Little Big Film

We have completed the first week of this feature film. It's been a bit mental. The first few days were spent shooting in a house location with little space to shoot and light and a lack of crew. For two of those days, me and the Gaffer/AC lit and shot it. For other days I have one or two Camera Assistants and one gaffer and it was still a push to get things done. With 3k worth of lights in a room, it got up to 35c and we were literally dripping with sweat while shooting. So much that while operating, sweat dripped from my forehead onto my glasses.

The director is good though for a first time feature and the production team are really nice people. The actors are good to too and everyone is friendly. The script is funny. During the cafe scene, most of us at one time or another tried to contain our laughs during a take.

I have been lighting it to the best of my abilities and am pretty happy with the resulting photography. I have learnt how to do some good stuff too. It's stressful in the way that it ups your game in making something look both natural yet photographically interesting for a film that has a good chance of being seen in a cinema.

Despite the 14/16 hr days, the lack of crew, proper diet and time of my own, I love every moment of shooting this film and it reminds me of how enjoyable this job can be when it works and everyday is a challenge that you miraculously pull through with shots that are lit and shot well- and directed and performed well to boot.

A few stills when i had time to shoot a few. Nothing obvious about the film, for obvious reasons.


Children's tiny loft room with 180 degree pan. With a 8x'5' space to light from. Soft and warm with spotted teddys. I cut holes in black wrap, clipped them to one 650watt and aimed them.



Living room. Soft directional light with some bluish fill. And back light. This is half the set up creating what is below.


Cafe. contending with natural ambient light. I took a pair of 2k's and a 1.2 HMI and created a daytime high key ambience where the round the table funny talk takes places. I had trouble operating at some point when one of the actors improvised the line with some quick wit.

I was supossed to fly to Manchester to shoot a corporate for Virgin Media but it got postponed. So now I have a day off. Sort of, as I have other work to be finishing off.

These days are challenging fun.

- J