When making a drama there will always be risks, so it is good to understand what they are so you can prevent them or come up with a back up plan. Here are the risks and dependencies for my film Sapiens.

 

Locations

 

Location is a big part of my film and it is important I can secure and

farm. To make sure that my farm location doesn’t fall through I will

have to make sure I have more than one location secured in case at

the last minuet they can’t accommodate me. I will also make sure I

contact the locations early on and keep in contact with them so they

know I’m keen. I will make sure they know exactly what it is I need

and make sure I know how much of the location I can use and if any

rules apply. I will also get them to sign a release form to confirm

everything in writing.

 

So far I have contacted a farm, the woman seemed a little unsure

but still said it was okay. As she seemed unsure I want to use this

location as a backup as I would rather work with someone who was

100% with letting us film because then I will be able to rely on them

more and feel more confident they wont pull out.

 

To make sure I get the right look to match my vision for the film I will

do lots of location visits. This will also help as then I will be able to

storyboard more accurately, therefore being more efficient on the

filming day.

 

Time

 

I need to make sure I can get all my film finished in time for hand in

which is quite a tight schedule. I need to make sure I have a set

schedule and keep to it so that everything can be done in time.

When filming I will need to know everything I need to do and work

out how long each scene is going to take to film and set up.

 

I will make a shot list, shooting schedule and production schedule

to make sure I’m organised and efficient. My shot list will include

all the shots I need so that I make sure all the priority shots are

done first and then if I have time later I can try some extra shots.

My shooting schedule will have all the times for how long each

scene should take and will also include what times and how long

the breaks will be. My production schedule will ensure the project

as a whole is being produced in time for hand in.

 

As I will be very busy on the filming days, being the director and

producer I am going to get a 1st AD to help me out and be in

charge of the schedule to make sure we get everything done on time.

 

Money

 

To make my film is going to cost quite a bit of money, as I will need to

pay for things like costumes and travel.  As I am a student and have

to make the film to a set schedule it will be hard for me to get the

money I need.  I have worked over the summer to get some money

to contribute to the film but that still isn't enough as that's to pay for

my living as well. Luckily my parents have agreed to lend me some

money that I will have to pay back when I can.

 

After working out my budget it did add up to more than I was expecting

but I am so grateful I can borrow some money as my film would be

nearly impossible to make without it or would have a considerably

different outcome. 

 

Equipment

 

I will be using the equipment available to me from the university, this will

mean I need to make sure all the equipment is booked out in advance

so that what I want to use is available and also I will need to make sure

the equipment is all working. Before I leave for filming I will go through

all the equipment and check it is all working. I will also get spare

batteries in case any run out. I have had issues before with equipment

working and then once we had been using it for a while it would stop

working, so for dodgy equipment I will book out multiples, for example

I will book out two marantz’ instead of one.

 

Costume/makeup

 

The sapien characters in my film have a particular look. I need to make

sure what they are wearing is realistic to how cows would look for

example they would have to be fairly clean so the milk is hygienic, but I

also need to show their suffering through costume and make up too.  I

plan to have a makeup artist come to make them look pale and ill and I

also want to use skin coloured thermals so they all look the same but also

so they look vulnerable as if they were almost naked. I don’t want the

sapiens to come across comedic, so I will need to ensure they are dressed

appropriately and that the actors can act in the correct way. To make sure

I get this right I will need to order one of the costumes in advance to see

what it looks like and make sure the make up artist has the same vision

as me, so I will send her images of similar makeup looks as well.

 

 

 

There are some things I can’t have a back up plan for, so I will have to rely on others, these are my dependencies-

 

Actors

 

Actors are the most important part to my film as without them there is no

film. I need to make sure that they have the script in advance and are

treated well and that I am as professional as possible.  I need to make

sure they know what they are doing and that they are happy with the

arrangements. I need to be able to depend on them, that they will turn

up, so making sure they are happy and know what they need to know

should encourage them to want to be apart of the film. I will also have

back up actors in case they can’t do the film perhaps because other

things may have come up. I will pay for their travel to persuade them

and pay for food on the days of filming. I don’t want to waste any ones

time, so I will make sure I am organised and that the actors who are

needed will be there and make sure the actors not need wont be

hanging around.

 

As they aren’t getting paid I want them to be happy, as they have kindly

given up their time to be apart of my film.

 

Crew

 

As my film is a fairly big production I will need quite a big crew to help

me out so that it all runs smoothly. I am going to use a professional make

up artist to make sure the sapiens have the look I want. I also want to

use a professional cameraman so that I can feel more confident that the

shots are going to be technically correct and that the shots will look

more aesthetically pleasing. I want lots of smooth moving shots and

shots with lots of shallow depths of field.  I feel getting a professional

will give me what I envision. I will have the shots planned that I want

but will be interested to see what shots the cameraman suggests too.

 

I will also try to get a professional soundman to record the sound. I find

when the sound isn’t recorded well the dialogue comes across quite

amateur so to have someone who has proper equipment and who

knows what they are doing will make editing easier and the overall

feel to the film more professional.

 

I will also ask other people on my course to help out as 1st AD and

lighting. I will take on the roles of producer, director and editor.

 

I will have to rely on my crew to turn up, be on time and to do their

role well. To encourage them to do this, I will keep in constant

communication with them, making sure they are in the loop and

know everything. I will pay them and keep them happy by making

sure they are doing everything we agreed on and by working in a

professional way.