Benjamin tested out the shot and the smooth operation of the track as well as to make sure that he is familiar with handling the camera during the shoot.
• Once done, we proceeded to shoot along the corridor inside the 03-10 main entrance where the classrooms were. It is a track shot again.
• Next venue was the design school canteen. we set up the equipments and lighting at the lower deck of the canteen and managed to get extras for this scene.
• The cast helped out with the make-up for themselves and Guo Xiang (the cleaner).
• This scene had to be taken many times as when we pan the camera, we could sometimes see the boom in shot or the lighting in shot. Otherwise, it was a techincal error by the cinematographer in handling and shooting the scene.
• However, i must say that the cast (especially the bullies) are really quite a good bunch of actress as they really know how to bitch around! The dialogues were thought of by them on the spot too as the old dialogues were still not good enough to portray the bitching part of the bullies.
• The scene in the canteen took the longest to shoot and we only wrapped up at 1835hrs.
• The equipments were placed in Wesley's car for next day's shoot.

For today, I feel that we were actually did not do ample preparation and planning as many things popped out in between. Like for example, group members were late. We spent alot of time setting up the scene and carrying the equipment from one place to another and the packing of the equipments etc. I feel that Guo Xiang did not put in much effort for today's shoot so I hope that he would be better tomorrow.