Production Diary - Filming Day 1

 Filming Day 1.

28.01.2024

Filming roles:

- Director: me

- Filming: me

- Assistant on set: Vicky

- Talents: Katie and Tommy

Before filming:

We went to pick up the lighting from the rental place.

Since I was on a limited budget - I decided to use the Kino 2-bulb Light - which is the most affordable lighting that was offered. 

Fortunately, my friend has a very good DSLR camera - Canon 800D, along with a tripod, so I didn't have to rent the camera, which got me away from any extra costs from renting or damaging return. 

We then tried to set up a scene in the living room, to test out the lights and how to work with the camera. We had some troubles with securing the camera on the tripod steadily, which later on lead to my shots being shaky - and I didn't do double checking. However, I think I could make up to that by using stabilization mode on editing (which iMovie has - and maybe Davinci does too).

Filming:

There were definitely some major changes in the filming plan of location, since the studio (homestay) that I was intended to rent did not meet all of the requirements for all of the scenes in the script, so I have to find another place to film a few specific scenes. Luckily, my friend's house fit the whole mise-en-scene requirements I've set out! 

So before waiting for the main talents to come, me and my AD decided to film a few shots that do not required talents beforehand, to save up time. 

ISO range: 600 - 1000 - the higher the range, the lighter the shot.

Frame rate: 24fps

Autofocused

The following setting would be used for the most parts of the music video, since most of the scenes were taken in the dark.

The shot came out with good lighting, as I used 2-bulb kino lighting in the background.

After that, the talents arrived and we headed to the supermarket to film our very first scenes.

The shots didn't come out as cinematic as I would've wanted, since I didn't use a camera in store. We didn't ask for filming permission in advance, so to avoid any issues we filmed using cinematography mode on an iPhone, but I think I could justify the color contrast during post-production while color correcting, making it has more deep tones which could brings out the roughness relating to the convention of alternative rock: hard metal elements.

I could've executed a better job if I had contacted the employees beforehand to ask for filming permission and not secretly doing it.

Finishing filming in the supermarket, we decided to go to second location, which is a rented homestay, at this place I finished filming all of the scenes at the living room. 

Here I had used the kino lights for the very first time, and it was a difficult task to move it around the room for different shots and angles. However, in the evaluation of the use of the lights, I find that they're not that necessary since the lights are hard light and not soft light, which does not directly suits the atmosphere and the hue that I was trying to develop consistently throughout my my music video. The cool lights make it harder for me to adjust later on in post-production, since it is more complicated to grade the lighting to make it more warm.

After filming at the homestay, we moved back to my friend's house for finishing filming the scene at the kitchen and dining room. It was a time-consuming process due to time transporting, however it is unavoidable due to the fixed booking with the homestay.

Here at my friend's house, we didn't use the kino lights since the lights in the house are enough for the shots, furthermore they're at the exact tone that I would wanted. More conveniently, the lights are directly from the top of the head, serving its overhead lighting duty.

That is the end for first day filming.

Case Study - Vietnamese Films

Vietnamese Films

Song of the South - Đất Rừng Phương Nam (2023)

Director: Nguyen Quang Dung

Genre: Drama, War

The film adapted from Vietnamese author Doan Gioi's 1957 novel of the same name revolves around the journey of a 12-year-old boy named An amidst the backdrop of French colonialism in post-1945 southern Vietnam. Tragically, An's mother perishes in an assault, compelling him to navigate the expanse of the Mekong Delta, relying on the compassion of strangers as he embarks on a quest to reunite with his estranged father.

It appears to me that the primary focus of the film's narrative was aimed at the domestic market. The adaptation of a renowned and iconic novel, coupled with its ties to a beloved television series from 1997, which holds a special place in the collective memory of Vietnamese generations, likely serves as a significant draw for local audiences. Additionally, the film's historical backdrop, delving into the poignant wartime experiences and celebrating the resilience and patriotism of the Southern people against foreign incursions, resonates deeply with audiences. This thematic resonance not only captivates domestic viewers but also has the potential to pique the interest of international audiences, particularly those intrigued by Vietnamese history. Moreover, it presents an invaluable opportunity for the entertainment industry to spotlight our cultural heritage and illuminate the transformative journey that has shaped our nation's identity.   

However, the movie did receive many criticism over many of its controversial details. 

The bulk of the film depicts clandestine activities of various clans strategizing to counter the presence of French colonial forces, prominently featuring Thien Dia Hoi and Nghia Hoa Doan. Within the narrative, these groups are portrayed as patriotic warriors, working covertly and employing encrypted languages and codes for communication during their encounters.

Consequently, numerous viewpoints assert that the crew intentionally emphasizes the significance of Thien Dia Hoi and Nghia Hoa Doan. Moreover, the names of these groups readily evoke associations with the Qing Dynasty in China.

The character speaks Vietnamese with a discernible Chinese accent, reminiscent of actors in Chinese martial arts films. Despite working as a pharmacist, character Tieu possesses remarkable martial arts skills, frequently rescuing individuals and facing off against the French army.

Numerous viewers voiced discontent regarding the crew's lack of creativity and raised concerns about the opaque censorship process, sparking significant controversy. In response to mounting protests, the crew felt compelled to alter the dialogue, removing the names Thien Dia Hoi - Nghia Hoa Doan and replacing them with Chinh Nghia Hoi - Nam Hoa Doan.

Blood Moon Party - Tiệc Trăng Máu (2020)

Director: Nguyen Quang Dung

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Based on the remake of the Italian film Perfect Strangers (2016), the film follows a group of close friends who gather at a housewarming party and their naked truths are revealed one by one. Based on the original film, there had been multiple remakes. 

The remake which is considered to be the one that the Viet version stuck to the most in terms of plot - is the Korean version - The Intimate Strangers (2018). 

Given the background provided, it seems plausible that the movie has the potential to appeal to international audiences. The humor derived from its storyline is likely relatable and accessible, as it draws from previous iterations, albeit with a few Vietnamese-specific jokes that may necessitate cultural familiarity. However, in comparison to other Vietnamese comedies, Blood Moon Party emerges as a superior choice for an international audience.

However, the movie was not promoted internationally whatsoever, and only received main attention from the domestic viewers.

Rough Cut 1

This is a short rough cut for my very first draft.

Since I have never experienced working on Davinci, I decided to go with iMovie first, to have an idea on what would I want when I actually got into Davinci.

Since iMovie is pretty limited in terms of color editing and other advanced techniques, the rough cut didn't turn out as professional as I wanted, but it helps giving a picture of the vibe I am heading to.

One note: I would be actually doing some real color grading in Davinci.

What I've done here:

- Time up the clips to the timestamps that I had specifically pointed out in my screenplay.

- Put on a black and white effect to blurs out the flaws in lighting (just for now since I do not have access to color grading yet) - and to create an initial atmosphere so that it's easier for me to visualize the vibe later on.

- I tried using key burns and zooming frame editing - which is fairly easy to do on iMovie.

Technological Changes in Media Technologies since 1900