Sunday, 29 April 2012

Free Days Sat Sun 28th 29th April 2012

 Sat Sun 28th 29th April 2012.

This weekend was spent looking after my son as usual. Uni work was restricted to uploading and storing all the surplus material from set-build. I updated some blogs and returned my KCC library books

Friday, 27 April 2012

Day 90 Friday 27th April 2012 Fashion Constructed Image set-build day 5 (striking set)

Friday 27th April 2012 Fashion Constructed Image set-build day 5 (striking set).

Myself (Health & Safety) Lucie (Build Lead) and Ian (Lighting) arrived to strike set this morning at 09:30 whilst Sacha and Amie attempted to return one of our props (the table), also Sacha and Amie volunteered to investigate methods of cleaning the dress that had unfortunately picked up some marks during the shoot.

  Striking the set was a very strait forward process of carefully and methodically reversing the build process. We took care to use the correct tools, worked as a team and used steps and gloves where required. Various pieces of wood were removed and returned to the UCA wood pile in the corridor as we'd loaned a few extra pieces for braces on the rear of the flats for example. In an attempt to recycle as much as possible most of our 'scrap' will be re-used and has not been binned. The three team members between us managed to strip down a large amount of the set including: skirting (including removal of all panel pins for safe handling), wood panelling (including removal of all panel pins for safe handling), flats (including removal of braces and supporting frames), door, architrave, deconstruction of window, deconstruction of black out area around window, removal of 'C-stands', and of course returning everything to stores that we had borrowed with nothing missing and no complications. At this point the rest of the team returned and took over phase two as we stopped for a lunch break and the rest of the set including the big goal post lighting rig, carpets and removal of final props all occurred. I spent a good deal of this latter half of the project loading wood, tools, props and the window into my car and I also assisted team two (I was parked near the skip) who needed extra hands in loading ballast into the skip etc.

All images below care of Jenna Williams UCA

Removing parts of the window

Removing brick effect surround

Removing more of the wood panelling, note the black-out polyboards and curtains have also been removed from around the window/camera area

Door removed and back wall flats being taken down

Rear wall flats deconstructed, now starting on the RH flats

All the flats including the corridor flat taken down and in or about to be  back in storage.


Team 1

Removing the carpet and sorting extension leads

Nearly complete here, by the end of the day only those items required by other teams were left in the studio. Numerous trips to my car were required, and whilst some of the team attended the PS workshop others loaded and removed props.



Sacha had pre-arranged the collection of several props including the carpets via a van driven by Jack (her boyfriend) but JS informed us that we had "A short Photoshop session to attend at 14:30". This short session turned out to be a rather badly timetabled session which lasted over two hours. Sacha had to leave to load props during the session. I was covered in ballast, and a lot of information was passed over to us. Having written IT training material, and having an NVQ in training IT solutions in business I'd have to say this session was badly timed and a tad too intense considering it was the Friday afternoon on the set build week (and we all have different levels of knowledge of Photoshop), and it wasn't timetabled and I certainly wasn't prepared, or in the best frame of mind to take in all the info! I also don't lean very well when information is simply presented to me (unless it comes with excellent supporting user guides or hand outs). If I don't get the full 'tell, show, do' training package I tend to get frustrated with the training material/delivery and feel it has less value or isn't properly planned.

At the end of the day I tidied away the final material in the studio, leaving only the items from our set that team 11 plan to use (in week 3). I awaited the arrival of the next team to take over the studio from us and moved the sideboard to a location that is out of their way based on how they plan to shoot. I also wanted to check they were happy with the trees/branches they had sourced via Sacha and myself.

This weekend I will be looking after my son, so I'll update the blog and include images as they become available.

As a team we now need to make our final edits and complete the tasks relating to post production

Thursday, 26 April 2012

Day 89 Thursday 26th April 2012 Fashion Constructed Image Set-build day 4 Shoot day.

Thursday 26th April 2012 Fashion Constructed Image Set-build day 4 Shoot day.

