Blog #11 UCLAN

On the weekend, I joined my family to watch Sale Sharks play rugby, it was perfect timing to do more filming, to go towards the main project.

A few days before the filming happened, I got in touch with an old friend, who his wife use to interpret for me and we have been in touch since. His name is Mark, and he’s a retiree with wonderful grandkids. Then he got in touch with another old friend of mine who looked after me during the Beijing Olympics in 2008. His name is Ricci and he’s currently a lecturer in Deaf studies near my hometown.

I wasn’t expecting Ricci to join us but it was part of my plan to get in touch with him. In the morning, I took off to pick Mark up and meet at Ricci’s office to discuss and film and catch up too. This included the questions as well.

The had a quick run through with Ricci, which I didn’t press record for as some of it would’ve been useful but this is only a trail run, only a start. Then it was Marks turn, to do his part.

There were some issues which I’d thought I would mention which I have learnt over time, first one was clothed, Ricci was wearing a grey jumper which made funny effects on the camera, second of all the background wasn’t the best, but it’s a good place to start to progress to the next stage, and lastly, lighting, I have learnt not use normal overhead lights and try use the professional lights that I brought with me and try use the ND filter while filming the scenes.

As soon as I looked at the time it was getting pretty tight, so I had to try my best to film some B- roll. There were some issues while I was doing it with Ricci, one of them was exposure, when I was following him into the room, the first thing that I spotted on the camera that the daylight was causing it and it was blacking out the interaction happening. Secondly I wish I spent more seconds on the filming of B-Roll like not move much or focusing on one thing at once.

Next it was Marks turn with the B-Roll, and naturally I went with a simple walking sequence, I wanted to try a few shots on which works and which doesn’t, and so far the shots look good, even interested in the interaction between his wife and himself. Which was interesting, I think it’s new territory for them both being filmed but overtime with patience things will start to come together.

Then the editing stage came, the first thing I spotted, that there was an issue with the footage it’s self that I recorded at home, there was a black mark that kept coming into the screen, so I got in touch with the technician and we both agreed it was a lens stabiliser issue. At least it the issue is solved.

Next the Editing stage was focusing on making the teaser, at the time I was doing it up to 30 seconds, it was a trial and error trying to balance the type of footage I had and the music too was quite difficult as well. In the end I finally finished the teaser, and it’s already for the feedback and overview week.

By this point I decided to stick with the name I created “Surdus Mundi” it’s “deaf world” in Latin. In my opinion I thought this would attract the audience to make them watch the short film, with an interesting title. Rather than simple and straight to point.

What’s next?

I’m planning to work closely with Mark and Ricci, figuring out a few simple things, and they are the location/venue, clothing choice and the questions which I will explain more later on in the upcoming blog.

This is all a work in progress, and the main thing about it, is that I have the ball rolling on some parts like contact and confidence. Also it’s all a learning process along the way, and hopefully it’s a step closer to an improved piece of work.

Thankyou and,

God bless

Oliver