Lights...camera...

So we're shooting this film on a Sony PMX EX3, a full HD digital camera.
While it has its limitations, the picture quality is excellent. Gavin, our director of photography, is very experienced on it and knows it inside out. Given the choice (and the budget!) I would probably shoot in a different format, but the EX3 can make beautiful images if used right.

One of the keys to making beautiful images is lighting the project. We're getting ours from Teach Solais, a fantastic professional lighting company with offices in Dublin and Galway. I've used them on all the projects I've Line Produced too and they always look after me. Can't recommend them highly enough. Check them out here www.teachsolais.com





The other key to a good film is great sound, which I will touch upon in the next post.

I'm proud to announce - the cast

Amy - Natasha Quirke
Natasha blew us away in auditions. She got the tone just right, has a great personality, and is moving to Canada three days after the shoot! There's dedication. Welcome Natasha.



Derek - Jonathan Caffrey

Jonathan came into the room and exuded exactly what we wanted for the part. He's a natural. We're delighted he's on board.



Postman - Fergal Cleary


Fergal brought a warmth and a personality to the audition that really brings the character to life. In fact, his audition application got stuck in my spam folder and he turned up anyway - thankfully!

And on another note:
My blog begins today on www.filmireland.net

Check it out www.filmireland.net

It will be a regular blog giving an insight into the funding, preproduction, production, post-production and the final feature.

I'm quite excited they've given me a platform.

4 days until the shoot!

Well, the pressure's on now. 4 days until the shoot starts, we kick off on Friday morning for 2 days shoot with the main unit and 1/2 day with a reduced crew doing part of a montage sequence.

Lots to organise still, plenty of stress and pressure, but in a good way.

We could do with a funding boost to be honest, so if you've anything hidden down the couch, all donations are welcome. We've done well so far, moreso off-line than on it, and many thanks to all of those who've contributed.

Doing a tech recce tonight of the main location, so the lighting list should be tied down afterwards.

The cast are on-board, I'll do a separate post on this later, but I'm delighted with the talent of those chosen, and that they've all agreed to appear.

There's been a few continuity nightmares to sort out prior to the shoot too - what with the same prop appearing in segments before and after mine and continuity wrapping paper, notes, postage packs et cetera to sort out, it's been, well, a little distracting but vitally important.

Right, that's lunchtime over with, back to work!

CRISIS!!!

This picture was the final straw. Look at the state of the beard! I shaved it off today.

Oh, on another note, the key prop has just arrived from Berlin. The Backpack, in all it's glory, is now in my house. See it in the photo above.

So, we're almost set. A few recces on Monday, I need to get back to the cast today as the final decision has been approved. A few exciting additions to the crew, I'll let you know when they're 100% confirmed.

I'm also beginning to think about screenings for the full feature film when it's complete - trying to stay ahead of the curve as these things take time to organise.

Any suggestions?

Nearly there - time for a fundraising push

So, tomorrow we're one week from the shoot. Yikes!

I need to finish the storyboards and the shotlist, while in the midst of revising the style to make it more cinematic. Lots to do on that, but I know what I want. It's only a pity it takes so long to draw! Should've practiced more.

The casting session was great yesterday, we met some fantastic people and it was very encouraging. I was a little drained afterwards, we saw 15 people in 4 hours, and, as we were working on an emotional scene, I felt I engaged with the performances and was pretty tired afterwards. I'm going to watch the tape once more then send my picks to Marty at collabfeature.com.

It's also nearing the time for one last push for fundraising.

It's reached the time that we need to spend - equipment, props, et cetera, - and I could do with a few more kind donors to help. Any amount appreciated, it will all be seen on the screen.

So wish me luck, we're into the final and most important stretch now.

So we're full!

So we were inundated with requests for auditions, which is fantastic.

Tomorrow we have the audition session, which I'm excited by. There would appear to be some very talented people popping over tomorrow.

It's going to be a strange audition - the characters don't have a lot to say and I won't have the child actors with me to run lines - so I guess I'm the children!

It will be a little unusual.

I'm looking forward to see the take the actors have on the role - I can't imagine it being easy, there's a complex mix of emotions being put into a very small page count.

I'm looking for people who make it natural and easy - those who say as much in what they don't say.

It was also a little tricky in that they are playing the parents of two brothers - it had to be believable that they could be related. A few people had to be reluctantly let go for this reason, but it has to work.

My hat's off to all those brave enough to come and audition for me tomorrow. I know it's not easy, you're putting yourself on the line and only a couple of you will be chosen. Respect for putting yourself out there.

Mairtin

A bit of Press

Some publicity for Heartshaped on www.emigrant.ie - a great online newspaper for irish people living abroad.

I'm very grateful to them for taking the story.

I have to say, the logo looks great on the page :-)