This is the last week of shooting, final straight line until the wrap.

So I have done some research since the last post and I now know why the director and DoP have decided not to use a monitor on set.

3 simple reasons:

1: it distracts from the actual action. Everybody looks at the screen instead of paying attention to the scene.
2: monitors are heavy and slow down the setting up of a scene.
3: it's less freedom for the cameraman: heavy gear and cables....

Once again some say it may take longer between the takes for the director to review the scenes, but Tom thinks that once one is used to this technique, there is no need for reviewing.

Over the weeks the departments have changed, camera is now down from 4 to 3, the DoP and 2 assistants as was requested by the DoP before the shoot,

And the lighting dept is now at 3 with extra hands when needed. Lighting setups are always minimal but the very nature of frugal filmmaking and the fact that we are shooting an average of 6 pages a day means we have to work fast and the lighting dept are the ones that feel the pinch.

So, as we are heading towards the final line here is a small overview of all the departments in this film, and what differentiates them from any other film.

LOCATIONS :

All the locations were found through friends and connections. Obviously this means having to do all the research yourself and takes a lot more time than hiring a location agency. (Mike and Rose started looking for locations about 3 months ago.) But in the end they were all beautiful locations and hardly very affordable.

The hospital scenes for example were shot in a university during the Christmas break. And all the houses we filmed in were private houses of friends of Mike and Rose's. One of them belongs to Liz. (more on her later)

FOOD: Back to Liz. Not only does she love France, French food and speaks French perfectly (I had to love her straight away...!) she provided us during the entire shoot with delicious lunches, cakes, morning and afternoon teas. Having to serve up to 80 people on crowded days. Note to self : remember to try to have a chef amongst your friends.

ACTORS

Yet another DIY. Mike handled the camera as Rose did the auditions. Actors perfectly cast. All very eager to work. What more can I say?

GRIP DEPARTMENT: Now there is a department that seems to notice the difference. Our grip is bored. Not only has he had to show up with his little Station Wagon car instead of his usual 20 Tons truck. But he also seems really frustrated that he doesn't get to do any fancy crane movements.

Although he does admit it is a breath of fresh air to work with nice people for a change and not "wankers with an attitude" from the industry.

LIGHTING: Well, instead of the usual truck full of gaffer gear usually expected on film shoots, this is all we have:

(and a lot of it hasn't even been used very much...)