'LEAVING' Shot-List

Directed by Jordan Deakin

After sitting down with Jordan to go over the cinematography of his film 'Leaving', we produced a shot-list (displayed below).

As the cinematographer, I strived towards the concept of relying on hand-held shots. After thinking about and looking back on numerous amounts of film and TV examples that capitalise on the hand-held technique,  I believed it was the most effective way of capturing the action unfolding on-screen and the best way to enable the audience to connect with the characters on-screen. Hand-held cinematography allows the audience to not only be a spectator, but to be a part of a film. The gentle shift in camera movement in an intimate dialogue scene is a subtle but effective way to help create the illusion that you, as an audience member are part of that scene.

Unfortunately I haven't undertaken the role of a cinematographer since Level 5, two years ago. However because of my passion and past experience in shooting, I am confident in my ability as a cinematographer to produce a cinematic piece.

One of my personal techniques and beliefs as a cinematographer is to open (most) films with a striking image. I have done this in the past with other films and it has worked to great affect. In this case, I visioned opening the film 'Leaving' with a long, fixed, forward track of the hotel room with the two characters in bed with one another. The shots primary aim is to raise multiple questions, who'm is in the bed (as the angle of the shot is on level with their feet as to not allow clarity to who the pair are), where they are, and why. I also believe that by opening the film with a long, static shot it sets the mise-en-scene for the piece and allows the audience to become familiar with the surroundings within the film. Labelled the 'Master Shot', this will allow me to cut back to the shot later in the film (if necessary) when I begin editing the piece.

The dialogue scenes will implement the universal over the shoulder (OTS) shot-reverse shot technique. They will be framed as medium close-ups (MCU) to best convey the characters' facial expressions and body language, and to allow breathing room for their actions and surroundings.

One of the requirements for the shoot is to feature and utilise a mirror within the film, therefore Jordan thought of a clever technique in which we could kill two birds with one stone, all through the use of the mirror. The technique involves an OTS focus pull of the male character (Billy) holding a picture of his wife and infant son, to the reveal of another woman lying in bed (in the mirror). This effective technique if pulled off correctly will raise more questions and create emotions for both the audience and characters on-screen.

Shot 5, our most ambitious shot in the film involves the technique of tracking Billy as he sits up on the edge of the bed from a horizontal to vertical position. Jordan and I believe this is a fresh and interesting technique that will separate our film from most other texts.  

The next stage in production for myself is to create an equipment list for the shoots that will take place on the week beginning Monday 10th November 2014.