Happy Returns (Jan Siuta)

 'ARE YOU THE NEWS?'

7pm I got a call from Jan – unexpected, but not necessarily unusual. He needed an extra pair of hands on set. Who was I to say no? A presentation due the next morning certainly wasn't going to stop me. Not after the tragic death of OUFF's camera and the resulting postponement of the two films I had planned for this term. 

I walked to Jan's house where we had his cast (Syren and James) and crew assembled. His crew was comprised entirely of his housemates, who had never been involved in a short film. His household are all fourth year physics students, which I find sort of endearing. 

We filmed down the street outside the King's Arms and on George Street. I didn't know much about the film (and still don't really) but I enjoyed being on set and spending time with everyone. I helped with the lights and the clapperboard and labelled myself the clapper girl (the boys seemed to think this was some dirty joke but according to Google it really is just a girl with a clapperboard). 

The location and time meant that we encountered a lot of drunk people who disrupted the filming. We were asked a few too many times if we were the news and filming about Ukraine... I also had someone offer to pay me 10p so he could hold the clapperboard... It was funny but also irking since it was cold and late and we all wanted to just wrap and go to bed. I got quite good at firmly but politely asking people to move out of the shot. Jasmine, the Co-Producer and Assistant Director, and I also had fun taking behind-the-scenes photos – much to the dismay of Jan. We wrapped sometime after midnight.

The second night we filmed in the same location. Despite wearing thermals, a thick sweater, puffer coat, a hat and gloves, and Jan's wool coat, I was still cold. This was a later shoot and we didn't wrap until about 1.30am. I was cold and tired but still enjoyed it and appreciated Jan asking my opinion after different shot compositions and ideas. We managed to finish the scene, probably one of the most difficult in the film because of the disruptions and challenges with continuity.

I can't wait to see how it turns out (and to see what role I end up credited as)!