BLUES IN EXISTENCE

PRODUCTION BOOKLET

A SHORT FILM
BY MEGAN DARLOW
 CONTENTS

 PRODUCTION SCHEDULE
 SCRIPT
 STORYBOARD
 PROPS LIST
 EQUIPMENT LIST
 CAST/CREW LIST
 LOCATION RECCES
 CLEARANCES AND CONFIRMATION
 CONTINGENCY PLAN

PRODUCTION SCHEDULE
 DATE WHAT TO DO

TUESDAY 14 th MAY HELPING WITH TAYE’S

FILM AND NATURE SHOTS
SCENE 12 – FINAL
(1:30PM-4PM)
WEDNESDAY 15 th MAY FILMING ROAD SHOTS,
DRIVING DOWN COUNTRY
LANE, SCENE 4. (11AM-
2PM)
THURSDAY 16 th MAY (NIGHT)FILMING AT
PETROL STATION, SIDE O
ROAD (SCENES 6&7)
(DAY) FILMING HALLWAY
(SCENE 3) 4PM-10PM
FRIDAY 17 th MAY FILMING AT HOUSE,
BEDROOM SCENE
DAY&NIGHT, DINING
ROOM/LIVING ROOM SCENE
(SCENES 2,3,7,8,12)9AM
2PM
SATURDAY 18 th MAY FILMING BIRTHDAY SCENE
(YOUNG AND OLDER) AND
STUDY NIGHT SCENE
(SCENES 1&7)2PM-5PM
SUNDAY 19 th MAY NO FILMING, REWATCH
FOOTAGE
MONDAY 20 th MAY RESHOOTS AND BEGIN
EDITING
TUESDAY 21 st MAY RESHOOTS AND EDITING

WEDNESDAY 22 nd MAY FINISH PLACING CLIPS

TOGETHER – EDIT
THURSDAY 23 rd MAY NO COLLEGE

FRIDAY 24 th MAY COLOUR GRADING,

TRANSITIONS, FINISH
EDITING

SCRIPT
STORYBOARDS
STORYBOARDS
STORYBOARDS
STORYBOARDS
 PROPS LIST
SCENE ITEM COST USE
1 – 2 cakes: one £20 A cake f
opening colourful, one Noah’s
scene plain birthday
young an
teenage
1 – Matches and £4 Lighting
opening candles candles
scene birthday
cake
2 – Duffle Free - Boy packi
Noah’s bag/backpack owned his bag t
room leave hou
 2 – Picture and £5 Staring a
Noah’s frame picture a
room placing i
bag
6 – living Pictures/family Free – Pictures
room photos can be living ro
printed wall
6- living Glasses Already Places on
room owned Peter’s
head when
reading
9- Noah’s Little Ziploc £3 For ‘drug
room bags to be fou
in
12 – Mugs Already Peter and
Dining owned Noah
room drinking
from cups

EQUIPMENT LIST
SCENE EQUIPMEN QUANTIT USE
T Y
ALL Camera 2/3 All
filming

1,3,12 Boom/ 1 Recording

with
camera mic speech
5 & 9 Zoom mic 1 Recording
voiceover
of letter
and
voicemail
1,3,4,5,6,9,1 Panel 2 Extra
lighting
2 lights for low
light
scenes
1 White 1 Birthday
backdrop scene

3&8 Small 1 Sit on

lights dashboar
d in car

CAST/CREW LIST

ACTOR

DANIEL FIELD

CHARACTER

NOAH AINSLEY

CONTACT DETAILS 07468 484259

AGE CHARACTER PLAYED IS 17

ABOUT DANIEL IS PLAYING THE YOUNG BOY

WITH A DRUG ADDICTION. NOAH IS A
FRAGILE, RESERVED BOY, NEVER REALLY
ASKING FOR HELP WITH HIS STRUGGLES. THE
BOY IS TRAPPED IN A PIT OF ISOLATION
AND SADNESS.

SCENES AND DATES BIRTHDAY (15/05),

CAR (15/05), PETROL STATION (15/05),
FINAL DINING ROOM SCENE (15/05)

PROPS DUFFLE BAG, FAMILY PHOTO,

CAKE
CAST/CREW LIST

ACTOR

DOUGLAS DARLOW
CHARACTER PLAYED

PETER AINSLEY

CONTACT DETAILS 07970 988213

AGE CHARACTER PLAYED IS MID 50s

ABOUT DOUG IS PLAYING THE DAD OF THE

YOUNG BOY WITH A DRUG ADDICTION. PETER
IS A KIND YET OBLIVIOUS INDIVIDUAL,
OFTEN TOO INVOLVED IN HIS OWN
ACTIVITIES TO NOTICE OTHERS – PERHAPS
CONSIDERED A WORKAHOLIC.

