Monday, February 14, 2011 / 12:14 PM
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I seriously wonder sometimes if people actually know how painful producing work can be. Planning the props. looking for casts etc. Its all a pain. really.
Travelling to find the wardrobe and all is seriously a big hassle. But it has to be done some how or another. Another thing is budget. Its really hard to work with budget constrains. But one thing I have learnt is that knowing alot of cheap places to get stuff is a good thing. Shopping can be done at places like Toa Payoh. An auntie shopping heaven. Also a heaven for me. Cheap shirts, hoodies and other stuff. Knowing such resources can really come in handy at these times.
In addition, we did alot of make shift. Cardboard is a really useful item. I can use it to make a photoframe, Metal rod and even a digital clock. Well at least to make other objects look like something else which would have cost us a fortune to purchase.
I honestly feel that this have gave me much experience and really pushes me to think further with what can be done with materials that are cheap and sometimes free.
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This round's shoot was quite a mess honestly. Alex is the director, but personally I don't think he actually understands what is going on. The screenplay was just a direct translation from my two collumn script and all. Shooting script as well.
Also, I feel that its all very messy as alot of impromtu was done and such. I feel that for this shoot. TOO MUCH lighting was used. In fact, we could simply have used a single 2K light and solved alot of problem. however Alex and Zhi Wei felt it was not such a good idea.
Also in SIP I have used this LED light panel before. At times like these, when we have poor lighting, it would definitely come in play.
For the fight scene. The cast attendence was not as expected. More girls than guys. Last min changes to the script. Controlling the casts was also a pain. People were running everywhere and such. What made things worse was that I felt Zhi Wei was not bringing out the shots I felt were needed. In fact I was literally watching my own death as he shot the video.
Alot of shots cannot be done with just a tripod. Free hand is needed. Yet his free hand looks so mechanic.
ALot of shots would not be able to link in editing. I could tell already. But shooting it all in a mess is seriously a disaster I can see upcoming for my editing.
Lightings, angles, movements. Were all messed up.
In the end I felt I had to move in and fix some things up. But seriously, there is a limit to how much I can fix as well.
Alex I felt, even though he was unclear with the script. He is seriously trying very hard. But Zhi Wei is rather stubborn and refuses to listen to comments and such. Wei Ru seriously help out alot to ensure the shoot goes as smoothly as possible.
I honestly have much mix feelings about the shoot.
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I see disaster. As I predicted, the editing is going to be a pain. Real big pain. I can't do much more about it. A semi-reshoot? Or full re-shoot?
Either way, these footages wun last. But what also went wrong was also the fact that I stepped in too much. My style and Alex Style severely collided. To make things worse, the camera often did not capture the shot that was needed. Wrong angle. Shakey and such.
Well, I guess we gotta wait till interim to see how things goes.
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Tomorrow is interim. But as of now, we have decided on a full reshoot. I seriously feel planning is really getting no where. Group planning at least. But I also cannot save the situation at the moment. I don't want another case of me overlapping Alex again. Then Again, I don't see a story forming up.
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The shoot is later, but I don't think I can last long for the shoot. 2 days sleepless with the pre-production and such. Seriously makes me wanna just fall sick so I can sleep.
Casts were all last minute planned. Props made out of whatever materials I have left remaining from cosplay. Clothes all bought from mustafa in the middle of the night. Planning story overnight at Alex house.
But I seriously find that our planning did go much more smoother without Zhi Wei. I dun really know why but it just happened.
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The shoot finally ends. At last. It turned out pretty good and all. Just that I found some problem working with Zhi Wei. He has a tendency to overuse the tripod and provide suffucating shots and uncomfortable shots. Its like a POV shot using a tripod is seriously too stiff. Lock shot for people fighting? I think thats just too stiff. Another thing is he is too clingy on the camera. I honestly feel that as a group, we should help out one another. Sometimes I feel the cameraman should not be the only one handling the camera. The Director should move the camera when needed to get the shots out. Its saves alot of time for complicated shots.
Also one thing I get abit irritated by is Zhi Wei's attitude. He often asks alot of useless questions and have us explain it multiple times. Like why do we shoot this angle etc. And he is persistent on following a storyboard he drew, which was stickman. WIth no proportion or proper angling to refer to. When I comment on his working style, he says I say too much.
When I mention certain things such as using premier for the roughcut. He makes a fuss saying the format is a problem. I know. I told him saying because its the CNY holiday. I might as well edit something so I can refer to and place to footages accordingly in FCP when the holidays are over. He pointed at me and said to remember I said to not bother about the format and if anything goes wrong its my fault.
But the thing is I am only doing a reference. Even after Zhao Han and a few other try to explain to him. He refuses to listen to instructions properly and questions everything.
Simple things such as copying the raw files to the harddrive for back up. He does not understand. Instead he digitizes everything.
When he is told to check if the footages are working then tell us. He has to digitize, sort etc. Wasted almost 4 hours then tell us its ok. We were waiting on set to resume our shoot by emptying the P2 cards if the footages were working on the back up drive.
He also have no sense of urgency. When he is doing nothing. He keeps on telling use to chop chop. And when we move to a nearby location, he refuses to move until all the equipment is properly packed. When all we have to bring is the tripod and camera. In addition, there were others staying at the set.
