Month: April 2017

Blog 4 Covering Action and direction continuity

Blog 5 (next week) Covering Script continuity

So continuity, what is continuity?

Well it is self explanatory. On a professional set a continuity persons (script/continuity supervisor) job is to watch the actions and listen to the words of the actors. They also do a great deal more, but I am going to address continuity with the actor in mind. The two main points to cover in my experience are :-

1. To make sure you, the actor is saying the right words in the right order every time. (Basically exactly what is written down on the script) (Blog 5)
2. To get the actions to correspond with the script or direction given.

Why?

Because when we come to editing and I will try and give you a simple example to start with.

If we start with a wide shot in the editing suite and you are holding a cup in your right hand in which you are wearing a ring and a watch, and you put it down on the table in front of you and let’s say we want to go in on a close up on a different shot but in this shot you’re using your left hand without the watch and the ring, this means we would have to use the long shot or close up all the way through which probably lessens the impact of the shot.

You are probably saying now this would not happen to me, but it happens to every actor at some point in their careers. That is an obvious example, but there are many simple mistakes in continuity and also so many silly mistakes so please be aware of all your actions.

I think actors are unaware of all the takes that are taken on set in many different angles and places, and sometimes they can become complacent especially when we are on the 23rd take and the camera has now moved onto another actor, but you are still in the background. Somehow they don’t think they can be seen but it is still vitally important that you still carry out all directions and actions at the right time in the right place every time.

A couple of weeks ago I was shooting with a cast of young students from the age of 12 to 14 years. This I knew was going to be difficult, because I was doing the camera work and sound I couldn’t keep an eye on continuity. I had a student who had to get up and go over to another student and pull her hair. I had a number of difficulties in the fact that sometimes she walked over to the left of the student and then others to the right, not only did she do this but the girl in question was moving her head in different directions in every take. Not a good environment. So when I wanted to use a different edit the girl was not in the same place to where I  wanted to join both the takes, so a lot of that footage was not used. However I did get something I was happy with in the end but it probably took me much longer.

The students are learning still so they don’t know how important this is but hopefully they will read this 🙂

Simple examples and tips below.

We are looking at a shoot for one scene. The scene usually takes place on the same day in the actual film itself  but could be filmed on a number of different days hence why continuity has to take priority!

Dress:
Must be the same clothes in one scene (unless you have to change). One scene maybe shot on different days. Make sure you have the same outfit with all the bits and pieces. Take a photograph.

Hairstyle:
Has to be the same. Take note ribbons and hair clips same side of the head and same colour.

Make up:
Same lipstick, eye shadow etc.

Shoes:
Must be the same

Nail varnish:
If you are wearing any, make sure you have it on all the time. (Don’t change the colour!!!)

Hat and gloves.

Tie.

Props:
Remember your props.

Jewellery.

Sit down and make a list of everything. As you go from location to location tick everything on your list. Take it with you!

Take a photograph of all the above.

Just to mention here facial hair and hair cuts for men.

Obviously try and maintain the same look. We did a scene recently where we had to film the same day in the film weeks apart. This was not a problem with the ladies but one young man, his hair had grown so much. I looked back on my continuity pictures and was very lucky to have had a hairdresser on set that day who she trimmed it, but it would have certainly looked out of place. It always makes our jobs easier if you are involved too and I would be really happy if you were coming to me and questioning it because it helps, it really does.

I am just covering a one camera shoot. There are many multi camera shoots i.e soaps. Continuity is still important but obviously the issues and complexities are going to be a lot less.

As I said earlier there will be somebody in charge of continuity, but it is best that you keep your wits about you also because mistakes are made. We don’t have luxury of having a continuity person every filming session so we have had to educate the actors in everything to do with continuity. I am very proud of how they have mastered this and more times than ever now I am not having to check. It can get a bit scary when you are managing over twenty actors and moving locations on different days although it is the same day in the film. As you can imagine it can become quite complex. They are now exceptionally good with dress and props but I am not going to say anything else! (Don’t want it to go to their heads to much. :))

Anyway as I have said before this is based upon my experience only.

Again I wish you all the luck in the world:)

Alyson.

Show reels.

1. Please keep them as short and to the point as possible. Too many show reels are far to long. On average if the first 30 seconds doesn’t catch their attention well sorry, but it is game over. My personal opinion is that a minute and a half is more than enough for a show reel. But you can do individual pieces which I will talk about later.

2. Everybody feels they need to have a professional show reel done. Now if you have fabulous material, I would say great idea. The number of show reels that come into my inbox, I can tell they have been expensive but they really are not worth it.
I have had more success in the actor doing an honest, natural, heart warming piece to camera that shows them as their true selves. If they can capture themselves in this way it really does work.

3. An example of this although it was not a show reel. We had a casting to do in a matter of an hour. The poor guy was in rehearsals. I gave him the brief. He sat in his car at the side of what sounded like the M1 and did a self tape to camera. The quality and sound was shocking but it did not seem to bother the casting director and she thought he was excellent and offered him a commercial.

4. Now this doesn’t mean that you should cut corners, but a simple camera filming you (take note of myself tape tips) can do the job at a fraction of the price.
It just confirms to me every time that if it is simple, short and to the point and you give that Oscar winning performance they will not rule you out.

