Johnny, now a successful dancer, stands in his dressing room clutching a top hat, triggering a flashback to his childhood. As a young boy, Johnny was captivated by Finn Calloway, a charismatic street performer, and eagerly followed him home. Despite initial rejections, Johnny's persistence paid off when Calloway agreed to mentor him. Under Calloway's guidance, Johnny learns the art of street performance and Calloway's mysterious past resurfaces, hinting at an old injury. As Johnny’s skills grow, so do their bond and as Calloway's past resurfaces, their journey together is tested.
Role: 1st AD, Producer, VFX Artist
Report on Roles for the Short Film
Erman Olmus (2304695)
"Dear Mr. Calloway"
"Dear Mr. Calloway"
In the movie "Dear Mr. Calloway," created and guided by Lozaine Pereira I served as the 1st Assistant Director where my responsibilities included overseeing the organization of tasks and team coordination to ensure we followed the filming timetable while also ensuring the directors artistic vision was effectively carried out during filming. The film is a drama that demanded careful organization given its emotional intensity and dependence, on the actors subtle portrayals. Throughout the process from planning to the last day of filming my role was crucial, in ensuring that the production stayed well-coordinated and stayed on schedule.
During the production phase of the project I worked on initially involved analyzing the script (the script breakdown) in detail for different elements such as locations described in each scene and the specific props and costumes needed for each character involved in them. This thorough breakdown was essential as it served as a foundation, for all planning processes. This analysis provided me with an understanding of the specific requirements of each scene and helped me anticipate the resources needed for each day of filming. Through organizing this information in a manner I made sure that all departments had easy access to it thus enhancing their workflow and fostering better coordination. The detailed breakdown also facilitated my efficiency in managing the shooting schedule allowing me to promptly identify the required resources, for each scene.
In addition to my tasks I also played a part in breaking down the budget though typically this is the responsibility of the producer. I helped find ways to cut expenses with regards, to locations and transportation allow it easier for the producer to make the budget last without sacrificing the production quality. By being engaged in this planning aspect I was better equipped to deal with hurdles during production. It also enabled me to anticipate challenges and tackle them proactively before they escalated.
One important aspect of my production responsibilities involved working closely with the Director of Photography to develop the shot list for the film project we were working on The director had a clear vision of the visual aesthetic she wanted to achieve in the film; our shot list had to balance her artistic direction with the logistical constraints of our shooting schedule. Working alongside DoP we determined the approximate length of each shot considering factors such, as scene complexity lighting arrangements and camera movements This data was essential in creating the shooting timetable as it helped me organize each day meticulously to guarantee we followed a defined plan, for the filming process.
Once I finalized the list of shots to capture, I focused on creating a schedule showing when the cast and crew were available. It was quite a task to coordinate everyone’s timings because of the deadlines and some actors limited availability. This schedule helped me align the filming plan with the personnels schedules ensuring we made the most of our time during shooting. I had to take into account aspects, like the shooting locations the actors availability and the equipment needed for each scene. In the end we settled on dividing the production over a span of five days. Dedicating two days in the week and three days in the following week to ensure all aspects were covered efficiently regarding actor requirements and logistical challenges related to location and equipment arrangements.
While working on the set, my role was to make sure the production stayed on track with its schedule which was quite stressful because any delays could impact the entire project due, to our tight time and budget constraints. I closely monitored the time. Regularly liaised with the director and the DoP to keep them aware of our time limitations. Whenever we encountered obstacles that could disrupt the schedule I stepped in to provide solutions and ensure we remained on course. It required a lot of on the spot decision making and troubleshooting skills along with a grasp of the projects objectives as a whole. My strong organizational abilities and capacity to remain composed in high pressure situations played a role, in preventing any delays.
Apart from maintaining the schedule I also handled the coordination of extras in specific scenes. Managing extras posed a challenge as their behavior can be unpredictable. Ensuring that a large group of people align, with the scenes action requires meticulous attention to detail. I made certain that the extras were positioned correctly understood their roles in the scene. Didn't interfere with the flow of the main action. The coordination needed to happen effectively to prevent wasting precious time.
During the production process I worked closely with the director and other key team members such as the DoP and department heads to ensure smooth collaboration and communication flow was maintained at all times as the 1st AD role is crucial in this aspect. I constantly kept track of each departments requirements. How they aligned with the overall schedule to ensure a seamless workflow. My responsibilities often involved troubleshooting issues that cropped up. Be it technical glitches with equipment or logistical hurdles with transportation. As well as addressing any creative challenges, on the spot. I put in a lot of effort to support the team by making sure everyone had everything they needed to perform their tasks effectively and that any challenges were swiftly addressed.
Handling transportation logistics was also one of my duties. It often intertwined with the tasks of a producer as well.I helped coordinate the movement of gear and crew to places and made sure that all items reached their destination on schedule and in proper condition.This involved planning and teamwork since any hold ups in transportation could lead to major delays, in our filming plans.By staying vigilant with these specifics I managed to prevent any hitches and maintain a seamless production process.
In my position one key focus was managing time effectively. I crafted daily call sheets outlining the schedule and any unique needs for each day to keep our on set operations running smoothly and everyone in the know about their whereabouts and timing requirements. During shoots I kept an eye on the clock and stayed in close communication, with the director and director of photography to ensure we stayed on schedule. If we fell behind schedule at any point during the project timeline I had to think on my feet to figure out how to rearrange things without sacrificing the quality of our work.This meant finding a way to preserve the vision while also considering the constraints of time and money.
Throughout each day of filming as we made progress with the shots on hand. Some completed and others still pending. I diligently maintained notes to keep track of our work status and make adjustments to the shooting schedule on the fly. If a specific shot ended up requiring time than expected to capture it perfectly I had the flexibility to rearrange our plans accordingly to avoid any setbacks later in the day. This ability to adapt was crucial in guaranteeing that we wrapped up each day according to schedule and, within our constraints.
Reflecting on my experience as the assistant director for "Dear Mr.Calloway " I found it to be a mix of challenges and rewards.It was my dedication to planning before filming and my knack for maintaining order on set that contributed greatly to the projects success.We managed to wrap up the shooting schedule within five days as planned despite facing obstacles, along the way. I was involved in all parts of the production process. From analyzing scripts to preparing call sheets and handling transportation logistics to coordinating, on set activities. Which gave me an insight into the workings of a successful film production.
Looking back on it now I feel a sense of pride in the effort I put into this movie. It helped me grow as a leader. Taught me how to handle challenges and time effectively. I gained insight into the significance of adaptability and effective communication in an demanding setting. Serving as the assistant director on "Dear Mr.Callowway" has truly been a rewarding journey for me, as a filmmaker and I am excited to use these lessons in my upcoming ventures.