Working with him actually wastes alot of time. Both in his working style, and stubborness.
However in the end, somehow we pulled through.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010 / 1:41 PM
Well, We got up a new story now. Once again. This time I'm pretty comfortable with this story. Unlike the previous ones. But honestly, I am having a pain with my groupmates. Minus Wei Ru.
Ok the new story idea, here is the Sypnosis.
Isaac was on his way home when he saw his father being killed. He then ran over to his Father when the Murderer fled out of scene. The police came and started investigating the scene. He mourned over his father's death as they resumed the investigation. At 11:11:11 (Hour: Min: Seconds) he opened a door and the next thing he knew, he had traveled back in time.
Knowing he is now back in the past, he finds his father and decided to protect him. Despite the arguments he was having with his Father, he continued to guard his father as a body guard. However, due to an unfortunate accident, Isaac accidentally killed his Father.
He was trying to wake his already Dead father up when he heard a scream. Turning back, he saw himself of that time running over. He quickly fled the scene, taking his Father's Wallet along with him.
He strolled along the seaside, laughing to himself, joking he had outrun the cops. His Laughing transformed into crying and despair. He had completely snapped. He slipped and fell into darkness at 11:11:11 (Hour: Min: Seconds). At the same time, the him of that time entered the door and traveled back to the past.
Well although we agree with this idea, I am having great pains trying to make my group mates understand the happenings itself. Like the time traveling. I know I did do my research and know about the scientific theories etc. But firstly, they are ONLY theories and they expect me to explain everything in detail. Seriously, there is a limit to how much I can explain. Its like asking, how did Ironman Make his suit out of junk, or, How did cyclops get Laser eyes. Seriously, some things cannot be explained. That is what makes it interesting. Sigh.
Sometimes I don't know if we are just not on the same frequency or are people not acting smart. I obviously think that in time to come, it might just be a pain to work with him. However, I can just take him as an Ordeal and probably learn from it.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010 / 1:18 AM
I honestly don't know what to be doing anymore. Once again, we are rushing into the pre-pro like blind chickens. Count down. 47 more days to interim 2. I believe alot of it is dependent on the story and script, which is not even out yet. Making it believable is difficult.
I sometimes feel like taking over everything from Alex and work in a 3 person group. Even so, I am very unhappy about how Alex sees the group. It is as though the group consists of only him, Zhi Wei and me. What about Wei Ru?
There is a reason why there are 2 producers. As there is alot of work to do. Contacting. Calling. Arranging. Lias. But I don't see Alex seeing the importance in this. I know our story cannot be perfect, but there is a limit to perfection, isn't it?
Saturday, November 27, 2010 / 2:00 AM
First Journal, Written 2 days after Interim one. To be honest, I feel alot of regret. Not regarding about how poorly how I did my work, but why I was not stubborn and persistent. I personally feel that some things I could have done to stop the disaster that I could even see upcoming. I could even remeber telling Wei Ru that confirm, our story sure get changed after interim 1, because it was too unstable. Nothing was even done properly.
No Depth. No soul.
That is simply how I could describe our story.
Honestly, I am finding it very hard to work with Alex. For many reasons. I shall state a couple.
- He does not listen to people suggestions. Be it groupmates or even outsiders.
Comments and suggestions were all brushed aside as he will insist that only he should be writing the script and the final decsision on the story should be his. Because he is the Director as well as script writer.
- He only listens to lecturer comments and uses it wholesale without any thought.
This happens all the time. I often get the impression that he is using the lecturers to think his story from him. But often. Julian and Andrew do not think of the same examples. thus putting them together is simply suicide. Very often.
- He immediately restarts the story without thinking when he realises that the story's BME don't connect. However, he has never made any effort to connect them. This resulted in our story changing 14 times before interim, excluding the story ideas Andrew gave us during our final consultation with him before the interim.
Honestly, I felt very stress. Simply because, each time his draft story is out. Wei Ru and I have to begin pre-production. Location Reccee. Research. Casting. Auditions. Then he restarts it again. We have to redo our whole work. Its like, we keep on working sleepless. Only to realise in 3 days time. Our efforts have all gone to waste.
Normally its ok. Once or twice. but not 14 times. Thats way too much. And one thing about Alex is he refuses to do anything but the script and story. Which he has never progressed at all. Not one bit.
I even have to admit, Zhi Wei is always trying to help. However. He can't. Because everytime we about about to distribute work. He restart. As in Alex. Thus we had no progress at all.
I personally felt I don't think I should bring this up to a lecturer for multiple reasons as well. Some being the moral of the group and I do not wish to have our marks affected. However I do believe there is a limit to everything.
I am personally considering of informing Andrew about the possibility of having roles changed. Because I have behind Alex's back, done story and script. I know this may seem like back stabbing. But I don't think we can leave it as it is. Maybe its like telling a white lie?
But for the sake of the group, I don't think its fair to have one person's own pride and Ego and his own way of doing things drag us all down.
I Think enough is enough. Even if I anger Alex. So be it. I have to make a say someday. And moreover, its for his good. For the group as well.
Hi All. This is Jovi here doing a blog as a form of doing my FYP Journal. Will update it regularly and only when I feel like or need to update it. SO yeah :3
