After all of that learning in Digital Media, and after all of that thinking and agreeing with my parents of what to do in order to prove that what it is I want to do in my life as a career is to be a Film Producer/ Director, I have decided that this year, during the Fall semester of my senior year in high school (2022), I have a plan to make an independent (hopefully full length) film with a real cast, camera crew and time to go through all three stages of production. * By the end of September, I am hoping to have completed the script for the film as well as the casting and gathering of the camera crew and all of Pre-Production. * By the end of October, I am hoping to have all of the filming/ shooting and all of the Production stage done and completed. * By the end of November, my hope is to have completed the editing and the whole Post-Production stage completed and would have finished an entire film with an entire crew and cast after years of wanting to do so.
Step 1: Pre-Production/ Development
* COMING UP WITH AN IDEA : The first step in Pre-Production of a film or tv series or even a short film, is to come up with an idea that would definitely work in the world of filming production (no plagiarism/ no copying others work). Since that I would like to make movies and or stories that I would like to share with the world, I had to write down all of my ideas that have nothing within their plots that are too similar to any other works or at least that were inspired by something that already exists and still has stuff in there that are too familiar to it, in a journal that has what their plots, conflicts and main protagonists and antagonists are explained so that I can just look down in the journal and look through all of my ideas and see which one would most likely work to make at then moment. At this moment, I had to look through them in my journal and pick carefully on which one to use for my Independent Study this year. I had to pick carefully, because a lot of my ideas would require and need a lot and I mean A LOT of CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) in order to make into a movie or short film series. So I looked through my ideas, and I picked one that the original idea would have needed a lot of CGI, but I figured that I could think of a simpler version to make into a movie.
* HOUR : The plot line of Hour is mixed between the genres of Science Fiction, Fantasy, some Action and a little bit of Horror. Daniel Walter was once a government agent. And now after 5 years after of retirement, he is chosen to be a part of a very special experimentation project. A project with the very special title: PROJECT: TIME WATCH. And during the project, Daniel is to travel to the future to report back to the present. But when he realizes that a strange figure has been following him across time, he may have also realized that not only is the project, but his own life is in jeopardy.
* THE SCRIPT/ SCREENPLAY : The original idea of Hour was to have the main antagonist, Kosmos, a supernatural force brought down from the dark depths of the universe sent to stop Daniel Walter, the main protagonist from traveling through time into the future so that he can bring back information to the present so that they can be aware of it before it comes to pass. And Kosmos was first designed to be a scary looking shadowy figure with incredible powers other than traveling through time at will without changing anything in the timeline. Which means that this story would've required a lot of special effects and CGI in order to make the original design accurate for the motion picture. So in the screenplay, or for the script, I have to at least make Kosmos more like exactly what he is but in the form a creepy stalking man following Daniel Walter where and whenever he goes. Also, Another thing that was changed with the main storyline, is that this plot line actually follows the story of another idea I made called Bloodthirsty: a story about a six to seven year old boy named Brent Jameson who gets blood cancer. And because of his powerful imagination because he's a child, at night he would see this enormous pale, long armed long fingered monster that is supposed to represent blood cancer hunting the children in the hospital who have it. And now, Doctor Jameson in the Hour storyline is that same boy from Bloodthirsty only he is now a Doctor of Psychology who is responsible for the creation of PROJECT: TIME WATCH after years of nightmares after his survival from blood cancer. I think that this would make the movie better, because we know a lot more about Doctor Jameson making him the second main protagonist which will show the moving going back and forth between the two main protagonists and everything they do and go through. I feel very confident in this script so far, and I think that this will be a great movie. - Gavin Light (Sept. 12th, 2022)
* THE STORYBOARDS : I have just completed the script and I am proud. The script is 56 pages long, and if we were to follow the calculation of 1 page of a script = 1 minute of a movie, then the film would be approximately 56 minutes long plus credits. Now about the storyboards step: I was a bit nervous when I was told that I still have to do storyboards for movies. Now, the reason why I didn't like doing storyboards before was because I am way too excited on getting the filming part started that I need to let everyone helping me out know more about what I, the director and writer of the film am picturing for it to look like. So now I have finally accepted that in order to make a real, yes REAL movie, I have to do storyboards no matter how long it is going to take. - Gavin Light (Sept. 21st, 2022)