Getting in for just gone 08:30 after meeting up with Murray (who'd helped on day one of set build, and wanted to see how the shoot went) and then Jenna (who was shooting our shoot for her project!).  I met up with Tom Williams on the way in, Sascha and Amie were in the room first followed by us and then by a later Ian Wisbey.

Our female model Esthphanie Standen  arrived on time followed by Maria Leao (Hair and Make-up) and along with Tom soon set about make-up and then hair. We'd asked for our male model Ollie Gapper to arrive a tad later as his make-up would take little time to complete. After hair and make-up the models dressed and we set about testing the lights on them (as opposed to the stand-ins we'd used during lighting tests).
As expected a few lighting issues arose especially due to the darker hair colour of our female model. This latter issue prompted some experimentation with lights and advice before JS added an extra Dedo light to the goalpost aimed directly at the models hair. The rest of the morning was spent testing and correcting lights, followed by pose, posture and gaze before we broke for lunch. We discussed our post lunch plan and planned to shoot basically until we felt we had numerous good images. This approach included slight changes in position, pose etc as well as testing slight alterations of props and of course we had to maintain the set, rest the models and lights and deal with focus issues and a mac that decided to freeze up at one point as well! Colin and Steve Pocock checked our progress as did JS. After shooting on and off all afternoon, we made one final set change (removing the perspex) before final shots and wrapping up after another quick check of image focus on the captures.
After the models had left we did some basic set clean up and JS kindly backed up the images. The day had been a long one and intense as expected but the team worked really well together and I'm pleased and proud to say I was a member of team one!




Wednesday, 25 April 2012

Day 88 Wednesday 25th April 2012 Fashion Constructed Image set-build day 3

Wednesday 25th April Fashion Constructed Image set-build day 3.

Another good day with the team working hard to experiment and finesse the lighting and the image. The list of changes, experiments and solutions is long and as the day progressed they included:


  • Cutting a bespoke light modifying black paper band to fit to the space-light (which was eventually replaced with  flags).
Discussing flags and shadows (here the black bespoke modifier we later abandoned is still in place).

  • Moving background corridor light.
Here Ian has moved a light to remove a shadow whilst still lighting the 'corridor wall'

  • Swapping the male model light for a bigger light (before dismissing this after the test). We also colour adjusted this light to change the colour of the documents.

  • Improving the black out/light control of the camera position by the addition of two pieces of scrap hardboard I brought in from home

  • Creating external window light and testing gels to create desired lighting effect on the bricks (swapping the initial light for a larger one, using a reflector to bounce the light).

  • Added two new lights for to increase light levels on props (one is a 150, the other is a Dedo) before testing that ensured no awkward shadows were created

  • A changing area was created for the model, and the hair/make-up area was cleared and made ready for tomorrow

  • Tested dress and tweed jacket under lights (The brown of the tweed jacket became somewhat lost in the brown of the set).
View from the Canon (Not the actual shoot camera hence the camera angle) to test lights

  • Testing rain effects (and dismissing the concept). Test perspex off-cut was removed and our full-size section was finally fitted.



One of the last jobs on the whole set, fixing the perspex into the window. We'd been using an off-cut throughout the lighting test, this allowed us to test for and block reflections. The off-cut allowed us to test one option that we had considered, rain on the window. This option didn't provide us with a viable  result.

LH camera is being used by a Maidstone UCA student who is  recording the whole project and plans on producing a book on the project for team 1



Tuesday, 24 April 2012

Day 87 Tuesday 24th April 2012 Fashion Constructed Image Set-build day 2

Tuesday 24th April 2012 Fashion Constructed Image  Set-build day 2

A number of tasks have been completed today, those include a hands and knees operation to remove sharp staples (applied by previous user) from the carpet, these were seen as a threat to the trail of the dress. By end of play we have positioned one extra small light and provisioned for a second. Our male model has popped in and we has asked if he could kindly pop in with the jackets to test them with the lighting and against the colour palette of the room. The desk has has some blocks cut to raise it slightly and further blocks have been made should we need to raise it further. Ian has been working on the lighting setup, and we have some further ideas to create the effects we desire. We are attempting to keep the work area clean and tidy as we go along as we continue to be on-time and on-plan.

