R+P Post 18: Our test shoot

We carried out our test shoot as planned, to help us recognise any practical problems and whether the shots we had planned were workable in a real shoot. It was overall very successful at doing both of these things.

Some pages of the shoot boards we used to organise what order we would shoot our shots in are shown here. These were used throughout the entire day, although we did divert somewhat from the order of shots.

Our test shoot ran smoothly, with everything going to plan. We swapped around the order with which the different sections of the opening were shot, filming the bedroom sequences first rather than second, as it was more convenient and it was where the camera and equipment were already being stored. We then filmed the outdoor shots, as it was the ideal atmosphere outside for the scene we wanted. After these shots we did the remaining kitchen and stalker shots. Therefore, we didn't follow the order of the shootboard in terms of the sections, but we did follow the order of shots we had previously written in each section.

Through the test shoot we have identified certain shots which are good, and shots which must be modified or replaced. An example of a shot that went well and we will try to closely replicate in the main shoot is the 'lipstick shot':



However, since this was our first real look at how the sequence may realistically look, there are also some shots which we acknowledge must be changed, most clearly the 'jogger sequence':



This sequence is confusing and there is no clear indication of the distance between characters, not to mention a continuity error where the lawyer loses all of her momentum in a single, sharp cut. This takes away from the threat and tension of the sequence.