* THE CASTING: The storyboards has officially been completed! So now that we are at the part where we need a cast, things schedule-wise for the rest of the steps of production for HOUR will have to change. Meaning that we will have to share an announcement for students in school who may be interested in playing a part for a Science-Fictional Action Horror film. The announcement will share the information of the dates of these 2 following events: - Interest Meeting (in the cafeteria after school) - Casting/ Auditions (in the auditorium after school) It didn't take long to figure out, but the interest meeting will take place on Thursday, October 20th, and the actual casting/ auditioning will take place a week later on the 27th. Which also means that prior to that date, on the Monday of that week, those who are interested in auditioning for one of the 6 available characters will have to send me an email so that I will know who will be there and for which part. Right now I am currently making the announcement video for the interest meeting in the making of HOUR that will also consist of a montage of other short films and movies that I have made in the past. I feel very excited for being able to work with a full/ real crew for the first time. And I think that this is not only going to be a great movie, but a great time with other people in the making of it. - Gavin Light (October 6th, 2022) * THE ANNOUNCEMENT : Here is the official announcement for being a part of the Interest Meeting for HOUR on October 20th, 2022. (The announcement takes place at 2:49 in this video) - Gavin Light (October 14th, 2022)
* THE INTEREST MEETING : The Interest Meeting for being a part of the movie "Hour" took place after the 3:20 bell rang on Thursday, October 20th, 2022. I was there presenting the movie with my teacher. Two class mates from Digital Media showed up there for support (which I am very thankful that they came), and four other people showed up. I was really nervous prior to this meeting for two reasons: One was that a lot of people were going to show up and I would have to be talking to a lot of people, which I am usually nervous to do. But once I actually do it, I am already having a good time, and it helps me conquer that fear. And the other reason was that no one was going to show up at all. But hey, four people came, I told them about the movie and about the characters. I gave them a sample of a scene in the script and now we are at the part where we are looking for the rest of our cast and crew. And now we are hoping to start filming some time in November. - Gavin Light (October 24th, 2022) * CASTING (UPDATE) : We now have official dates on casting for the movie, Hour! After pitching my movie at the interest meeting and recently to the cast of the school Fall play, I had to make the careful decisions on when to have casting take place so that we can get to know our actors, and to figure out who might be our cast. Especially now that we have a total of 16 people who will want to be a part of this exciting project. The dates for our castings will be in the morning at 7:30 - 8:10 AM on Monday, October 31st, Tuesday, November 1st, and Thursday, November 3rd. And also at 5th period during the school day at 2:40 - 3:20 PM on Tuesday (Nov. 1st) and Thursday (Nov. 3rd). Also, if the actors who wanted to participate did not get any of the six available roles for Hour, then they can be either background people for scenes in the movie, or they can help us out with the production and still be a part of the making of the film. - Gavin Light (October 27th - 31st, 2022) * BEFOREHAND EDITING : In the past, when I am making movies/ short films, during the Pre-Production stage, I like to pre-make the intro, as well as the beginning and end credits so that I can at least get something done editing wise beforehand in the making of the film. So now, as I patiently wait for casting auditions to proceed, I have already made the beginning intro for the movie, as well as the beginning and end credits and their soundtrack songs. (Soundtrack will be made/ produced by me in GarageBand) - Gavin Light (November 1st, 2022)