(All images care of Jenna Williams)

Starting to make the 'outside' area more controlled with regards light spill and reflections on the perspex

Adjusting the picture position

Our lighting lead working on the overhead lighting system. With regards H&S we ensured a safety cable was applied to the lights on the rig and all cables were tidied and carefully routed.

Reduced modifier, corridor lights and effects room lights all on

Testing how the lights fall on the material of the dress. We have also worked hard to create 'accurate' reflections in the mirrors of the sideboard. This has included manufacturing a short section of fake wall opposite the door and around the corner from the telephone.

Monday, 23 April 2012

Day 86 Monday 23rd April Fashion Constructed Image Set-build Construction day

Fashion Constructed Image Set-build Construction day 1.

Starting the day by bringing both Murray (set build assistant) and Jenna (guest build photographer) to uni. We checked out the carpet and props that had been delivered (care of Sacha) on Friday night. We soon set about positioning the carpet, finding the best flats and making the supports and slowly progressing through the task of building the whole set. The whole team was in early, starting with a pile of furniture, props and tools we worked as a team to produce the set. A work-space area was created for tools and equipment. We taped the outer edges of the carpet to reduce trip hazards, marked the floor to indicate safe area just inside the door of studio 1 for visitors.
The set itself  is constructed with three flats on the right and one at the end to hang the door on, and two flats on the left. We'd constructed the window frame during the pre-lighting workshop, and set up the camera as soon as we were able to thus ensuring our image matched our expected output.After speaking to JS we decided to erect the goalpost support system for the 'space-light' just to see how the lighting might work. Obviously (from the pictures) the lite modifier is to long/low, but this will be adjust as we progress the project.We made supports where required and also braced the rear of the flats where needed. The tongue and grove lower wood panelling was applied with panel pins (and touched up with a dark oak finish on the top edge), and topped with a skirting board and dado rail, also affixed with 20mm panel pins. The rear of each pin was bent over and taped for safety. . A lot of care and attention was placed in trying to get a decent join between the panels before decor, with filler applied in the gaps the paper was then applied as soon as possible. A small flat was constructed to go over the door and architrave used to complete the effect prior to papering. Door handles and the hotel door room-numbers where affixed and furniture and props started to be placed where possible.. . 

(images care of Jenna Williams UCA Maidstone)
Ignore the low slung 'space light' fitted on the 'goalposts' light support system. This is to be adjusted and the lights are not due to be fully placed/tested and completed until wed (in the schedule)

Miniature flat I constructed fixed over the door, and architrave being fitted to door surround 

Bed cover in place, and completed door surround, picture hung also

Creating the window surround

Once the surround is built it is dressed with brick wallpaper



Saturday, 21 April 2012

Free Day Saturday 21st April 2012

Saturday 21st April 2012.  Today I started to put together the tool box's for next weeks setbuild-Fashion Constructed Image project. I've also found some plans to go with our secret documents and got the telephone back out that I initially offered to the team. JS felt the trim phone we'd selected was too 1970's. Murray who will be assisting us on the first day of the build works for BT and has confirmed this type of phone would have been used well into the 1960s.



I'm also assisting group seven by supplying them some foliage for their project that starts the week after our shoot.




Friday, 20 April 2012

Day 85 Friday 20th April 2012 Hand-in Time Machine

Friday 20th April 2012 Hand-in Time Machine. Today was hand in for the time machine essay and corresponding presentation.. Also the pin hole image for the commission project was also handed in.

I brought in the adjusted window sill (trimmed last night at home to fit) for the Fashion Constructed image set,  also returned my library books. After this I met up with a student friend from UCA Maidstone and took her to a friends house to assist with shooting some medium format images for her graphic design second year project.

