Busy Filming

So I’ve been a little quiet over the last few weeks as I have been on a exciting production helping a friend on Production Design Work. Yes I usually do Makeup but I have dib dabbed in other areas in the industry being a Runner, Driver, Art Assistant, and Production Design which all led me to my true passion of Makeup.

So how did I get on to the Production? Well as you have probably heard from many people in this industry it’s all about Networking and for evidence that it’s not crap I met Lee Burns (HOD Production Designer) on another short I was working on which was extremely low-budget taking on three rolls, Production Design, Wardrobe and of course Makeup. Lee was on set for a few days doing sound, he noticed how I worked with people and noted I was good at my job which led to him to think of me as a possible assistant for the upcoming feature he was offered to work on for the following year.

Lee called me up in November 2014 offering me the roll as his production design assistant, he outright said I understand it’s not Makeup but it’s a paid job and feature production. Of course I hesitated a little at first for I’d rather be noticed in Makeup as that is where my passion lies but looking in my diary I had no bookings for the next five weeks, its paid and I get to network with more people so I said a big fat YES!

I’m not gonna go into the ins and outs of my job roll but more about being on set. So I’m not going to lie this was one of the most stressful experiences I have had in the industry so far and it was due to numerous ingredients from varied departments resulting in each of us being messed around in some shape or form, but hey welcome to filmmaking, we all fuck up sometimes, in fairness we are only human! And in all I have learnt man lessons from this!

Every single person on this production was lovely cast and crew, now I’m not just saying this as in truth not everyone gets on with everyone on set but that doesn’t make them a horrible person for on set this is work, like in an office or shop worker you have a responsibility to get the job done to the best of your ability and that sometimes means not being the most friendliest, so when on set please take things with a pinch of salt and make sure your work is done to the best you can.

Unfortunately my HOD decided to leave and was replace by Matthew Scipio ‘Scip’ who was fantastic and easy to get on with, Lee was amazing to work with and I was sad he left but he felt it was best for the production which I greatly respect. Scip is your handy man which every art department should be, now I like to think I’m handy but I struggled throughout the filming being on a strict budget and finding things hard to fit in with the time period on top of the many locations to dress it was a mental and physical struggle but with the support and handy work of Scip it became easier as he understood this is not what I am experienced in and nor where my passion lies.

Film life is long unsocial hours, intense days and pure hard work but what you get out of it is another mini family of friends, achievements in your job roll and a fantastic production that YOU was a part of. As this is not about Makeup I want babble on but I wanted you to know in brief what ive been up to and that I have been busy haha!

There was a time I was extremely close to walking from the production but I’m not a quitter and a very stubborn with walking away from things and leaving people in the shit so I stayed and I’m happy I did for it was a struggle but I met a fantastic crew who I had the pleasure to work with and hope to one day work with again some becoming great friends and to the crazily talented cast who I wish all the success in the future, was a pleasure to have met you all!

#productiondesign