Transition: Evaluation

Final video

Pre-production

In the pre-production it was my job to make the script as we didn't have a script writer. I took a transcript of the actual clip and changed it to work for us. I added characters, British locations among other things that would make it a closed narrative.

I also put out an add and cast our actors, I kept a line of communication with them both and collaborated with them about characters. Due to the late filming times I had to book a hotel for both actors too.

Also I filled out risk assessments for kit, as well as creating the call sheet and schedule for the day. These were all sent to cast and crew to make sure everyone knew what was happening.

Production

During the production I was on hand for the DOP and editor if they had any questions or wanted an opinion on a shot. I made sure actors knew what was going on and when something would happen, I also went through blocking and script readings with them. While the filming was happening I kept a track of the takes that were good and bad, I was also reviewing footage between scenes to see if we needed to do any retakes.

Post-production

During the post-production I was on hand during the edit to give my opinion and any feedback I had.

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Over all I think me, Gavin and Jemma worked well in a team, we collaborated and listened to each other equally. We were able to produce a good piece of work that we can all be proud of. We were good at communicating our thoughts to each other and were respectful of each other's. We were also able to quickly change our shoot location after finding our original one had already been scheduled by another group.

There were times however where communication outside the group wasn't as good. As we were hiring some of the kit there was a miscommunication with dates and we had to use a new camera. I should've involved myself more in the process so that I knew what was happening. There was also a lack of clarification with our actress who had practiced the lines in an American actress, however when I confirmed we wanted an English accent she was able to do so effectively. 

What I'd like to improve:

• Confidence within my role, I'd like to be more confident in what I am doing as the producer. This would come from research and practice but I think it would fix the few issues we had.

This has been a really good learning opportunity and I enjoyed my role as producer a lot.

Transition: Producer statement

Casting

The original casting of the episode "AKA Start At The Beginning" is the show's regulars, Krysten Ritter and Eka Darville. 

For our remake I wanted to set the scene in the UK, this required having two actors that could help sell the location. 
Before putting an ad out for actors I already had a rough idea of how I wanted them to behave, I wanted Jessica to be bold and brash while Malcolm would be the quieter and subdued character.
This is due to their histories, Jessica having a lot of emotional trauma she uses sarcasm and wit as defence mechanisms, and Malcolm's ex drug use-age meaning he prefers to stay in the background and not draw attention to himself.

Advert posted on Mandy.com

Due to the emotional nature of the scene I will be looking for someone who can cry on demand, the effect of an emotionally closed of character like Jessica crying will be really useful in the scene. I'll also be looking for actors who resemble the characters in some way either in looks or personality.

Location/Set design

The original location for the scene is Jessica's apartment.
To allow the scene to become a self contained narrative I added two other locations in the script, the hallway and path outside. The apartment is now Jessica and Malcolm's flat, I took inspiration from Sherlock and had Jessica trash the flat out of frustration.

The scene will look as though it's been trashed, there will be over turned sofas (due to Jessica's strength) as well as the typical crushed cans (due to her job as a PI Jessica has multiple energy drinks, this will be in our set and has been referenced in the show itself) etc.

The original location was going to be in a basement, however due to a conflict in scheduling with another group we aren't able to use this. We've changed to a student house, this further allowed me to take inspiration from Sherlock and set up the house to look like flats. We have numbers that will go on the doors to add to the realism.

Script

The script has been adapted from the original. I made a transcript of it, this allowed me to edit/change it so it would become self contained.

From there I edited slight things like adding in "Southbank" to establish the country we're in as well as changing the character Whizzer to Dan.
By doing this I was able to alter the story line by having it as Dan bringing the ashes and him being the reason she leaves the scene, so she can find him.
This was inspired by the original scripting where it's Whizzer who knocks the ashes that had already been brought into the scene.

Transition: Edit feedback

Jemma's I our editor for the project, through out the different cuts she came to me and Gavin to get our feedback.

