Quatro!

One quarter of the year down, so how will 2009 pan out for the CWP team? Well, here's a pic, to get you started...

Final Day of Shooting (2)

Well, yesterday was one very long shooting day, pretty much a 9-6 job and to be honest, if the light had lasted, it could have gone on for longer, but being a daytime shoot, it was kind of impossible to stretch the sun. Plus, I did not start earlier, due to everyone coming in by public transport on a Sunday morning. I despise the TfL way of thought on Sundays.

Anyway, it was an emotional day for me as a director. After two and a half years, that was the end of the short films/webisodes for CWP. There are no more ideas in my head in a short type of way. My thoughts are now turned towards a feature film, towards a movie, towards the BIG ONE.

I am thinking big and ambitious, but I believe that so far, while I am taking a huge leap, that may not succeed, it is a good time to leap. It is a calculated jump, but not without its risks. Sometimes you fall and sometimes you make it. What will happen, where CWP will be in a few months let alone a year, I cannot tell you. But join me on this adventure, on the ups and downs, through and around the film making world. And we shal find out!

Final Words on the Final Day of Shooting

This is pretty much where everything ends. As a director, the entire shoot of 'Jay and Kay Save thew World' winds up today, and come hell or high water, whatever is shot today is ready to be chopped tomorrow.

The final day on set can be emotional, it can be a lot of hard work, but mostly, until the final few minutes, everyone knuckles down and gets ready for the hard work that is ahead. The final day is always a slave drive of a day, as no one wants to come back for re-shoots. It is an all or nothing day, and one that I am looking forward too as a director...

A director's dream...

At the moment, it looks set to be a dry and even sunny day tomorrow. I hope so, please!!! Just one more day of filming!

La Producer: Behind the Camera Lens for CWP!!

Jay and Kay Above

Hello! I hope all our lovely readers are well!

Ok I thought I would give our readers a teaser of what is to come in our new Caution, Wet Paint short 'Jay and Kay Save the World'. The last day of filming will be on Sunday, and it will be our first film festival offering for over a year ( since our last one - 'Caution Wet Paint: What Really Happened at The Bus Stop')

It has beeen fun to be a part of the process and I have really enjoyed working with such a fun cast, crew and El Director! Everybody has worked hard on the proect and we look forward to showing you the finished product!

Enjoy the photos...see if you can work out what Jay and Kay are up to this time...







OMG Captain Gold Top! Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo He has come to take us as his slaaavess on the Planet Plov!


La Producerxx

The Joys of Duck/Gaffer Tape!

Ah, the joys of Gaffer Tape! A wonderful substance which holds together even the most rickety film set! Alongside and Computer and a Camera, Gaffer Tape is pretty high up on the list of recommended objects to have to hand while shooting...



Watch the Video by clicking here!

A little evolution...

As the project grows, so does the new CWP Website. Now for those in the know, the old website was a rather garish pink affair, filled with the colours of, well, it was filled out with everything. There were kinks to a multitude of social networks and fun filled bonanzas. And while these accounts still exist, it has been one hell of a long time since anyone (myself included) has taken them seriously.

So the new CWP Website became a lot more streamlined. Just four places where you can catch us. Maybe this is internet suicide, but at the time I felt that anymore and I would be spending more time on the internet than actually making films...

But, the website itself has changed. We have taken on Jay's comic book persona (hey, I liked the template) for the new short film 'Jay and Kay Save the World'. But I have also added some new links here and there. Go on, check out the CWP Site; you'll see a new section, yep, that's right, click on the top of the page and you will see a brand new behind the scenes section. Well, I figure that it is good to invite you all round to see what exactly happens both on and off the set...

Scratch Editing

A useful thing to do when you are midway through production, a scratch edit. Basically, a very quick look at all the footage and an assembly of the film in a very rough way. On other words, no sound sync up, no smooth cuts and no corrections to ay of the footage. But it gives me an idea of what has worked and what has not. It also gives me an idea of what I need to do for the rest of the shoot...

Here's one pic from the rough stuff...



Jay, Kay, and a wrench covered with duck tape...what more could a director ask for?

