LifeArcade!

It is not everyday that you get to report on the goings on of a film set. But that is exactly what I am able to do in this report, as I was lucky enough recently to be the Script Supervisor on the upcoming short film CottonMouth.

Based and filmed in the North of England, this film brings you along on the journey of a stand-up comedian down on his luck, waiting for that one glorious moment where everything goes right. What will it take him to get to that point? Well, you shall just have to wait until its release to find out. This report will take you behind the scenes and into the goings on of a film set. Will everything run on time? What will the catering provide? Will the crew bow to the actors demands? These were just some of the questions I was not worried about as I knew I was working with a great professional cast, with the determination and skill to create a great piece of work.

This was not a case of simply pointing a camera at an actor, caught in the headlights (or light of the camera if you want to be pedantic). A full and professional cast and crew gathered in the surprisingly warm and sunny town of Doncaster to create a charming, well written and thoroughly entertaining 30 minute short film. I shall take you through the day and night on one of the sets. After much deliberation, I have decided to focus on one of the longest days we had on set. Once rehearsals were out of the way, we ventured forth – and back – from Arksey to Doncaster Town Centre.

Now, when I say a long day – I really mean it. This day started at 9am with fresh faces and a spring in the step. By 1am the next morning, despite growing coffee and energy drink consumption, the fresh faces started to gather bags and the spring developed into a motivational plod. However, this did not in any way detract from the determination of the cast and crew to complete an exhausting, yet very productive day. Two locations were covered on this day - the home of the director being one, Prego Coffee in Doncaster being the other. Luckily for us all, the distance between the two was relatively short. If it was not, I fear a quick kip in the convoy of cars may have been needed.

In my role as Script Supervisor, I was responsible for the continuity of the film as well as helping the actors with their lines when necessary during takes. As you can imagine, my concentration levels were tested as day turned to night, but I think I just about managed to stay on top of things with my trusty digital camera in hand. The role I had was quite important in the filming process, particularly when it comes to the edit. If one moment an actor is drinking from his left hand, then finishing his sip in his right, I would have a lot to answer for. The morning shoot was relatively straight forward. Two major scenes had to be done, with a lot of dialogue, different shots and a shirt stain that was the vain of my life. The set was fully dressed with no issues regarding missing or lack of props. The lighting was well suited to the time of day and added extra atmosphere to the location, a trait that was constant throughout the shoot. Only two issues occurred during the first half of the day – batteries for the sound and how many people there were for lunch. Morale was high, the cast were doing a fine job and the crew - led by the Director - were producing some cracking shots.

All in all, the morning shoot was a success. Now the afternoon came, with more cast arriving and more complicated shots to get, this was certainly going to be the most challenging part of the day so far – and so it proved. On a personal level, only one word can sum up the afternoon shoot, and that word is ‘cigar’. If I ever get a contract for a feature film, the first clause will state, ‘I will have no responsibility for the decreasing length of any cigar or cigarette throughout the process of filming’. Wow, that was hard work making sure the smoking of the cigar looked consistent enough. That may sound boring to the uneducated, but let me tell you, it was hard work. After two cigars were smoked I think we got there. That, and the bite marks in a piece of toast were the two main issues for myself but there were other, more complicated and creative dilemmas for the Director and Director of Photography. Tracking shots, hand-held and still shots were all used to good effect. With the performances also being of a high standard including numerous takes of the physical variety, we went into our dinner break with optimism and no fear of the late night awaiting us.

After a great Northern dish of mince, potatoes and Yorkshire Pudding kindly provided by the Director’s parents, we collected the kit once more and headed to the café. After somewhat luckily arriving at the destination without getting lost, we proceeded to set up for the opening shot while make-up was being prepared and copious amounts of coffee were being ordered. I went for the Latte. I had the South’s reputation to uphold. As the night drew in outside we were left some minor issues. Firstly, and most annoyingly there was the reflection of the camera and lights in the window. However this was surprisingly easy to work around and we were soon on our way. The other issues were for me mainly as Script Supervisor. I had to make sure all the cups used were in the right place consistently and also make sure that the extras (of which I was one) in the background were sat in the same places. The main shot of the evening focused around the two main protagonists talking at a table over coffee. ‘That sounds easy enough’ I hear you cry. Well it was not. We had reverse shots, tracking shots, establishing shots and lots of dialogue to get through and the night was determined to win us over. Before we knew it, it was midnight and it looked like the night would have his day…Would the weary eyes surcome to the lures of sleep and put us behind schedule? Would we have to give in to time itself and allow the forgiving café owner to go home?

Not a bit of it. We persevered and worked our socks off to be done only half an hour over our expected finishing time. We did not rush and the footage later showed that. We had won the day and everyone left for their beds knowing in their mind that we were on to something here. Everyone had a good 3 to 4 hours sleep and we were back at it again the next morning, with expectations and enthusiasm high.

This was just a small and brief insight to what went on during my fantastic week of filming. I would like to take this opportunity to again thank all the cast and crew for their hospitality, kindness, professionalism and determination in creating what will certainly be a successful piece of work.

You have not heard the end of CottonMouth.

William Evans

CottonMouth (Dir. Cal Johnson) is currently in Post-Production.

For more information, go to - https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Cottonmouth-Fan-Page/215610648463519