The Girl who Lost her Smile (Rhea Chakrabarty)

 OUFF PROJECTS '21

This was my first time working on a short film with a proper crew and equipment. It was exciting and I definitely learned a lot. It was nice to finally be able to meet others at Oxford who are interested in filmmaking (COVID really put a dampener on things). We were an all female cast and crew, which was cool – although there is a much higher level of female engagement in filmmaking and crews at a student level, it is still rare to have an entirely female production.

We shot over three days (I was only present for two). I had a relatively nondescript role having been added late in pre-production; as 2nd AD/script supervisor I spent the first day taking continuity photos and helping with bits and bobs (although I'm learning increasingly in film that that is what most roles end up being anyways). I also got to hold the boom mic, which made me feel much cooler than it actually was 😂. I was definitely not as miserable as I look in the photo below. That's just how I look when I'm focused.

The cast and crew were all lovely and I think we had an enjoyable time on set. Things certainly felt laidback, and I appreciated that it stayed fun (film sets can very easily become a stressful place). We filmed a few bedroom scenes in Oriel College; the space was tiny but we made it work. We did completely rearrange the living room – which I believe they shot in the third day – to the slight shock of our producer's (Katie) roommate. We were more surprised to discover that he had been in his bedroom the whole time. 

This was only a half day, and so we wrapped after a few hours (a few meaning about five 😂). We also had Aaron Hammond Duncan (Instagram @aaronhd_) on set to take some BTS photos – all photos in this post were taken by him. They will hopefully be used to help market the Projects '21 Short Film Festival in February, where this film will be screened. 

On the second day we shot in Cowley. This was a long day, especially after having been awake until 4am following OUFF's first in person social in over a year (which I organised). A story for another time. Anyways, I learned how to do the sound recording – something I had never thought about doing. But of course any experience helps and I'm always willing to learn anything on set. And it's much easier than it looks once you've figured out the technology and settings – even for the most technologically challenged person in the world (i.e. me). I somehow managed to not blow up my laptop or the mic. Absolutely mind-blowing. And of course part of the sound recording was organising and labelling the audio. Anything organisational is right up my street. We shot in a small bathroom, and I was positioned outside under the stairs (it was very comfortable under there). Amusingly with my headphones I could only hear when someone spoke into the boom mic, so I had people positioning it around when I needed instruction (because simply taking off the headphones would obviously be so much more work). I was also attempting to launch the OUFF Cuppers Competition on set (post coming soon). I think I managed to accomplish both relatively successfully.

In the evening we shot outside. We had been pressed for time and a little stressed following an incident with missing sound equipment (I think we may have cut some shots). We set up lights and filmed in the street (it was freezing!). At one point I had to hold the boom mic, as it was attached to my laptop, which was attached to a box which was attached my headphones, and stand behind a corner holding both as to not be seen in the shot. It was comedic – probably partially due to sleep deprivation – but you got to do what you got to do for the film. 

That evening we had to take a cab to transport all the equipment back to Oriel. It sounds like the third day of filming went smoothly. I can't wait to see it at the festival. I'll probably do a post or a series on the festival and the film... depending on how it goes!

Here is a photo of our cast and crew!

(Back row: left to right)

Me: 2nd AD/Sound recordist

Rhea: Director and screenwriter

Ava: Actor

Katie: Producer

(Front row: left to right)

Zoe: Production design

Sparkle: Sound recordist

Téa: Director of Photography

Clara: 1st AD