Here is our completed shooting scripts and storyboard for Maurice Shakespeare and Craig ahead of our planned shooting for next week. These are very rough versions and as you can see our drawings aren’t exactly accurate. The purpose of doing this is to prevent confusion during our shoot and ensure that we achieve the most optimal product that we can using the limited time gap.
Maurice Shakespeare Shooting
Script Craig Shooting Script
[Untitled] – Maurice Shakespeare Storyboard
Award winning director Steven Spielberg is a house hold name when it comes to cinema, and whilst critics are divided upon Spielberg’s artistic approach to cinema one thing is for certain, he has became a master of the ‘Invisible One Shot’. The One Shot (also known as Long Take/Oner) is a word used to describe 
when a film scene is shown through the use of only one continuos shot. This is an old technique used throughout American cinema and is often achieved with camera movements such as panning and dolly shots, however, where Spielberg attempts to differentiate himself is the limited use of camera movement or subtle movement. This video wonderfully depicts various works of Spielberg and how he wields the Oner throughout to create iconic and impacting cinematic scenes.
To pull off a successful Oner, especially one with limited to no camera movement requires a masterful control of your actors and their blocking. Both director and actor should be aware of all of the available space in the shot and where they can and can’t move to. There are many benefits to this as evident throughout most of Spielberg’s films, but none more so than Jaws. This style of shooting allows actors a certain amount of freedom with the confines of the shot that creates a much more dynamic scene with characters moving in foreground and background. The use of Spielberg’s blocking techniques is carefully observed in this video that analyses Jaws shot by shot and breaks it down into a masterclass of the Oner.
It is certainly a unique style of telling the story of a scene and not one that is easy to pull off, but when done well it can be effective and stick in an audiences mind for a long time. Where as it was a commonly employed practice in old American cinema, in our modern era of film directors are very divided in their approaches to film. Some prefer quick flashing edits such as blockbusters as Star Trek, Avengers and other high budget action films, whilst others films persevere to use the One Shot and some even attempt to make the entire film in this style such as the recently release Birdman.
I think it would be really interesting to try and make a short film solely using a One Shot, as challenging as that would be I’m sure it could be achieved with plenty of planning. Another of my favourites that only uses One Shot is the short film Tick Tock by Ien Chi. Not only is this entirely done with one shot but it also transitions through several locations and themes and is played in reverse.
Its important to learn from those who have gone before you in a sort of ‘respect your elders’ type of manner and I have always endeavoured to study the works of many varied media texts from difference in genre and media form. What I find most interesting, as a want to be director/producer, is to read books and articles from other director/producers or to watch interviews by them in addition to viewing their films and analysing them. Recently, I discovered a Facebook page by a director named Danny Lacey, who whilst not being a large established name in film is influential in his writings. I even posted a video of his about how to shoot like an editor in a previous post. Here is his most recent status about cinematography:
“One of the important aspects of my Filmmaking Journey is grasping the art of cinematography (and photography). As a director I think it’s an essential skill to have in my armoury. Now, I’m not saying I’m a great cinematographer (or photographer), far from it. What I am saying is I have a good basic grasp of the art after years of pretending. That’s right, pretending.
I’ve owned several cameras over the years and I just get out there and shoot stuff, all the time. It’s a great way to learn. I like to think I know about framing, what effect a lens will have on a shot, exposure, depth of field and colour grading.
I can take this experience on to the film set with me as I now have a good idea of what I want from a shot and can describe to my cinematographer what I want in a more clear and qualified way (making me look a little less stupid).
So, if you’re new to the industry and just starting out you should more than double up on your skill set. If you’re a director, learn how to write. If you’re a camera guy, learn how to light. If you’re an editor, learn how to operate a camera and so on.
I took my Canon 5D MKII out to Blackpool in the UK recently for more photography practice. It was a lovely day and we had a glorious golden hour which meant we got some lovely shots. I also wanted to experiment with shutter speeds at night.
Hope you don’t mind but I thought I’d share a selection of pictures from that day. Shot on the Canon 5D MKII, the only lens I used was the Canon 24-70mm and all images were edited in Lightroom 5.
Do you think it is important for a filmmaker to be multi skilled? what are your main skills on set?”
The below picture doesn’t do the beauty of his cinematography skills justice so I advise you to check out his other images here (https://www.facebook.com/thefilmmakersjourney/timeline). This has really given me some drive to begin adding strings to my bow. Its all well and good saying that I’m a director/producer, but really what good is that when I don’t know how editing functions, I don’t understand the use of lighting, I can’t put sound to image? What use is it in a world where jobs are hard to come by and employers look for supermen who can do everything by themselves? I am determined to find myself a year two or three photographer and ask them to join me on a day trip to somewhere to teach me about cinematography skills and how to capture the beauty of the eye.
The Journey Begins 