entry ten: filming elephant daydreams part one

filming elephant daydreams: part one

Still a work in progress. But here is a sneaky preview from the first day of filming. Adam, who is playing Lachlan, is in a show this coming week, and therefore is unable to film next week, so we have had to defer the night shots until the week after.

entry nine: elephant daydreams

Elephant Daydreams

Unfortunately, filming fell through with Fille, as our Jen was only free after the day the girl playing Olive moved countries. And although understandable, it’s still a real shame, as I was looking forward to capturing Olive’s story on camera. However, I have been writing another script (this one is slightly more morbid that Fille), so I plan on actioning that over the next fortnight instead. Conveniently, I have to drive up to Whangarei soon, which is perfect because that stretch of road is where I had planned on filming.

I haven’t fully decided on a title yet, but for the time being, the working title is Not A Funeral although I strongly dislike this, and would much prefer something non-sensical, completely irrelevant, and altogether misleading as to the content of the film (like Elephant Daydreams. Just because that’s my kind of jam. (My chickens are called Romulus Sunbeam and William Percival Wolfric Brian Severus Shakespeare.)

Elephant Daydreams

(Please excuse the horrible formatting; I had to put it onto a Google Doc to send to my actors, and as a result, the correct formatting was lost in the transition.)

Cast:

Cass - Daya Czepanski

Lach - Adam Ogle

Crew (to date):

Writer/Director - Grace Neely

For this film, as I was writing, I wanted something impactful, and quite different from the satirical nature of my other scripts. As I am a very sarcastic person in day-to-day life, the script still contains some black humour. But for the most part, it is a relevant and dark topic, but explored from a different angle. Rather than the POV of the sick protagonist, Elephant Daydreams explores the impact mental disorders has on the surrounding friends and family. 

entry eight: fille

fille

The first draft of the script 'fille'.

My first short film.

Shoot date: 12th August.


Cast:
Olive - Indigo Cody Paul
Jen - Brittane Clark

Crew:
Writer: Grace Neely
Director: Daya Czepanski & Grace Neely
Runner/Props and Costume Supervisor: Mya Cole
Locations Supervisor: Danielle Czepanski

entry seven: how the kiwibird lost its wings

How The Kiwibird Lost Its Wings

Almost a year ago, to the day, I went and saw a show called DNA at The Basement, part of ATC's 'Next Big Thing' Festival. One of the characters in particular stood out to me, a young school girl who gets dragged into trouble as a result of the poor choices others around her have made. Throughout the show, she progressively slips deeper into a depressive state, and it culminates with her mental breakdown. The actress playing this character, Daya Czepanski (originally a boy named Brian in the script by Dennis Kelly) was superb, and a few months later, we were cast together in Romeo&Juliet, with ASC.

Daya (right) in ATC's DNA

Daya (left) in Romeo&Juliet

~

Fast-forward to present day, Daya is one of my closest friends, and recently she has been working with Hawkins Youth Theatre Company, in Papakura, to stage How The Kiwibird Lost Its Wings, a play that Daya wrote and AD'd, based off the Maori legend. I was lucky enough to sneak into a rehearsal one day, and as a result, I got to take some photos of the show:

Kiwibird

Sam Czepanski, reading in for various characters (during lighting plot)

Narrator

Daya, reading in for various characters (during lighting plot)

Kiwibird

It was really great for me to sit in on this, as Daya isn't much older than me, and it shows that writing/producing/directing your own work is possible, and no less professional because of it. Daya has also been helping me edit my script, for my webseries, which I'm still working on, and can't wait to finish, so that I can begin filming!

entry six: the impossibilities

The Impossibilities

A couple of months ago, I was scrolling through Indiewire, and came across an article about a new web series, called The Impossibilities. The story follows Willa and Harry, two strangers who cross paths a couple of times throughout the series, until the final episode where their friendship blossoms. The wonderful thing about this story is that it breaks down the stigma around 'taboo' subjects, such as homosexuality and men allowing themselves to be seen as vulnerable. It is invaluable for these things to be seen as normal, especially for younger people, growing up in a world where diversity and choice is rapidly becoming more acceptable and talked about, in society (side note: thank you and congratulations America!) It also avoids all the typical cliché scenarios, which was (very) pleasantly surprising.

