C100 Short Film Shot With 2 Person Crew

[Steve Oakley]

If you are looking for something shot on a C100... 2 person crew, 2 actors, 1 day. I've gotten some really amazing responces from people who have seen this because the gear doesn't get in the way of the deeply emotional story that unfolds. Its about a couple dealing with end of life issues.... in fact some of the comments have been about the fact I +didn't+ gratutiously move the camera. it wouldn't of added anything. really just watch !

A Great Life - YouTube

[Tim Bakland]

Tears.

Came looking for a C100 video, but didn't think about the camera much :)

[Tim Lewis]

Well Steve, that was very carefully and sensitively done. I don't think I cared either what camera it was shot on.

The production shows a good deal of preparation and planning went into the piece. I dare say the script and storyboards were all done before the camera rolled. The actors were very natural and worked well with each other to give a convincing performance of a long time couple.

I noted that careful attention was paid to the capturing and mixing of all the audio in the film, giving a very natural and convincing soundscape to the location.

I did spot the continuity error, was that deliberate?

Excellent work!

[Steve Oakley]

thanks, glad you liked it ! no I didn't storyboard a thing. from having been shooting for 25+ years you just know how to block your shots out, what will work in editing.

what did matter was rehearsals with the actors. we fine tuned lines, changed and dropped others. 2 or 3 scenes we improv'd that day. really the actors made my life so much easier. it tool me a long time to find them and the location. however when I did it all came together really quick. they had worked together once or twice before so they knew each other. that was a big help given the intamacy I needed them to bring to the screen.

as for audio, it hugely helps to have the right gear to start with - cmc64 for interiors, COS11's for the car shots, and CS3e in rycote S for the outdoor shots ( well most of them anyway ). SD 552 mixer that recorded most of the time. there are a few bits of camera audio for NAT that are in there. the opening was probably the hardest part of the mix by far as I pieced the dialog together from several takes.

continuity error ? was it the cigarette ? :)

oh and if you do like it, don't be afraid to share on FB or TW. I'm really trying to get this out to a wider audience. THANKS!

[Tim Lewis]

The actors really gave natural sounding dialogue interactions with each other. So obviously your search for the right actors was worthwhile.

Yes, the cigarette. I have worked a fair bit as an extra on TV and film and was always impressed with the woman (it was usually women) who ran the continuity, running around with polaroids hole-punched through one corner and secured with a big ring, making sure none of us had changed our appearance since lunch or whatever. So it is something I tend to look for in a film. It will probably be unnoticed by almost everyone else. It was a long shot after all.

I will spread the word. Popped it on my FB and blog.

[Bill Scherer]

As a writer and C100 owner I was blown away with this short piece. I hope you enter it in some great festivals. It is very difficult to bring out the emotions of your viewer in such a short piece. Outstanding job!

bill

[Pete Bauer]

Steve, I moved this thread to the "Show Your Work" forum to give it a wider audience.

Superbly crafted and powerful.

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Awesome. I was moved.

[Michael Bishop]

A well done short.