Film Production Diary: Day 12.

It's finished! It's finally done! Hell to the yes! Well, OK, filming is done. I still have to edit in the new footage. But still, no more staying late after school (unless necessary)! No more worrying about if students will be there or not and/or if they brought what they needed to bring!

We filmed the 4 scenes we needed to, though parts were kinda tricky. Because my main guy got into a fight the other day, his face has bruises and whatnot that he didn't have in other parts of the movie... so I had to film it from angles that didn't show one side of his face. I also had to get another guy to do the "security guard" role (which is only feet, anyway), so hopefully you really can't tell.

We did almost have an issue, because they wouldn't let one of my students into the locker room to get his shirt, but luckily we got him another that he could just turn inside out. Oh, and we were racing my camera's battery, as it started running low toward the end. So that was fun.

Anywho, now it's time to finish editing this bad boy. I'll let you know as soon as it's available for viewing (if possible, I might upload it to YouTube tonight). So, until then...

Film Production Diary: Day 11.

Yeah, do I really have to say it? Nothing happened. Here's to tomorrow.

Film Production Diary: Day 10.

I say, "There's no way we can't finish the movie this week!" God says, "Haha, wanna bet?"

Today was just a maelstrom of issues. It started with the one guy forgetting his shirt (again). But we figured a solution to that... one of my other guys had a black shirt, and they'd just exchange shirts and the one would flip the black shirt inside out (to rid of the picture). Easy fix. Then, I discover that the one girl whose role we need to re-shoot is absent (again). Fine. OK. We can film the other stuff we have left. Easy.

But here's the real kicker. Right before my 7th period is about to start (the class I have 2 of my main guys in), my lead actor comes around the corner... his face covered in blood. He had gotten into a fight and got totally messed up (he didn't start the fight, either, apparently). So on top of the fact that his face is all bruised and his nose is broken, he'll probably be getting suspended for a few days. My hope is this: 1) they won't suspend him this week because we're about to start midterms tomorrow (they're even letting kids out of ISS, so I doubt they'll suspend him) and 2) one of my girls in 7th period can do wonders with makeup.

But he's also grounded, so I have no idea if his parents will even let him stay. It's a total mess.

And on top of all that, I don't think this other guy will be able to stay after school anymore for his role, because he keeps coming after school and we keep having to cancel, and he's been having to make special arrangements. Luckily, his role is faceless, so anybody in a pair of bluejeans can continue it.

So yeah... that's what happened today. Here's to hoping we can actually finish this damn thing.

On the upside... for those who haven't seen it yet, check out the post right below this one. I posted a movie trailer I made last night for the film.

Film Production Diary: Day 9.

Today was a wash. One of my students wasn't there because his mom hurt her back again, so he had to stay home with her... which threw off the whole filming for today, wherein we were supposed to finish. But now I won't be able to show the movie to my students tomorrow like originally planned, as we'll hopefully get to finish filming tomorrow.

On the upside, I did decide to, in the meantime, make a movie trailer. However, YouTube is being stupid at the moment and is doing site maintenance, so I can't post it up. But I'll post it up as soon as I can. But soon you will be able to see some footage from the film! I'll keep you updated.

Film Production Diary: Day 8.

Um... yeah. So, today we got a couple things done. We got a small part of one scene done and the entirety of another (which turned out really cool, and probably one of the best acted in the movie... which is good, considering it's part of the climax).

But the two big scenes we planned on doing today (a reshoot of the first couple scenes we did) couldn't happen because the girl needed for the scenes was sick and had to go to the doctor right after school.

So on Monday, if we're to finish this, we'll need to do those two quick scenes, another full scene, and then the rest of the 'choir' scene that's proving to be the most difficult one to get for the whole movie (come Monday, it'll be the fourth time to attempt it. The first was the Friday before Christmas break. The second was yesterday where I got the girls' portion. And the third was today, where we got a small bit, but nothing major).

I figure y'all will totally be able to tell which scenes I did earlier in the production and which ones I did later, mostly because you'll be able to notice how I learned how to film things as I went along (as well as better/different angles and such).

But one thing is for sure... I really enjoy the action scenes. They're fun to do.

Still... I want to be done with this movie already. For such a small production, this is like... never-ending. And I know my main actors are getting frustrated having to stay after school so much. But here's crossing my fingers that Monday will be the last. So... until then!

Film Production Diary: Day 7.

