The First Shoot!

Today was the first shoot day for my film and, I am quite pleased with the footage so far. At this point I've done most of the dialogue heavy parts of the film and will be moving onto some of the VFX parts tomorrow. However after looking at some of the footage I think I'll have to do a few pickup shots as well.

Shot List Done

Recently I went through the script and created the shot list for the film, first on Excel, then on an iPad app called 'Shot Lister' which is useful as I can take the shot list with me on set, and I can also schedule certain shots for specific days which means continuity will be less of an issue. I found this app after watching a Filmriot video (Link below) on youtube.

Another app I found from Filmroit is an app called Movie Slate, which is what it sounds like, but unlike a real slate it has a lot more features, for example it can note all the camera information (i.e. Resolution, FPS, Shutter speed etc.).

The third app I downloaded is the Celtx app which is the software I wrote the script on, which is good because I can take the script with me on set and edit on the move.

Floating Can!

Floating Can Test from Lucas Warren on Vimeo.

Here is test video I did related to a part of the new script. The idea is that the main character Stanley will be sitting at the table, watching a can float, mainly for comedic effect. I used Video Copilots Element 3D to make the can, Adobe After Effects to put the 3D can in the scene. The only trouble I had with this was making a shadow for the can, which would have really sold the shot if it worked.

Gantt Chart and Script!

This is the Gantt Chart I created recently to help organize my time in the production of my film, I've made some changes to the original schedule (Pen Idea), because firstly I am going to shoot in a different location, secondly I will be using more effects, thirdly I will have a different actor, and there are a few more props to create than before.

Also I recently finished the first draft of the script, which is quite an achievement for me! I will read through it a lot more before making a few more changes, maybe a second or third draft. When I am happy with the script I will begin work on the storyboards which will be brief and to the point, just to give the essential shots.

New Idea!

Recently I've had some new ideas for the film, which are very different to the original plot ideas. I was trying to write the script for the first idea recently but finding it difficult to continue the story.

However I was influenced after watching a sketch from That Michael and Webb look, which took the idea of a documentary and made a joke out of it i.e. mockumentary.




I have decided to make a short mockumentary about a boy with random abilities (powers) that he cannot control. I have already midway with the script and have found my actor for the part. The next step, after finishing the final draft of the script is to make the storyboard.

Getting Organised

Recently I feel like I've been delaying the blogs a little due to a french exam I had to revise for, but now that it has past, I have made a checklist for all of the things I need to do for the film.

Checklist: (Possibly in order)

• Research into similar media products
• Experiments with software/effects
• Storyboard
• Shooting script
• Location recce
• Construction of special props/costumes
• Film shooting
• Post production – video editing
• Post production – audio editing
• Evaluation
• First ‘public’ screening
• Presentation

The next stage is to put all of these into a schedule to help me organise my time, and I have been told to put them into 'Gantt Chart' which will be the most efficient way of showing plans.

Fire Pen?

Recently, me and my dad had a good idea for the film, which consists of a man with a pen that can be more than dangerous. The pen will be able to have the ability of whatever it writes, for example if the man writes fire, suddenly the pen will shoot fire from its tip. And during the last couple of days I have been working on a video related to this idea.


Fire Pen from Lucas Warren on Vimeo.

I was going to have the man put out the fire with the pen which would shoot water out of the tip, using an effect on my computer, but it turned out to be to complicated with poor results, which means I will have to do the effects practically i.e. with a small hose!

This idea has many variations and is very easy to expand, and I hope to implement this in my film. I am thinking about using the other effects like the black hole and laser effect, both for the pen idea, and I think that it will work out very well. Also I plan to test the other effects later using the pen idea to see if they work.