* CASTING (UPDATE 2) : Yesterday during 5th period of school (2:40 - 3:20 PM), my friend Jacob Koerner came in for casting. Not only will Jake be the Assistant Director for the movie, but he does also want a part for the film. At first, we tried the auditioning scene, which now I realize that it only has the two main protagonists interacting with each other and with no one else. So Jake tried out for both characters, first Doctor Brent Jameson, then Daniel Walter. As we acted out the scene, Jake realized that Daniel might not be for him, and Jameson might be more for him based on that page. That's when he asked me about the main antagonist of the story; Kosmos, the supernatural being of dark matter and abilities to make all dangerous and catastrophic things happen to those and only to those who try to time travel. So we looked into the full script of the movie to take a look at the scenes with Kosmos in them. And so we tried out a few lines to see if Kosmos might be for Jake. As we did, Jake came up with what could be Kosmos' appearance for the film. Since that Kosmos isn't human, Jake came up with a dark/ deep, edgy voice that would work out for voiceovers and that would suite the ominous character. Jake also came up with what would be hid physical appearance with black clothing, including a black duster that he used for a cowboy costume. Because the true identity/ form of the character is dark/ black matter and smoke in the shape of a man, with two eyes, two slits for a nose, as well as a mouth of glowing white teeth that form the smile he always wears when accomplishing his purpose that we will see him try to do to Daniel Walter in the film. So we came to an agreement that we will keep Jake in mind for playing as Kosmos, but we still have Thursday morning and afternoon left for people to come in and audition for these parts. So there is a chance that the other actors will want to play as Kosmos, and who may be able to play the part better than Jake. We shall see. I have been trying to keep the actors who gave me their emails up to date so that they know where to go and for what they're doing when they are there. But for now, we have Jacob Koerner in mind for playing as Kosmos, the main antagonist of Hour. - Gavin Light (November 2nd, 2022) * CASTING (UPDATE 3) : On Thursday, November 3rd, 2022, two Juniors came in for auditioning for Hour. Their names were Nathan Tillman and Isaac Hicks. These two gentlemen were the first ever to arrive at the interest meeting that had took place in the cafeteria two weeks prior. Nathan was there to audition for Daniel Walter and then later for Kosmos. And Isaac was there to audition for Doctor Jameson, and Doctor Jameson only. Isaac performed really well as Doctor Jameson. I was impressed, and I felt like I was in the story as I was watching him read the lines. He gave meaning into to the voice of Doctor Jameson and he made the scene sound really interesting. So I have kept him in mind for Doctor Jameson, and so far, no one else has auditioned for that character (even though Jake tried it out, but we found out how Kosmos might be more for him), so as of now, the part to play as Doctor Jameson could be his. As for Nathan, he did give a serious voice for Daniel in the scene that I gave him for auditioning. He did try using a deep voice as he was performing, but the problem was that I couldn't hear him. I had to turn my head so that my ear could hear him better. I said that the scene was good, but it could be better without the voice. So then he tried for Kosmos, and he used the same voice. Even though the voice would be better for Kosmos than Daniel, it still isn't what I really looking for in the character. So as of now, Jake would get the part as Kosmos. About a week later, I've been getting emails from people of the Fall play, and from others who want to be a part of the film and has told me that they won't be available, and I said that it is okay, and that I totally understand. However, I have been getting emails from a Fall play person, as she sent me videos of her auditioning for Daniel Walter. And she actually did a really good job at playing the character. Her name is Aijah Eckert, and as of now, she could be our (instead of Daniel) Danielle Walter. And now, we are at the point where we need to start filming really soon. So I sent those who auditioned and to who is trying to send me their audition an email with a Google Form that has them write down their name and they select whether they are Available or Not Available for the many upcoming Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays prior to Christmas break to help me with filming. So far as of now, we have 4 out of 6 available actors that are needed for the film, which means that all we have to do is find our other two actors, and find out who will play as our other two important Doctors, Brandon and Sean, as well as the extra doctor needed. - Gavin Light (November 9th, 2022)
* WE'RE GETTING CLOSE!!! : We are almost there! We are wanting to start filming soon. So far, here is our cast:
Aijah Eckert - Danielle Walter
Isaac Hicks - Doctor Brent Jameson
Jacob Koerner - Kosmos
and me (Gavin Light) - Bloodthirsty
And as of now, I am still waiting for an email from Nathan Tillman about what other character that we have that he could play as, and I am trying to get a video audition from Adian Brown, who I will also have to ask her to pick one out of the three available characters, if Nathan Tillman doesn't take one first. Because then after that, we are still in need of one more person to be a part of our movie. We will start filming on Monday, November 14th, and so far, Isaac Hicks will be there to film with me. Which is actually really good and exciting news, because that means that we will be filming a scene where it is just him walking in a hallway, and then another scene where he is in the same hallway again, and then my character shows up. If we don't get someone to play as Doctor Brandon soon or they won't be available to film on that day, then we might have to change the scene just a little bit at the end. But now that I have been given the "ok" for wearing this super scary mask to play as Bloodthirsty for the movie, then that makes Monday even more exciting! Because as far as I know it, Aijah Eckert has just emailed me that she will not be able to make to all of our filming dates that week. But things are going good so far, and I am incredibly excited to start filming. I have a funny feeling that this may be my first masterpiece for movie making. Let's just hope that that might be true. - Gavin Light (November 11th - 14th, 2022)