Day 84 Thursday 19th April 2012 Fashion Constructed Image set-build sighting test and Call sheet

Fashion Constructed Image set-build sighting test (and call sheet)
'Ballast' controls (note settings)

Rear fixing for the Kino tube lighting system http://kinoflo.com/

Brackets and power cables neatly stored for the Kino system

'Jumper' LH side and dimmer control for the smaller Dedo lighting system  http://www.dedolight.com/www/dedolight/default.php?la=0

Example of a Dedo light

'Spacelight' note the six individual lights, controlled in  threes by two separate controllers complete with dimmers

Goal post set up, note the 'spacelight' on the floor

Trying the 'spacelight' for the first time

Basic layout. Today i intend to construct the window frame whilst Ian works on his lighting plan further with the 'new' lights available to test

Previous set test shot, and new image. More time has been spend on set issues due to the change in studios from Studio two (initial test) to studio one (final shoot location)

Completed window frame that I constructed. Testing the overhead 'spacelight' now available and used to replace the boom set-up UCA has. We will need a long pole for the goal post and the test has helped with details such as this. 


Call Sheet completed for shoot:


CALL SHEET
SHOOTING DAY NO, 1.  CALL TIME, 08:30. DAY/DATE, 26th April 2012_____ PROJECT, Fashion Constructed Image. Group, 1.
Shoot location:
UCA Rochester
Fort Pitt
Rochester
Kent
ME1 1DZ
Tel: +44 (0)1634 888702

By road
Take the M2 from either London or East Kent direction, then exit the M2 at junction 3 (A229). Follow the signs to Chatham/Rochester. After the Toys 'R' Us roundabout, stay in the left hand lane and continue onto City Way.
After about 2 miles, at the bottom of the hill, turn right at the mini roundabout into New Road Avenue, then after 1/4 mile turn right into Fort Pitt Hill. The entrance to the University is at the top at the hill.

By rail
Take a National Rail train from London Victoria to either Rochester or Chatham stations, then walk for five minutes to the University at the top of Fort Pitt Hill.
Eurostar passengers should get off the train at London St. Pancras International before taking the Underground (Victoria Line – Northbound) to Victoria.

Group1  Members
Time required
 Role
Loc
Martin Wilby
08:30
Team 1
Studio 1
Amie Overbury
08:30
Team 1
Studio 1
Sacha Stevenson
08:30
Team 1
Studio 1
Lucie Nakach
08:30
Team 1
Studio 1
Ian Wisbey
08:30
Team 1
Studio 1
Jenna Williams
-
External photographer
Studio 1
Tom Williams

Fashion/hair/make-up
Studio 1
Suzy

Fashion/hair/make-up
Studio 1
Maria

Fashion/hair/make-up
Studio 1

 

Cast

CAST #
CHARACTER
 MODEL
 MAKEUP
SET
REMARKS
1
Male spy
Ollie Gapper
Tom Williams, Suzy, Maria
Foreground
Props Camera/pistol (P38)
2
Female spy
Estephanie
Tom Williams, Suzy, Maria
Centre
Pistol (Lugar)



Contact details

Cast/Crew
 Contact details
 REPORT TO:



Martin Wilby
0792125xxxx
-



Amie Overbury
0779492xxxx
-



Sacha Stevenson
0793436xxxx
-



Lucie Nakach
0794055xxxx
-



Ian Wisbey
0772244xxxx
-



Jenna Williams
0771242xxxx
Team 1 Studio 1 (Existing UCA student, with access to building)



Tom Williams
Via Lucie
Team 1 Studio 1 Existing UCA student, with access to building)



Suzy
Via Lucie
Team 1 Studio 1
Existing UCA student, with access to building)



Maria
Via Lucie
Team 1 Studio 1
Existing UCA student, with access to building)



Ollie Gapper
Via Lucie
Team 1
Existing UCA student, with access to building)



Estephanie Standen
Via Lucie
Team 1
Existing UCA student, with access to building)




Parking

We are unable to offer parking on campus at Rochester and with limited street parking surrounding the campus visitors are encouraged to use public transport where possible. Exceptions can be made for Blue Badge Holders, and anyone with special requirements should contact UCA Rochester directly. Further information on the location of parking is provided by Medway Council.