Sat 23rd March Art Directing Workshop Today we shot some nice scenes with the aid of props and camera filters for the first time. By the end of the day the group would be able to compare footage shot without props and proper set decoration with shots which were dressed. A local artist and set designer came on board to work closely with one of the group to dress some of the scenes. By this stage the rest of the group could manage themselves quite efficiently as a team and in their new film disciplines. By the end of the day we had some nice well worked out shots ready to be edited the next day in the non-linear edit workshop. Gerard Sun 24th March Edit Workshop Today was specifically set up for our editor Philip and director Niall to see if the could construct a scene in the edit, under the watchful eye of a local broadcast editor. This would be very useful, as both young people would be working intensively together for the weeklong edit. Meanwhile the rest of the group went out and made a spoof version of the TV programme, StreetMate that again proved to me that they had a good grasp on format and displayed their camera and sound skills. Who said television was the drug of the nation????? The day ended with a talk about the 5-day shoot the following week and a small wrap party to keep spirits high. Gerard Stratton, Project Facilitator Wed 3rd-Sun 7th April Shooting took place each day from 10am to 5pm with an hours lunch break. Although this was a pretty intensive schedule for the young people, in film making terms these were very short days and a substantial shot list and large cast would prove to make the task all the harder. However everyone did brilliantly, no major problems arose and generally the team worked well together. The nature of the large shot list was a safety measure and simplified shots were needed to ensure the story is told, as well as the fact that cranes and dollys would prove to be very expensive. More shots meant more time but made the job for the team that bit easier. We were in 6 different locations over the shoot, each offering up their own problems, particularly for sound. This was a pretty adventurous script for anyone to undertake and I think the group coped brilliantly. Everyone was tired but in good spirit by the end of the shoot. On playback the footage looks great and the team are a credit to themselves. We have just started the edit process which I am sure will prove fruitful and already the team is looking forward to their next project, with some of the group scripting already. Gerard