### Week 11 Update: Completing Preproduction and Production Stages
This week, we successfully transitioned from preproduction to production, culminating in two intensive days of filming. Here’s a detailed account of our activities and achievements:
**Test Day and Equipment Preparation:**
We began the week with a test day on Monday. Starting at the university, I brought my camera, and we hired sound equipment from the tech store. Bradley guided us through the sound devices (F4) and taught us the basics. We conducted experiments with the equipment in different locations to evaluate audio quality and researched audio post-production techniques in Adobe Audition to understand how much we could enhance the audio without it sounding artificial.
We then visited our filming locations: Saskia’s house in Caulfield, the tunnel near her house, the park nearby, and the beach in Brighton. This reconnaissance revealed several unanticipated needs, such as better mic shields for the windy beach and additional reflectors for sunny conditions. We also discovered an alternative tunnel, as our original choice was closed due to construction. Live table readings at these locations helped us get comfortable with our roles and visualise shot framing more clearly.
**Costume Coordination:**
We discussed wardrobe choices, opting for neutral colours to balance the already vibrant locations. Josh and Adam, being close friends, and Milly, as their mate, would wear casual, similar styles. Kevin, trying to impress Milly, would stand out in a button-up shirt.
**Shooting Days:**
Wednesday and Thursday were our designated shooting days. We met at the university to collect our equipment, which I personally double-checked. Despite confirmation, some equipment issues arose during filming, such as a noisy lapel mic, a faulty converter, a broken boom pole, and a malfunctioning monitor displaying in black and white. These setbacks slowed our production, but we adapted and pressed on.
Wednesday’s shoot included the crucial beach scenes timed around sunset, a logistical necessity since we needed to return the equipment by 4:30 PM Thursday. Despite our tight schedule, we managed to capture these scenes effectively.
Thursday was a more intense day, with time constraints pushing us to work faster. We shot at Saskia’s house, adhering to our shot list and improvising as needed. Although planned to finish by 3:30 PM, we wrapped up at 4:00 PM. Unexpected roadworks delayed our return to the university, leading to a slightly late return of equipment. Despite explaining the situation, I received a demerit point, which, while fair, was handled with unnecessary rudeness.
**Post-Production Preparation:**
At the end of the shooting days, we had all necessary shots except for a few green screen scenes scheduled for Monday. I transferred the 285 GB of footage to my PC, and it processed smoothly, indicating readiness for editing next week.
**Final Thoughts:**
I’m extremely pleased with our progress this week. Despite some equipment challenges and a tight schedule, we achieved our production goals. Also, Bradley, sorry for submitting this late! I did not even get the time to let you know I will be late. it was a crazy week.
Next week, we will complete the green screen shots and dive into editing, confident in the quality and quantity of our footage.