Step 2: Production
* DAY 1 OF SHOOTING/ FILMING: ...Took place on Monday, November 14th, 2022. Isaac Hicks/ Doctor Brent Jameson was the only actor available for that day, and my good friend, Ross Wagaman was available to be my camera person for the day. It was okay to only have Isaac there as the only actor, because again, there were just those two scenes with Doctor Jameson needed to film. And yes, we did have to improvise the ending for the second scene because we didn't have a Doctor Brandon yet, nor did I think to look ahead and tell my teacher to have availability to a specific room for the scene. But it actually worked out perfectly, and I am so proud that it did. - Gavin Light (November 17th, 2022) * CASTING FOR DOCTOR BRANDON: On Tuesday, November 15th, I thought that Isaac Hicks and Nathan Tillman would be there for filming. Apparently, something must have come up with Isaac, and he wasn't there. Just Nathan. Which is fine, because we still needed to find our people and someone for Nathan to play as for the film. He chose to be Doctor Hank Brandon. Perfect! I was happy with that, he was happy about that, and so I gave him his script, and after that we just practiced his lines as Doctor Brandon, just to spare the time. If Isaac were there, and if we had someone for production crew were there, then we would've filmed a scene where it is just Doctors Jameson and Brandon that takes place after the second (and scary) scene with just Jameson. But we now have our other actor casted and another script given, which means that I still need an audition and to give a character to Adian Brown who still wants to be a part of the movie, and just one more person to fill out the cast and we'll be all set, once everyone else is all set. And here is our updated cast:
Aijah Eckert - Danielle Walter
Isaac Hicks - Doctor Brent Jameson
Nathan Tillman - Doctor Hank Brandon
Jacob Koerner - Kosmos
and me (Gavin Light) - Bloodthirsty
- Gavin Light (November 17th, 2022)
* FILMING DAY (DECEMBER 1ST): Today we are hoping to get things done. The last couple of filming days have been a little disappointing, but we just needed time to figure out a few things to be communicated with each other, and even though we are still in need of one more person to be a part of the cast, we are still going to be shooting what we can, and get all of those scenes completed prior to Christmas break, that is already a few weeks away. Time in precious and vulnerable at this moment for filming. Especially because we are filming in a High School environment. But we are doing the best we can, and if we manage to do things just right, then we will might as well be able to complete this whole thing before the end of the semester. Our days left to film are today, next week's Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, the following week's Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, and then the following week after that's Monday and Tuesday before our last day of school before break on Thursday of that week. Which means that including today, we have a total of 9 days left to film. Plus 5 extra days after break in January before the semester ends. And if we have to film on weekends or on days other than Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays that they can make it, they we will have to manage to film then as well. - Gavin Light (December 1st, 2022)
* DAY 2 OF SHOOTING / FILMING: Filming day on Thursday, December 1st was a success! When the 3:20 PM Bell rang, I packed up and went into the cafeteria to see Jacob Koerner, Adian Brown, and later Isaac Hicks for filming. We first had to cast Adian to be a character. And she said that she was good with anything. So she is now casted as Doctor Michelle Sean. Now we officially have our 3 doctors for Hour. Now we just need one more person to play as the extra doctor character. After casting Adian, the next few minutes were getting the things we needed and getting ready for filming. Since that Aijah Eckert wasn't there, we couldn't shoot any Kosmos scenes for Jake or any Danielle Walter scenes in general. And since that Nathan Tillman wasn't there, we couldn't shoot any of the 3 doctors scenes or the scene with Jameson and Brandon in the cafeteria. But the important thing is that we were able to shoot the part of the scene when Danielle just traveled through time starting off the project. It's the part where Doctor Jameson and Sean are in the cafeteria talking. Doctor Sean talks normally to Jameson before asking what would be a very personal question. When it seems like it would be the start of an argument between the two doctors, Jameson feels unease, as the question brings back horrible memories. For it is his answer, that he never explains to Sean, to the question that brings back something from Jameson's past. This will be the scene with the first invisible, but hearable appearance of the character that I'm playing, Bloodthirsty. - Gavin Light (December 2nd, 2022)