SCENES AND DATES BIRTHDAY (15/05),

LIVING ROOM (15/05), HALLWAY
(15/05), BEDROOM (15/05) FINAL
DINING ROOM SCENE (15/05)

PROPS MUG, ZIPLOC BAGS, GLASSES,

FAMILY PHOTOS
CAST/CREW LIST

ACTOR
MARIE DARLOW
CHARACTER
PLAYED MUM (SIDE)

CONTACT DETAILS 07811 288143

AGE CHARACTER PLAYED IS EARLY 50s

ABOUT THE MUM OF NOAH, EX-WIFE TO

PETER. THE DIVORCE OF THE TWO LED TO
MANY FAMILY ISSUES. SHE IS SEEN DURING
THE VERY FIRST SCENE, LIGHTING CANDLES
ON NOAH’S BITHDAY CAKE.

SCENES AND DATES BIRTHDAY (15/05

PROPS CANDLES, MATCHES, CAKE

CAST/CREW LIST

ACTOR
FRASER WEEKS
CHARACTER
YOUNG NOAH

CONTACT DETAILS 07835 733831

AGE CHARACTER PLAYED IS 7

ABOUT YOUNG VERSION OF NOAH, PRESENT

IN THE FLASHBACK SCENES. HE IS A
LIVELY, HAPPY BOY, CONTASTING TO THE
PRESENT DAY NOAH.

SCENES AND DATES BIRTHDAY

FLASHBACK (15/05), HALLWAY FLASHBACK
(15/05)

PROPS CANDLES, MATCHES, CAKE

CAST/CREW LIST

CREW: AS I AM COMPLETING THIS

PROJECT ALONE, I HAVE MULTIPLE ROLES
THAT I AM REQUIRED TO FUFIL.

CAMERA OPERATOR: I WILL NEED TO

MAKE SURE THAT I HAVE ALL EQUIPMENT
REQUIRED, USING TRIPODS AND GIMBALS
TO HOLD THE CAMERAS WHERE NEEDED. AS
IT IS JUST ME FILMING, WHEN MULTIPLE
CAMERAS ARE NEEDED, I CAN EITHER
SHOOT MULTIPLE TIMES OR STAND
CAMERAS UP ON TRIPODS.

LIGHTING: MAKE SURE THAT I HAVE THE

CORRECT LIGHTING NEEDED, PLANNING
AHEAD. I WILL ALSO TEST THE LIGHTING
BEFORE SHOOTING ON LOCATION AND
BRING BACK-UP CHARGERS OR BATTERIES.
THESE DO NOT NEED TO BE HANDHELD AND
ARE SET UP ON TRIPOD OR MOUNTED TO
THE CAMERA.

SOUND: AS I HAVE A LACK OF CREW, I

AM NOT ABLE TO USE BOOM MICROPHONES,
AND WILL INSTEAD USE CAMERA MOUNTED
MICS AND LAV MICS TO SORT THIS ISSUE
WHILST CAPTURING GOOD QUALITY SOUND.

EDITOR: ALL EDITING WILL BE

COMPLETED BY ME, I AM NOT DOING ANY
SPECIAL EDITING, AND WILL USE
YOUTUBE TUTORIALS WHERE NEEDED. AS
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I STRUGGLE
WITH, I WILL AIM TO GIVE MYSELF MORE
TIME TO COMPLETE IT.

DIRECTOR: I AM THE DIRECTOR OF MY

PRODUCTION, MEANING THAT I NEED TO
PLAN AND PRODUCE MY SHORT FILM IN
THE WAY THAT I INTEND, DIRECTING THE
CAST TO CREATE A CAPTURING
PERFORMANCE FOR THE AUDIENCE.THIS IS
A KEY ROLE

SCENE/PROPS DESIGN: DURING

PRODUCTION, I WILL NEED TO CREATE
AND SUPPLY PROPS AS WELL AS SETTING
UP THE SCENE. I CAN GATHER HELP FROM
MY CAST DURING SHOOTS TOO.

LOCATION RECCES
LOCATION RECCES
LOCATION RECCES
LOCATION RECCES
LOCATION RECCES
LOCATION RECCES
CONFIRMATIONS
 CONTINGENCY PLAN

IF THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH MY ACTORS

OR LOCATIONS, I WILL NEED TO HAVE
BACKUPS, OR SCHEDULE DATES TO
CONFIRM A RESHOOT.

LOCATIONS: IF THE ACTORS THAT I HAVE

CASTED ARE NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT TO SPECIFIC
LOCATIONS, THERE ARE ALTERNATIVE PLACES THAT
I CAN SHOOT SOME SCENES. HOWEVER, IF THEY
ARE NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE HOUSE, I WILL
RESCHEDULE A DATE FOR FILMING AS I DO NOT
HAVE A BACKUP FOR THIS LOCATION.

