Katie Lovell TV Production Blog

Research, Planning and Casting  What worked? I found that putting a lot of my time and thought into the planning and research part of this project helped me massively in the long run. By getting straight onto my script and making any changes needed, it meant I had the base of the story and this led onto me being able to find the location needed. Once I had found my location of a house living room it then allowed me to create the lighting and camera chart, look at colour palettes and begin to get actors. I also created a shot list and storyboard, this allowed me on the shoot day to remain calm and have a planned action of what I needed to do and around what time. It really worked and allowed me to ensure I was fully prepared for the day, timings, cast, crew and the shots I needed were all organised and this really helped me remain calm and stick to the schedule, while also getting all the pre-planned shots I needed. What didn't? Unfortunately, the only part of this sectio...

Script and Initial Ideas Below is my script, although I have had to make some changes, the dialogue and scene are to remain roughly the same. The script was taken from a website that provides real movie scripts once the films have been released. I've chosen this piece of work because I think it really shows the change in the characters situation after realising the power of 'your song' and has a real dramatic and powerful tension. As I have realised from researching directors such as Guy Ritchie, it really is important for visual of the scene to be there and at the forefront of the drama. For example, in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking barrels the set of the scene and the directions of the actor is what engages you, especially when they're fighting in the club office at the end of the movie. The first part of this production was for me to make sure I felt as a director this was in the script for me to also create. Although this is not an action film like Guy Ritchies, i...

Pre-Production and Production Notes  Storyboards I created the storyboards to ensure I am aware of every shot I would like to get throughout shooting. I think it's really important to have a schedule and a rough idea of the shots I need to create my vision. As the director, I want to be prepared. Below show the storyboards and the ideas I have for each shot and in which order the story is told. This is an example of the first page of storyboards. Shot List I then created a shot list, this is so all the shots I have used within the storyboard are written and documented to ensure I know in which order I am shooting. Although the storyboard is there to tell me the order of the shots to the story, I really do prefer using a shot list when directing, as this has a plan to which order I will film each shot and not which shot is in order to the story. For example, I want to ensure I am doing the long shots first to allow my actors to warm up. Please see below a snippet of the...

Gurinder Chada  Gurinder Chada is an English film director, she is known for her screenwriting and directing. Chada, was born in Kenya and has grown up in England. I've always really enjoyed her work and she has always stood out as one of my favourite directors from a young age. I really think she does well to show how diverse culture can be and she is well known for showing the culture differences for Indian people growing up in England. I first knew of Gurinder Chada through Bend it like Beckham, the famous film following women's football and an Indian player who's parents don't want her to play. Gurinder is also famous for films like Bride and Prejudice, Angus thongs and perfect snogging. Gurinder Chada also specialises in directing Bollywood films. Chada is known for her humour and her coming to age films. A personal favourite of her films for me is Angus thongs and perfect snogging and Bend it like Beckham. Bend it like Beckham is he perfect femin...

Location Research It is important for my location to really set the scene, I have learnt from researching Gurinder Chada and Guy Ritchie that location is really important, not only does it show the story you're trying to tell, it can really be used to sell the era. For example, after watching and researching Gurinder Chada's 'blinded by the light' which is also set in the 70's as is my production, the colour palette used throughout the film tells you exactly what era the film is set in. The use of oranges, yellows and bright colors indicates the 70's era and tone. I really want to ensure I am using this throughout my location/set design as as a viewer myself, I know the impact it has. I will do this by using a similar colour pallet of yellows, oranges and reds. I will do this with cushions, throws, posters and paintings in the backgrounds of each shot. We will be shooting in a private living room with blank walls, this allows me to really set the scene...

Directors Statement Rocketman 'Elton John, the man who wasn't loved.' Elton John in his attempt to become a famous Rock Star, Entertainer and leading man. The struggles of drug abuse, alcohol abuse and the loneliness that comes along with being a multi-millionaire at a young age causes tremendous struggle. In the early 70's Elton John was reaching for fame, after his release of 'your song' he became the biggest hit of the 70's. Within the scene, we see 'Sheila' Elton's mum call Elton lazy and no good as she moans about being the sole provider of the household, while Fred, Elton's stepdad also pressurises both Elton and Bernie sarcastically  as he mimics their not so successful career. .  While Bernie Taupin, Elton's songwriter and best friend is scribbling on a bit of paper at the breakfast table, he finally passes the paper to Elton. As Elton seems mesmerised by the lyrics on the page, he takes the song over to the pia...

Guy Ritchie  Guy Ritchie is an English Director, Screenwriter and film producer. Ritchie is known for his hardman style and iconic gangster films. He is mostly known for films such as Snatch, Revolver, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking barrels and more recently, The Gentlemen. When starting of in his directing career Ritchie worked closely with Matthew Vaughn who was often his producer. They worked together on Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels after Ritchie reached out to Hard Rock Cafe owner Peter Morton who is Vaughn's Uncle. Ritchie has directed films, music videos and high budgeted adverts. Ritchie also directed Sherlock Holmes and its Sequel that had box office figures of over 545 million. Ritchie has written and directed all his movies apart from the Sherlock Holmes series which was written by Kieran and Michele Mulroney. I think it's important to understand the style a director uses to show you that this is their movie. With Ritchie I think he has many styles ...

08/01/2020 - Lighting Workshop In our first lighting workshop it was really good to learn about the different lights and see how they work. I had learnt about three point lighting before but it was good to get a refresher about it from Ferg. From my understanding, 3 point lighting is made up of the Key light, Fill light and the back light. Three point lighting is used in the majority of set ups. Key Light - Key light is the main light you use which is normally placed next to the camera or directly onto the actors, this is the brightest light which you can use for hard or soft light. Fill light - The fill light is normally placed on the other side of the key light, it is used to reduce the shadow made from the key light. This is so the shadows are not harsh, and it fills in wherever the key light may be missing. Back light - The back light is normally placed at the back, used to highlight features of the actors. For instance, if you put the back light behind the actor, it will m...

Dexter Fletcher  Dexter Fletcher is a British Director and Actor, he has starred in films such as Lock, Stock and Two smoking Barrels, Bugsy Malone and has also featured in major television programmes like Hotel Babylon and HBO's Band of Brothers. He moved into Directing later in his career and has directed movies such as Rocketman, Eddie the Eagle and he also took over from Bryan Singer directing Bohemian Rhapsody due to Bryan being fired; however due to ruling he only received executive producer credit. Fletcher is also due to be directing the next Sherlock Holmes installment. Although Fletcher has only directed a handful of credited director roles and films, the majority have been based around music and performance. For example, Bohemian Rhapsody, Sunshine on Leith and also Rocketman. I feel like this is why I enjoy his style so much, because he is very good at creating moments and making performances very realistic. In all films, he uses CGI to create the realisti...