Where will it all stop - Pre-production Meeting #2

This summary post was originally written for a practical exercise undertaken in the Planning and Making a Film module I undertook in the penultimate year of my BA (Hons). The module's practice was undertaken between October 2011 to June 2012 and it provided me with a hugely enriching experience. For a more detailed overview of the module and the projects I undertook as a part of it, see Planning and Making a Film: The student filmmaking experience.


07/11/2011

For this meeting my group: Emily, Jenny, Sally and myself met up with the other group: Tom Sanne, Danny and Flo.

As this meeting was taking place in our module seminar Mike (our tutor) chaired the meeting (from his point of view it was our first meeting but from ours it was our second).
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We had our filming dates confirmed as being the 19th and 20th of November!

The progress of casting was discussed and Jenny informed us that she had received sixteen replies over email, but as yet had heard nothing concerning an actor for the role of chuck. As in first meeting, we discussed the possibility of using a stand in and filming it so we don’t see Chuck’s face. Mike agreed that this would be a good plan B. He also emphasised the fact that we should think about getting plan B’s in as many areas as the film as possible!

For locations for the second half of the script, Flo said that they could use her bedroom and Sanne said they could use her kitchen. Mike, however, pointed out that they would still need to get the written consent of their housemates and landlords/landladies.  

Me and Tom, who is cinematographer for the other group, spoke about the possibility of using lighting. While we agreed it might be pushing the boat out a bit too far in the time we have it could still be a good skill to be trained for, so we’ll be meeting up on Wednesday the 16^th November for that.

Ultimately, because each group will be producing their own final cut (albeit, borrowing footage for the half they didn’t shoot) Mike said that we could make our own alternate ending. From the selection that the module group had supplied it looks as though my group will be going with the ‘Joe taking Chuck’s place ending,’ which was an ending that quite a few people came up with; including myself. However, Mike said we are also free to come up with one not in the selection, so this decision could still change.

After the meeting my group went and looked at the pub location, The Royal Oak. While there we met the manager and got his verbal and written permission that we could use the pub. We also took this opportunity to plan out what parts of the pub we will be using. 

Although some will be missing from both groups some of us will be meeting up on Wednesday 8^th November for auditions and rehearsals. But we are still on the lookout for Chuck!


Next: Where will it all stop - Auditions