PETROL STATION: TESCO PETROL STATION (NAPIER

ROAD, READING, RG1 8DF). OPEN 24 HOURS
BACKUP: TEXACO (NEW BATH RD, CHARVIL,
READING, RG10 9RL). CLOSES 12AM

COUNTRY LANES: ROTHERFIELD PEPPARD, B481,

STRAIGHT OR BENDY ROAD, PLACES TO TURN
AROUND, DIFFERENT SPEED LIMITS.
BACKUP: OTHER SIDE OF SONNING COMMON,
LINKING TO WOODCOTE AND READING.

ACTORS/CREW: IF I FIND THAT THERE ARE

PROBLEMS WITH MY ACTORS, I DO NOT HAVE MANY
BACKUPS DUE TO THE AGES OF THE CHARACTERS –
CLASHING WITH EXAMS OR WORK. HOWEVER, I HAVE
MULTIPLE DATES CONFIRMED THAT ARE AVAILABLE
TO RESHOOT OR RESCHEDULE FILMING. THE
LOCATIONS ARE NOT DEPENDENT ON DATES,
MEANING THAT I HAVE A LOT MORE FLEXABILITY
WITH FILMING. I ALSO HAVE A COUPLE OF
POTENTIAL BACKUPS FOR NOAH (MAIN CHARACTER)
DUE TO THE AUDITIONS THAT I HELD.

EQUIPMENT: AS I DO NOT OWN ALL

EQUIPMENT, I WILL NEED TO BOOK OUT A LOT OF
IT THROUGH COLLEGE. TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE
THAT I CAN ACCESS IT ALL, I WILL BOOK IN
ADVANCE. HOWEVER, IF THIS DOES NOT GO TO
PLAN, I WILL NEED TO RESCHEDULE DATES OR
MOVE AROUND FILMING. FOR EXAMPLE, IF I AM
NOT ABLE TO HIRE A MICROPHONE FOR THE RIGHT
DATE, I WILL MOVE THE DATE FOR SPEAKING
SCENES, AND FILM THOSE THAT DO NOT NEED
SOUND WHEN POSSIBLE.

ALTERNATIVELY, I CAN HIRE PROFESSIONAL

EQUIPMENT FROM WEBSITES OF NEARBY PLACES,
YET THIS MAY BE COSTLY.

ANOTHER EQUIPMENT ISSUE MAY INCLUDE ITEMS

RUNNING OUT OF BATTERY, YET THIS CAN BE
FIXED BY MAKING SURE THERE IS POWER OUTLETS
NEARBY AND BRING SPARE BATTERIES INCASE OF
THIS.

PROPS: AS THE MAJORITY OF MY PROPS ARE

COMMON AND AVAILABLE FROM MULTIPLE MAJOR
SHOPS, I WILL NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH
OBTAINING THEM. I ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO MOST
OF THESE ITEMS ALREADY, WHICH SHOULD NOT BE
AN ISSUE. FOR THE FAMILY PHOTOS, IF I AM NOT
ABLE TO GATHER TRUE CHILDHOOD PICTURES, I
 CAN STAGE THIS DURING FILMING, TAKING A
RANGE OF PHOTOS TO MIMIC THIS.
RISK ASSESMENT

LOCATIO ACTIVIT HAZARD RIS FIX

N Y K
MOVE
FILMING TO
COUNTRY DRIVING CRASH H LESS BUSY
LANES TIMES AND
STUCK IN L PLACES TO
TRAFFIC LIMIT THIS
ISSUE.
ALSO
HAVING A
FIRST AID
KIT TO
HAND,
PERHAPS
ANOTHER
CAR BEHIND
TO LIMIT
MAKE SURE
FIRE – COULD THAT THERE
HOUSE/ LIGHTING M IS LOTS OF
DINING CANDLE BURN SOMEONE
SUPERVISIO
ROOM N AROUND
FIRE, ONLY
ADULTS
HANDLING
THE FIRE,
WATER ON
STANDBY.
PLAN A
ROUTE FOR
ROOM WALKING TRIPPING ON
CLOTHES/OBJECT
L WALKING
 AROUND S AND PUSH
ROOM CLOTHES
OUT OF THE
PATH.
DON’T WALK
NEAR
OBJECTS ON
FLOOR.
PLAN TO HOLD
HAND OUT
CAR/ROAD HAND OUT HURTING M WHEN THERE
OF CAR HAND RE NO CARS
WINDOW COMING TO
PREVENT THIS
ISSUE. IF IT
FEELS
UNSAFE, DO
NOT ATTEMPT.
PLACE CUP
DOWN
DINING DRINKING BURN – HOT M CAREFULL AND
ROOM TEA WATER DO NOT USE
BOILING HOT
TEA, WAIT
FOR IT TOO
COOL
SLIGHTLY
BEFORE
SHOOTING.