A Chase Film Production – Master Multimedia

If you were creating your team’s film on the Logan campus, you would be following the process in this production handout. Since you and your teammates are working from your own homes, the production process will be different.

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Preparation

You should have been assigned to play one of the characters in each of two different scenes. Refer to your team’s approved synopsis and storyboard and make sure you understand where your character should be and what they should do in your scenes.

For example, Scene 1 may start in a kitchen. The character Jim (wearing black) is sitting at a table on the left side of the screen. He puts a waffle in the toaster in the center of the table. As he turns around to get a plate, Terry (wearing white) walks in from the right side of the screen. The waffle pops up out of the toaster. Terry grabs it and leaves to the right. Jim turns around and sees the empty toaster and Terry leaving. Jim get up and runs out the right side of the screen.

In this same example, Scene 3 starts on an empty sidewalk. Terry runs in from the left and out to the right. Jim runs in from the left and out to the right.

If you are playing Jim in both scenes, plan what shots you need to record:

Scene 1: Wide shot showing: you sitting at the left-side of the table and putting a waffle in the toaster; you turn around to get a plate; you turn back to the table and notice the empty toaster; you look up in the direction where Terry would have just left; you get up and run out of the right-side of the kitchen.

Scene 3: An empty sidewalk. You run in from the left an run out to the right.

Arrange for a time when a family member can help you record your scenes. Make sure are wearing the correct wardrobe and have all necessary props. (In the example above: you would be wearing a black top, have a toaster and a waffle.)

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Scene Staging

When you are ready to record your first scene place any needed props and arrange anything else in the location according to what is needed in your synopsis and storyboard. In the example above you would make sure the table has a chair on the left side, a toaster in the middle, and a plate on a counter to the left of the table.

Show the person who will be recording the scene how to frame the camera. The first shot should be a wide shot that shows the entire setting. In the example above, the first shot would include the entire kitchen setting, including the counter with the plate; the table and chair, and room for you to exit the scene to the right.

In Scene 3 above, the framing is a wide shot that will show you from head-to-toe as you enter from the left, run along the sidewalk, and exit to the right.

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Recording

When you are confident everything is ready, direct your camera person to start recording and let you know when the recording starts.

Once you know the recording has started, wait a few seconds then start acting. In the Scene 1 example above, you will take a waffle; place it in the toaster; turn around to grab a plate; turn back to the table; notice the waffle missing; look up toward where Terry would have left; get up and run out of the right side of kitchen.

After you have left the scene, wait a few seconds then say “Cut” to let your camera person know to stop recording. Review the recording. If it does not look correct, record as many takes as necessary to get it right.

Once you have a good recording of the scene’s Master Shot, record all necessary close-ups.

In the Scene 1 example above, tell your camera person to record a close-up of you as you sit at the table. When they are ready, repeat your directing process: direct the camera person to start recording and let you know when the recording starts. Once you know the recording has started, wait a few seconds then start acting. Repeat everything you did in the Master Shot. Make sure the camera stays where you are sitting, even when you get up an leave. Wait a few seconds after you have left the scene, then say “Cut” to let your camera person know to stop recording. Review the recording. If it does not look correct, record as many takes as necessary to get it right.

In the Scene 1 example above, other close-ups will include the waffle being put into the toaster, and the plate being picked up from the counter.

For Scene 3 in the above example, you most likely only need the wide shot since nothing happens in the scene other than your character running in and out of the frame.

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Footage Transfer

Once you have recording all the shots for the scenes you were assigned, transfer them from the phone to your Google Drive project folder.

Re-name each recording in your chase project folder so it matches your storyboard. In this example there are nine recordings that have been re-named as follows:

Scene-1-1-Jim.mov
Scene-1-2-Jim.mov
Scene-1-3-Jim.mov
Scene-1A-1-Jim.mov
Scene-1A-2-Jim.mov
Scene-1B-1-Jim.mov
Scene-1C-1-Jim.mov
Scene-3-1-Jim.mov
Scene-3-2-Jim.mov

Each scene name is followed by its take number, then the Character name. Master shots are only a a number. Detail shots include a letter.

Make sure when you rename a file you keep the extension.

For example, if the original name is IMG_9890.MOV the extension is .MOV and the new name might be Scene-1-1.MOV

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