I binge-watched the entire series in one day (oops), and re-watched it again the following week. I really related to the gay, excitable, and slightly socially awkward character Willa (who also loves yoga), played by Kati Rediger, and emailed Kati, Ashley Springer (Harry), and Anna Kerrigan (writer/director) soon after finishing the series for the second time. I received wonderful replies from all three of them, and we've been emailing back and forth since.

So many of the cast and crew involved are female, and it's such an inspiration to see an example of gender equality in the entertainment industry, and especially pleasing to witness a first hand example of just how capable women can be! (Quote Piper from OITNB, anyone?)

(Netflix's Orange Is The New Black)

In a nutshell, I'm a huge fan of this web series, and it has really impacted my own work. I hope to stay in contact with these guys, maybe one day I'll get to meet them in person and thank them properly; not only for inspiring and incentivising me to pursue my series, but also for what it means for writers/directors/actors/technicians/cinematographers/etc in the future (especially young females.)

Thank you, The Impossibilities.

entry five: death and the maiden

Death and the Maiden

Director John Callen
(Known for playing Óin in The Hobbit)

Actor George Henare

(Known for playing Bennett in Once Were Warriors)

Actors Tatiana Hotere and George Henare

(Tati is known for her role in the T.V series Westside)

Tati Hotere

Tati Hotere and George Henare

Edwin Wright

(Known for Underworld: Rise of the Lycans)

George Henare and Edwin Wright

Edwin Wright, Tati Hotere, and George Henare

I have gone slightly off tangent. The thing is, I'm still invested in producing my web series. But I do a lot of that in my spare time, outside of Impact Project time. Every morning, on the bus, I work on my script. I often find myself doodling costumes, set, props, or character ideas in my lunch breaks at work. But most importantly, every time I catch up with my theatre/film friends external to ASHS, I am constantly asking questions. What does it take to produce your own webseries? How much does it cost? Is there funding available, and if so, where can I find it? How can I keep my story fresh, truthful, and believable, whilst avoiding the common cliché-moment traps?

I was in Newmarket with a friend of mine one day, who is the Producer for Newmarket Stage Company. I happened to have my camera with me at the time, and over lunch, he asked if I would be interested in being in charge of Photography for his latest play, Death and the Maiden. I was hesitant at first, because I thought it may be a distraction from my original Impact Project, but once Regan told me who else was involved, I immediately said yes. Not only was George Henare, one of my favourite New Zealand actors playing the lead, but Tati Hotere and Edwin Wright made up the rest of the cast, two exceptional actors whom I had admired over the years in various plays. But best of all was John Callen, the Director.

John is an idol of mine, I loved him in The Hobbit, and have heard nothing but amazing things about him at both Toi Whakaari and The Actos's Programme, two tertiary institutions I am seriously considering applying for once I graduate. I decided that, as Regan, George, and John had all had experience directing and understand how the industry works, plus they have the added bonus of age, meaning their knowledge is great, it would be a shame to pass up this valuable opportunity. We met for dinner, and John and I talked about writing, casting, producing, directing our own work, and how it works in New Zealand. Over the next month, I learned a lot about what it takes to make my own stuff, and as John had just finished The Hobbit, he told me about the latest technology, which was really fascinating. 

While I did loose time I could have been spending on my Impact Project, I would work to catch up in my spare time. From Death and the Maiden, however, I have learned so much, and I also got to spend the day taking photos, which as far as things go, could be so much worse! Regan has also asked me to be Photographer for his next show, at SkyCity Theatre, which is wonderful.

I had an amazing time working with these fantastic, talented, hilarious people, and I am so glad I said yes to this opportunity. It also has expanded my network, which is always a bonus. I'm so excited to bring all the elements of my webseries together, and add to it all the information I have learned as a result of being part of Death and the Maiden.

Love,
Spinach

entry four: a lesson learned

How To Write A Script:

For Dummies

This is a copy of the information sheet Nick gave me, on how to write and format a script.

~

My Original Script:

 

This is my original script. It was hard to read, and to discern between the action, actors dialogue, and setting. It also made it hard to judge timings, as one page should roughly equal a minute.

~

My Present Script:

This is my script presently. The layout is clear and precise. The characters names are in capitals, and in the centre, with the dialogue following below. All of the action and setting information has remained on the left-hand side, which allows the respective people (cast, crew) to quickly see where their most vital information is, in relation to their role.

~

In a nutshell, I have converted the script from a near-illegible format into something that is now comprehensible and professional.

Love,

Spinach