Post Production In The Time Of COVID
LIFE REFLECTING — My First Sag-Aftra Directing Gig.
Trailer Coming Soon!
After an arduous month of editing in post production, we have officially wrapped our Sag-Aftra Short Film, Life Reflecting. Just as with August’s Principal Photography, this final chapter of our enterprise was conducted virtually. It's odd to realize that since this project began, I’ve yet to share physical space with either the cast or crew. A very special thanks to our trusting actors: Alison Siko, Mark Shock and Leslie Lynn Meeker for having kept the volleying so positive and active during this exceptional adventure.
I should again make note of the parameters we put into place from the get go. As all adjustments were handled online, we decided to radically limit our use of camera setups—only one per each segment. Once we had each sequence captured and digitally corrected, I knew that our greatest challenge would be dealing creatively with the necessary static nature of our visuals. Initially we decided to incorporate a ‘B’ Roll. But, we quickly realized that even the slightest veering away from the storytellers eyes would make for serious distraction. So, after a series of trials and errors with the film’s Director of Photography Nick Bradshaw, we found a variety of simple and effective ways to pull focus and play with varying degrees of color inside of each character’s framing. Finally, with the addition of foley f/x and a minimalist, ambient score created by our Sound Engineer/Composer Phillip Bevers, we’ve managed to successfully reach our goal.
Frankly, I had no idea of the challenges we’d meet by not having physical access to each other. Once again, as with our virtual principal photography, a complicated series of relaying edits back and forth via WeTransfer and Dropbox was put into place. Weak signals would sometimes compromise our ability to cleanly share what we'd so pristinely developed. Producer/Screenwriter Melissa Farris has overseen the process with a keen eye for detail and considerable patience—providing us with the kind of creative freedom and trust that we needed to meet her October deadline. As a bit of background, Ms. Farris had attended our Dollars and Sense screening this past March, and after hiring me as Director for Life Reflecting, offered me the chance to re-hire both Nick and Phil. The common language that the three of us had developed during our previous collaboration made the often dizzying ‘post’ process of September much less frustrating than it might have been.
As I mentioned in a previous post, the creative process behind LIFE REFLECTING has been exciting, educational and a little terrifying. We’re at the forefront of a new trend in Union COVID Filmmaking. We hope to see this trend end quickly. Until the challenge of Covid has been rationally met by those we trust…Stay dedicated to your passions, disciplines and processes.
Remain creative…
And engaged.
Oh…
Please join me here for Next Week’s Vlog involving the rambling background roads leading to Char-Len’s next project, “Untitled Queer Synchro-Vox”. But, I digress…