Ugh. One of my guys (the same one who didn't bring his shirt the other day) had to go home early today because his mom threw her back out (or something to that affect)... so we couldn't film with my main guys yet again.

But I filmed the female's half of a scene because they were there, and this was the second time I've had two of the three girls there (the first time was the day before Christmas break when we couldn't get through the scene). It may have been a blessing in disguise, however, as it made it easier to film without the guys making the girls laugh. But I had to re-arrange my room and film it in there, as I didn't get signed up to use the auditorium for today like I wanted to. Oh well.

And tomorrow it's supposed to be like, super freezing out with rain and everything, so there's a high potential that many students won't even be at school. So on top of my one guy possibly not coming to school in order to stay home with his mom (not sure if that'll be the case or not), I have the weather issue.

I swear, it's like even God is against me ever finishing a movie. But I swear, it will be done! I only have a few scenes left...

Film Production Diary: Day 6.

I am freakin' exhausted... like, you have no idea. After a long day of high energy (that I had to muster from a place of non-existence) to play "Review Basketball" for 8 hours... I get to do some filming stuff.

It starts with a shot that should only last about 10 seconds, but it took us about 5 minutes to get through because people kept messing up and/or laughing for various reasons (like one of my students kept farting). But we eventually got through it. And this comes at the end of a scene that we filmed next.

Next was a big fight scene in a bathroom, which is going to have probably more bloopers than any other scene we've done. But I really liked a lot of the shots I did for this scene. Besides some cool angles, I felt at times like Paul Greengrass Jr. with some quick camera movements and shaky cam (not purposeful shaky cam... just trying to fit in all the action). But we had to hurry at the end because one of my main guys had to leave with his ride (another one of the guys there... who actually isn't one of my students, but replaced one who didn't show up... which actually worked, because this guy is playing a bully, and he's HUGE). Funny side note... I kept having teachers and janitors come up and ask what was going on in the bathroom, so I kept having to explain that I was making a movie... in the bathroom... got an odd look or two.

From there, I filmed the one girl's scene that I've been trying to film since last semester. But that was slightly rushed because another one of my guys (not in the scene, though) had to leave, but he had some stuff still up in my classroom. I gave him my keys, but the janitor wouldn't let him in for liability reasons, so we had to super rush through it.

All in all, I got 3 scenes completed today (2 total filmed today, and one shot added to another to finish it off). Oh, and a pretty big headache, but I suppose it comes with the territory.

Side Note: I wanted to say that, in editing yesterday's footage, I became a bit upset. I had some really cool shots, but I couldn't use them because they interfered with the continuity of the shot that preceded it. This happened twice, and it was very saddening.

Film Production Diary: Day 5.

We're back from Christmas break and back to filming! And today was... interesting. It was like a snowball of bad. First, I discover that the one girl who was going to film today (and was actually supposed to film before Christmas break but couldn't) couldn't stay today, but will be here tomorrow (*crosses fingers*). Then one of my main guys tells me he couldn't find his shirt he'd been wearing (and to avoid continuity issues, I need them in the same wardrobe). He also didn't bring the jacket that another one of my main guys had been wearing. So they were out of filming today, too. And to top it all off, my main guy is sick.

But that's about where the bad ends. We did get about 3 shorts scenes filmed today because I just needed me, my main character, and a camera. And him being sick helped add to the kind of 'blah' emotion of the scene. So at least we got something done.

With my luck, though, he'll end up staying home sick tomorrow or something and we won't be able to film anything. Now that'd suck. I told him he's not allowed to be sick... though I'm not sure that'll work. Anywho, that was about it for the day. We were finished in about 30 minutes.

Oh the joys of working with 14-year-old students...

Film Production Diary: Day 4.

Today was a wash, but I figured it would be. It's the day before Christmas break. One of my guys didn't even show up. The others showed up late. And the scene we could do involved lip syncing, so of course nobody could keep a straight face. So after about 20 minutes of what were essentially bloopers, I just called it a day and let them go home.

So we'll just be finishing up filming in 2 weeks when we get back to school, I suppose. Now it's down to editing what I have!

Film Production Diary: Day 3.

Had a few bumps today. It pretty much started with this one girl, who has been there every day after school this week just to tag along, and whose scene finally comes up today, tells me she can't stay after school. Then I find out that 3 people I needed tomorrow won't be able to be there, but I can at least film around/without them, so that's fine. One good thing, at least, was that I was supposed to be in a parent conference today after school, and the conference was canceled, so I was able to get right to the filming.

