Pre-Production: Further test shoot

Today, we completed a test shoot gathering our cast members together. After fitting the girls in their chosen outfits, designing their hair and applying their specific planned makeup, we filmed a test shoot. However, the two girls, Fleur and Ellie, stood in for our missing members. We filmed our test shoot using our iPhone camera and then Harvey edited it together using iMovie. When we complete a further test shoot, and potentially our last, we will aim to use a professional proper camera provided by school and also gather our original and correct cast in order to achieve accurate and closer results.  

Our test shoot was successful and our cast members were professionally behaved and patient but our shoot held many potential problems. Although, there were some positives from the test shoot. For example, as we had spent some time getting the costumes right, they looked visually pleasing on camera and were communicated effectively. The costumes also corresponded well with each other, giving off a cool, ice intended look. Also the props came to a success as we were able to get our hands on a and roller skates. Coincidently, the two pairs of skates we were provided with, fitted our models perfectly. When viewing the test shoot as a group, we all agreed the shots and pacing worked well with our track.

However, there were some obvious problems that we need to fix or alter before shoot day. For instance, even though we didn’t have the actual costumes, location or all our cast it was hard to see our product in action. Firstly, as our costume fitting ran over time, we were behind schedule therefore, we couldn’t test all our concepts that we had intended to. Similarly, as our video include many conventions and elements, we couldn’t test all of them, for example, flooding the bathroom or throwing actual paint, strutting, blowing bubble gum. My group and I understood we couldn’t actually smash anything or break anything as this would risk health and safety. Lastly, as we filmed the footage on an iPhone camera and edited it in iMovie it wasn’t the best quality. However, for our next text shoot, we will make a conscious effort of trying to use professional equipment.

After viewing and critically analysing our test shoot/prototype, we felt the need to plan our next pre-productive stages as time is running short. For instance, we all agreed we are productively going to rearrange another final test shoot. In this test shoot, we understand the importance of having all the correct cast, props and costumes. Similarly, my group and I have decided a shot list would be an effective pre-productive aspect to create in order to film everything we need and not miss anything in our test shoot. For our future test shoot to come, we will aim to use a professional camera to capture our test footage, but if not an iPhone camera will still be beneficial. In preparation for our further test shoot we understand our cast member girls need to maintain and keep to a cool look instead of a young, chirpy image. Lastly, the only thing my group and I stumbled upon was the roller skating element as it didn’t fall into place in the test shoot, however, we will have a further look in our test shoot to come; although we have decided to allow our girls to draw on the walls whilst skating, maintaining our concept of ‘trashing’ a house.