Archive for the 'Projects' Category

“Breadwinner”: two weeks and counting…

“Breadwinner” has reached its final stages of pre-production and we are about to begin readying the locations for filming. I haven’t updated in a while as I’ve been ill and I have not really been able to update anything as decisions have still be up in the air. “Breadwinner” has since been re-drafted to include much more story enhancements and emotional content between the father and his sons, additions that will serve it well in my opinion. I have not been able to secure our final actor as yet though, due to him being elusive and slightly obscure, but this week I aim to complete this challenge.

My house has been selected as the main location for the film, with scenes taking place in my spare room, living room, kitchen and bathroom. Rachel Hall has been brought onboard to do the production design, which we are finalising this week. I am hopeful that we will start to prep the locations this week. The positives of shooting in my house is that we can basically have free-reign over the location, as I will allow us to alter the decor as much as we can to suit the film and I will be able to manage the location on a full-time basis.

Hopefully there should be some more updates this week, but as it stands next week we have two weeks until we begin shooting, and I am confident we will do well with the time we have given to shoot.

“General Observations on Quadrupeds”: Script, done!

I write to announce in completion, in part, of the script of “General Observations On Quadrupeds”. After over 6 months of intense character development and improvisations, we have created, written and developed the script. This stage of the process was not without it’s problems though. We began the ‘writing’ process by improvising the meeting of our two primary characters and the subsequent visits to the butcher’s shop. This played out very well and drama came naturally. The process lead us to a fairly unexpected, yet controlled outcome.

The script started at 17 pages, with scenes still not improvised, then it swelled to over 25 pages; far too long for a 10-minute short so we, brutally, cut it down to the 13-pages it is now. With the process being fairly organic, the director took us down the route of editing the script down with our actors, a decision I whole-heartedly disagreed with. I felt that them changing the dialogue outside of the context of an improvisation was wrong. It was as if all of the work we had done was a waste of time. I transcribed the dialogue from recordings of the improvisations and it lead to a more natural and more rounded script. To change the text was wrong in my opinion.

Since the script was finalised a week ago, a storyboard has been drawn up which both myself and Stephen Roe, the cinematographer, is happy with. I was really proud of Rosie for doing such a good job of drawing up the first load of story boards. It was exciting to see her vision for the first time, although myself and Ste did make some changes to suit ourselves, and the amount of thought she had taken over each shot was very, very good. I shall post some of them up once they are scanned in and digitised.

We progress to further development of the scenes with our actors, as I finalise the plans for the Hitchin shoot next month. We are in exciting times, exciting times indeed!

“General Observations on Quadrupeds”: Location Test #1 Footage

This is the footage that we shot at the location in Hitchin. Please comment and let me know what you think of some of the shots.

“General Observations on Quadrupeds”: Location Test #1

Locations tests took place this weekend. They shall be uploaded tomorrow.


“General Observations on Quadrupeds”: Location, done!

Finally the news that we’ve been waiting for; confirmation that “General Observations on Quadrupeds” will be filmed in Hitchin. The butchers shop is confirmed.

Logistically, we may come across some problems, but nothing that I can’t organise properly.  I think this move will be a positive one, and will secure the aesthetic quality that we have strived for since the conception of this film. Meeting with everybody involved tomorrow to finalise details, and then we will be ready to rock and roll. Production will start end of March/beginning of April.

“Breadwinner”: Recce Day 2

Today was more successful than yesterday. The weather was better and I could evaluate the mood of the locations a lot more. I also made contact with a butcher’s shop down here, so its looking like ‘General Observations on Quadrupeds’ may be a southern filmed movie. But anyway, awaiting decisions from Kai on a few things; it’s got to be right though, and he’s got to be super comfortable with it. My job as producer is to create the environment for Kai’s work to flourish, and I think this is the essential element of this film shoot.

Have a little gander at some of the photos. I love the look of the place, and I hope everyone who sees the finished product, will enjoy it (if we shoot here that is).

“Breadwinner”: Locations Recce

At present I am sat in Kai’s family home watching ‘Wallander’ and reflecting on what has been a tiring and uninspiring day. The weather has been awful; really soggy and bleak. Hopefully the weather will improve and allow us to become inspired in Kai’s hometown of Letchworth, Hertfordshire. Locations need to be sourced, and photos need to be taken.

Thats about it!

Update: Upcoming Projects

I just wanted to update my site with my upcoming projects. Firstly with University I am involved in producing two films. The first film I am producing is a short film created entirely through improvisation and character work. I am working very closely with Rosie Johnson, who is directing this film. This film is called “General Observations on Quadrupeds” and is about a mother who leaves her son in a butchers shop by accident. We are looking to begin shooting in February 2010.

The second film I am producing has been written by Kai Leech, who is also directing the project. This film is being made by the same people who made “I Wear His Shirt”. This film is called “Breadwinner” and is a film about a stay-at-home dad facing up to pressure to go to work. Sexual discrimination in reverse, Chris is pressured to by his own father to become the breadwinner, despite the fact that he cannot earn as much as his wife. We are looking to begin shooting in March 2010.

I am also involved in a HIV awareness film that is in partnership with Body Positive. We will be filming in Manchester on World Aids Day.

Tomorrow I have a meeting with a photographer called Gavin Parry to produce an artist film with him about Manchester Central Library. This film is a dual screen piece about the moving of the archives in the library. Exploring the history, locale and environment that thousands of books have been stored for 100 years, this film is a commemorative project in collaboration with Manchester Metropolitan University. This project is not confirmed yet, but it sounds like an exciting piece of work to be involved in.

So, that is what I am going to be involved in over the next 6 months. No doubt more projects will pop up and as soon as they do I shall post an update.

Ian Ogden Media: Coming soon…

Ian Ogden Media Ident

Ian Ogden Media Ident

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Keep your eyes peeled for more information.

Coming soon!!

hancock (coming soon)

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