I filmed a couple scenes during my seventh period class. One, I had to run my main guy down to the bathroom and film some filler I forgot to film yesterday. Then I re-shot a scene we did yesterday, but just his perspective, as it was supposed to take place during a class period... and yesterday, every shot of my main guy showed every desk behind him empty. So I had to re-film his lines with kids in their desks. Of course, THAT was interesting, with them doing crazy stuff in the background.

Then after school was all crazy. We were all over the place. We had to go to the gym to shoot a scene, but the gym was locked, and then we were followed by these three guys (2 of them my students, the other just hangs with them). So we had to wait until the basketball players (including those 3) started practice so we could use the gym. So while we were waiting, I saw a couple of my students walking by and decided to do a scene I had forgotten to film with them yesterday. But I needed this other guy who I didn't have, so I had to put my main guy in the other guy's place, but hidden behind a tree.

So we go back to the gym and realize we couldn't do what I had planned because of the basketball players, so we had to improvise. We used a back patio instead, after doing a shot crossing the outskirts of the gym.

But before we could use the back patio, we had to get rid of a group of students (3 of which were also mine, two of them being the aforementioned 2 I had just filmed with before the gym thing) who were talking back there. So I decided to do another shot using the group, as I needed a crowd of students walking by. Then from there, we went back to the patio before one of my students decides to tell me he has to leave soon. So then we cross to the front of the school to do a couple entrances for the beginning of the movie, and then I could let him leave.

Then, back at the patio, my main guy and this other girl have to do their scene that was originally in the gym. We get through that and then do a few random filming bits for a montage before going in for the big 'awkward' scene. The girl has to lean in to kiss the guy, who ducks out of the way all freaked out because he sees his girlfriend (the girl who couldn't be here today). But I actually think it worked out for the better, because I like how the reactions are without her in the immediate shot.

And that was pretty much it. We went back to my classroom for a while, and I had to wait around with one student until her ride showed up.

Then I went out and bought some things for set building tomorrow... nearly 30 bucks for a scene that's gonna be 5-10 seconds. Crazy things I do for my students. I know I'm not gonna finish filming before the break, but at least I'll have the majority of it done. Maybe it's for the better, anyway, because I could sense them (particularly my main guy) getting tired of staying after school so much. But we'll get it done, God help me.

Film Production Diary: Day 2.

Today went so much more smoothly. We were meant to film 4 scenes today, and we filmed all 4 scenes. I learned from yesterday's issues. Instead of cue cards, I just fed them lines if they didn't remember, and I'll edit it from there. The acting was decent, the action was good... it's going good.

I also filmed a couple things during some classes today, as well.

But I'm still gonna have to hustle if I'm gonna finish before Christmas.

I also did a bit of experimental filming, using a cart to rush down the hallway, then do a 180 around the actor as he stops and then continues running forward.

Though had a bit of an issue at the end. The main guy had to borrow my cell phone for a scene, but then forgot to give it back before he left (he was in a rush). So I had to call my phone and have him come back to the school to get it back to me.

But otherwise... good day.

Film Production Diary: Day 1.

Well, filming has officially started on my film.

... and it's officially already behind schedule and going rough.

What we were meant to record: Scenes 6.2, 8, and 16.
What we actually recorded: Scenes 6.2 and part of 8.

Most of the issues stemmed from the fact that none of my actors knew any of their lines. Nobody was taking it seriously. We had to write lines down on cue cards/white boards, which took a ton of time. Because of this, a lot of the times on these scenes had them looking to the side to read the cards.

On top of all that, I kept having other of my students (and some not my students) coming up and interrupting. Then there were bouts of giggles. There was no understanding of 'quiet on the set'. There was too much joking around and not enough seriousness. And then, right when this one kid's scene was coming up, he had to leave... so I had to shoot the scene without him and I'll have to edit him in later (hence 'part of 8'). We were also rushing because, even though I said it a million times (AND it was on the permission form), this one girl had no idea she had to stay after school until this afternoon, right before we were supposed to film. But she ended up skipping her bus and going home with a friend.

It's just craziness. And this was just day one! We have an hour and a half to film stuff, and that so can't happen with them all not knowing their lines and whatever.

I so hope I can be a master wizard editor extraordinaire and get it to work. Though I think either way, my first movie is *so* Ed Wood. And I don't mean the Tim Burton film.