Rough cut

Link to rough cut

My feedback:

• In the title sequence it would look better if Jessica landed on the floor on the beat of the music after jumping off the wall.
• The footage needs to be graded 
• The music at the end is slightly too loud, it's hard to hear the dialogue
• The dialogue for Jessica is slightly out of sync

Fine cut

Link to fine cut

Link to fine cut 2

My feedback:

• The footage is still very dark
• Sound is echoey in places

Transition: Schedualing

As well as the call sheet I also created a schedule for the day, this not only allowed everyone else to know what was happening but it also meant that I was able to plan the quickest/most efficient way of filming. I could also see if we were over running on a scene and what I could do to try and make sure we didn't over run on the shoot.
I sent these to the actors before filming and I also gave them a copy on shoot day, as well as sat down with them to see if they had any questions about anything.

To save time as we went during breaks or set ups the footage was uploaded on a computer, I went through it with Gavin and said if anything needed to be reshot or not.

Transition: Call sheet

To make sure everyone was up to date with locations and phone numbers etc. I created a call sheet, this would mean that everyone was on time and knew what they were doing.
We had originally planned to film on a different day however due to crew members having other commitments we were able to move the filming day back.

Transition: Blocking

Set dressing

The main set and only one that needed dressing was the living room in the house. 
The idea was that Jessica had been triggered by the ashes "Dan" had brought over, she then trashed the flat out of frustration. We wanted to show her superhuman strength as well as have everyday objects that hinted to her personality. Therefore the sofa is over turned, there is a pin board where she is tracking Kilgrave and empty alcohol bottles because of her addiction.

Through out the test shoots I made notes on lighting, character info or set design on my script to make sure I had it on the day of filming.

Day 1 30/04/18

After the set was dressed, we had to wait for the lighting to get low enough to start filming.
Gavin set up the lighting outside with the intent of having harsh lighting. He then experimented with the camera he had which allowed him to get to grips with it. We all then reviewed the footage to see if we liked it.






Day 2 01/05/18

It was decided that some of the lighting needed to be changed to make the footage watchable, the master shot needed a key light on Jessica's face, the ash needed to be light in a way which meant it could be seen but also wasn't blocked by moving actors.

We also blocked through the hallway scene, this shot required a lot of trial and error. As I was the stand in Jemma and Gavin tested out the look of hallway lights with the assistance of a handheld light. I was able to review the footage with them and it was decided that we needed street light, this was done by putting one of lights outside with a diffuser.




For the exterior scene we shot on the path outside the house. Gav used a rig to get the long steady shot that Jemma wanted for the edit. In this scene you can hear Jessica from outside trashing the flat, however Malcolm doesn't yet know it's her. 
Gav and Jemma blocked through this in multiple ways, they came to me with what they came up with and I thought this was best for the scene. 

Test Footage Link

Transition: Casting

For our remake of Jessica Jones I knew I wanted it set in the UK, this would make it easier for external filming with the British iconography rather then trying to find somewhere that looks like America. We therefor needed actors that could help sell the location of the scene.
I put out an ad on Mandy.com for both Malcolm and Jessica's roles early in the project and received a lot of applications for the roles.

After going through showreels, I consulted the rest of the group on who I thought would work for the roles. In the end we went with Gemma Simons and Sam Topper, they were both really enthusiastic about the production and were already big fans of Jessica Jones. 

Link to Sam's Audition video

The intention I had for their personalities were I had wanted Jessica to be independent and strong (similar to the original character intention) compared to Malcolm, I wanted a juxtaposition between the two of them.
I found that Gemma and Sam gave these things in their performances of the characters.


After this I kept in regular contact with them about their roles: what they'd need to wear, what to expect on the day, I sent them call sheets and scripts whenever there was an update. On the day of filming they were given phone numbers for the crew to contact when they needed us. I also ran through scripts with them and the schedule for the day so that they knew what was happening at certain points in the day.
Due to the late finish of our filming (1 am) I booked a hotel for both actors for the night from they they were able to travel home in the morning.

Over all I think the choices for the characters were good, the actors worked really well with each other on their first meeting and we were able to collaborate with them about how they felt the character's would behave in certain situations.