5. Another tip is that if you do go down the show reel route with lots of different clips please make sure you are seen straight away. So many of the show reels that I look at, another actor is seen well before your performance and to be honest it is the first 30 seconds that count the most so make sure you are seen in the first few seconds. It must be riveting thoughout to keep their interest.

6. Finally what I do as an agent and it has worked time and time again. Film three one minute acting pieces to camera, one comedy, one serious drama and then something that really appeals to the actor but improvised only. A scenario needs to be given (examples given below) to them or decide what you as an actor feel comfortable with that can show off your best qualities. This one usually works best. For the written pieces, I write most of mine for the individuals themselves or I get them to write it. When I submit their cv to the casting director and let’s say it is for a part that wants a comedy actress, then I put their comedy piece at the top of their cv. You have probably doubled your chances of being seen.

Anyway I could quite happily go on forever but will finish now. I do hope this comes in handy and remember this is based on my experience only.

As always I wish you all the luck in the world:)

Alyson.
Examples of improvised scenes.

1. An inexperienced waiter serving in a posh hotel
2. Stuck in a lift with some very annoying people or you can be annoying.
3. A court room scene. This can be any character you would like to portray.
4. Going on a first date. Not the dream date you thought it was going to be or the date cancels but they send someone else on his/her behalf.
5. Birthday party. E.g. You were mistakenly an uninvited guest.
6. Funeral Scene. Could be emotional.

You can vary the themes or come up with ideas yourself. Could be based on something that has actually happened to you.

Basic tips
On all the above you need to think of the character, the characters background, the situation he/she is experiencing, the mood, the pace. Has to have a great beginning and ending.

Basic pointers.

Most scripts for auditions are usually sent to the agent a few days before the audition. In my experience you are lucky to get them two days in advance. Everything in this industry seems to have a fast turn over. Commercials from cv’s submitted, audition, casting and filmed, the whole process takes just a couple of weeks. TV drama/films take a lot longer as you usually have to go for recalls, this can take a number of weeks but once again from cv’s submitted to audition will only take a few days.

Anyway once your script is sent to you.

1. Learn it. I always tell my students that they must be off sides. ( Industry terminology for you to memorize the words)
2. Please do not learn your cue from the last word spoken by the other actor. You can see that you are waiting for that word instead of being immersed in what they are saying to you. So listen to every word that your character is saying to you and react to what is being said. It will look and feel more realistic.
3. Do not speak their words. I see this a lot especially new actors who are just learning. Actors are unaware they are saying the other actors lines.
4. Feel comfortable and relaxed. This is harder than you think, if that means you have to sit down during the audition then please ask to do so. I have seen actors so tense when they are standing and then go on and do a less than adequate audition but sit them down it transforms them. You need to wear comfortable clothing that does not restrict you in anyway.
5. Always arrive early. Be polite with everybody, you don’t know who you are talking to, it might even be the casting director.
6. Be yourself. Don’t be over confident or lacking in confidence.
7. Interpretation. This is so important. If you do not understand the script then unfortunately no matter how hard you have tried to learn the words and have turned up for the audition it will probably not go in your favour, if you misinterpret the script.

(There is so much more to be said regarding auditions and will cover this in future blogs)

 

So how do you know if you have understood the script?

If you have an acting coach ask them or ask friends and family, I would suggest somebody who reads a great deal.

Look at the writers style. See if they have written anything else. Go and look at their work.

Go and do your research. I can’t recommend this enough.

Some scripts can be easy to understand, for example if boy meets girl and girl meets boy and fall in love happy ending (a romcom) then that should be straightforward and you know what you are dealing with but some can be more complex eg a crime, thriller or mystery. You are not sure which character kills who and you are kept guessing right up to the end and there are a lot of twists and turns. At this point I must mention that a character breakdown and storyline of plot is essential and if you have not been given one then please ask your agent/ acting coach or the casting company. Sometimes they are very brief. We had a very difficult audition recently and submitted a screen test. We had very little to work on, but the casting director liked him and then spoke to me at length how she wanted the character to come across on his second screen test. It certainly helped us a lot and she really liked what he did. The film company decided to cast the actor from a different country, but it was a positive experience and the actor got some exposure.

You need to look beyond the words. They are only the surface!

They might be saying one thing but the actor should be thinking something else, especially if the words written are a lie. Some actors say words and you know that they have no idea what they are saying and why they are saying them. So the clue for you to overcome this is to start asking questions, especially about the plot. This is not so easy if you just get one page or two pages to learn for the audition and you don’t know the plot. See if it is based on a book and then read the book but if that is not an option then you are going to have to put your own style and spin on it and keep everything crossed and hope for the best. I find when I am prepping an actor for audition who has been given a complex script, is to read it many times over and act it out in different ways until both of us find that it feels and looks right. The more scripts you practise the easier all this becomes. Another tip, which may seem a wacky idea is to start reading poems, as they can be interpreted in so many different ways. Read them out loud and it would be best to read them to friends or family and get their opinions on which way they feel is interpreted correctly in the style that they are written.

Anyway I could write so much more but I think this is enough to take in for the time being. I do hope it helps even if it is just in small way. Remember this is only based upon my experiences.

And again I wish you all the luck in the world. ?