* DAY 3 OF SHOOTING / FILMING: On December 5th (Monday) I went to the cafeteria after the school bell to meet Jake and only Jake there. We weren't sure if anyone else was going to show up (like usual), so we had to put our brains together and come up with something that would work. Well, technically, Jake told me about the East Woods that was near the school. If you walk out of the school and turn left down the hill and then cross the street to the field where the cross country team practice at, we walk up this path that leads straight up to this tree that stands all alone by itself. "It gives off a very creepy vibe," Jake said. So that day, we walked down the road, then up the hill, and we shot a scene that would be our introductory scene for our villain. And not only did it work, but we both had a fun time being there. Isaac Hicks also was able to show up. He had to walk all the way down to catch up with us. Don't get me wrong, it was still a fun time for all of us, I just feel bad that Isaac had to walk all that way down for nothing. Well at least for his character. But he was cool about it, and the three of us had a great walk back to the school before dismissing ourselves to go home. Only to be ready to shoot some more the next day. - Gavin Light (December 12th, 2022)
* DAY 4 OF SHOOTING / FILMING: The very next day (December 6th [Tuesday]) we were able to shoot a scene with only the two characters, Doctors Jameson and Brandon. This takes place just after the second and scary scene I did with just Jameson all the way back in November. With both Isaac Hicks and Nathan Tillman there, we were successful in shooting the scene. This day also happens to be an important one to mark down, because sadly, this was the day that I found out/ Isaac and Nathan told me that our lead actress, Aijah Eckert, who hasn't even showed up to any of our filming days, was thinking about quitting. I was okay with it in the end, because this is a High School, and not everybody has to contribute to or participate in something such as this. Especially if they don't think that they are interested. So not only did we shoot a scene that day, but it was the day that I had to later on talk to my teacher and peers, and come to an agreement with all of them, that I will be taking the lead role, and move on with the Production, since that we cannot find or get anybody else available. Which means that we are working with what we have got, and it will still turn out great. - Gavin Light (December 12th, 2022)
Our final update of our cast:
Daniel Walter - Gavin Light
Doctor Brent Jameson - Isaac Hicks
Doctor Hank Brandon - Nathan Tillman
Doctor Michelle Sean - Adian Brown
Kosmos - Jacob Koerner
Bloodthirsty - Gavin Light
* DAY 5 OF SHOOTING / FILMING: Thursday, December 8th was our first day of shooting with me/ Daniel Walter on the camera. We could have filmed more on that day, but because of my phone, the coldness of the outside made the battery decrease at a very quick rate. It was a good thing that I was getting a new phone anyway, because that one was old, and I can really use that upgrade for our filming. We were glad to get a scene shot on this day, and that's what matters. While Jake and I were walking to our cars when we were done, he and I talked about something we can do for the final fight scene between Daniel (me) and Kosmos (Jake). We decided, that now that we have the short introductory scene with Kosmos at that tree from before, we came to an agreement that there is where we shall film that scene. Because that is where Kosmos awakened from in the first place. We also came up with, that for the story, that even though Kosmos is from space and is an all-powerful cosmic entity, when he has to do his purpose on Earth, that tree is where he always awakens from. - Gavin Light (December 12th, 2022) [Also, over the weekend, I have been making what would be the official poster for the movie. So get ready to see it sometime soon!]
* DAY 6 OF SHOOTING/ FILMING: Our sixth day of filming was on Tuesday, December 13th. Due to a lockdown incident the previous day, we couldn't film. So luckily, we were able to film outside with Jake, Adian and Isaac to shoot our first encounter scene with Kosmos! * POSTER: Below is our official poster for Hour! It may not be the best poster, but I am still proud of it for what it is for.
Step 3: Post-Production
*STORYBOARD SHOTS & VOICEOVERS: Sadly we could not complete the filming we needed to before the end of the semester. So what we are going to do is to have my actors do voiceovers for their characters of the scenes and shots we have not been able to do, they will send the voiceovers to me, and I will edit them along with a photo of the storyboards for those same shots/ scenes. And once that is completed, that will be the final product for my independent study. I have also been given the choice to shoot the rest of the film as my own project during the spring semester. That of course if my actors would still like to participate for it. But otherwise, filming is done, and it is time to take action(!) in post-production/ editing. - Gavin Light (January 3rd, 2023)