Mid way through Production...

Today marks the midway point of the production process. One more day of shooting and that is that, there is no more second chances, so it has got to be good next week. And so today is spent looking at 'the rushes', to see what has been shot so far, to get a rough edit done and so to take a look at what has to be done next week. After all, despite the many takes, a film only needs one to make it...

Ari Gill on comedy

Greetings everybody! Ari Gill here... performing a comedy act and being funny in real life are two different terms completely. Because when you’re being funny under your real life persona it’s very spontaneous, it’s very naturally and therefore doesn’t feel nor looks rehearsed, planned or contrived in any way.

However when you’re performing a comedy act, it’s not so easy. In fact I find it very difficult because you have to be funny. You have to entertain. You have to enjoy yourself. And in order to do this...you have to rehearse...you have to plan...you have to build loads of energy...you have to locate a rhythm and expression which is comfortable to you and deliver!! Until next time...be safe and look after yourselves

Kay has Hair...

Kay (the vain one) - watch here...

'Tom' took away my innocence...

Ah, it has been a long time since I have even mentioned Tom, the loveable rogue from myspace. But he thought of me today, by sending me a message telling me about the wonderful thing called the status update.



Now, let us be frank here, no one really uses myspace anymore. For me, it is just a default, a copy and paste job from blogger that keeps the account alive. Note, that myspace is all about copy and paste, not about adding new material. If I want to add a status update, I do it on twitter, like the rest of humanity. Even Gimpbook allows updates via twitter, hell, even my our own website allows us to receive updates from Twitter. Why, in this fast content, lazy user orientated net world, do I have to put in a different update just so the three people who happen to stumble upon this entry on myspace (hello guys!) do not realise that I am procrastinating on my computer.

Oh well, now I have finally updated my profile on myspace I expect to be hit by the rush of new savvy websurfers eager for the latest on CWP. And what better way to treat you all, then with a sneak peak behind the scenes...



(If you click this link on myspace it will take you to an unscrupulous website that will hack into your computer and melt your processor! If you are on any other website, it will link directly into the youtube video embedded in this blog post).

Frame by Frame (1a)

In response to yesterday's fantastic vlog from El M, I will reveal the secrets and more importantly the backache involved with stop motion animation...but for now, it is back to killing Silvertop...

frame x frame

Animation?

-El Maestro

Yesterday, I went to the beach...

A Vlog beside the Seaside!

The Swear Box...

As you saw in The Gofer's post, he is looking forward to seeing me fill up the swearbox. Now, there is a reason I agreed to the swearbox, and it is not as a money spinner for the crew. It is to try and make me a better director. It is very easy to start shouting and swearing at the cast and crew for getting things wrong, but with a swearbox looming in the background (and 50p a pop), I actually have to be aware of what I am doing on set.

The swearbox also slows me down, but in a good way. It actually makes me think before I speak and before I act. It is god to shoot quickly, but sometimes, it is also necessary to shoot carefully...

dean (THE GOFER)

hi every one, just to keep you all in the loop on the film
Yesterday we had a run-through on a couples of scenes but the BIG thing was charlie didn't swear.......... (much) and if you know him it's a big thing, but next week is when the hard work starts, it will cost him a bag load of (£) and i will be laughing myself silly.

Ari, blogs, on, scripts

Ari's great vlog on the imbecilic nature of 'El Director'.

hello.world()

We should all try working from home. Its fun :-(

-El Maestro

Pre-Production

Hello, I'm back...in this blog I am going to tell you all about what a make-up artist has to do whilst in pre-production for a project.

When I have landed a job, and once the director has sent me a copy of the script, I print of the script and read through it, taking notes on any part in which I think they might need any special make-up requirements. The second step I take, is I arrange a meeting with the director and discuss any ideas he might have regarding any hair/make-up/wig requirements; as well as talking about my own ideas, which I have noted down next to the part on the script.

After the meeting; if there are any special products needed, I tend to go to Charles.H.Fox which is on Tavistock street in covent garden and buy the products needed for the shoot (always remember to keep the receipt to give to the director or producer so they will be able to reinburse you of the spenditure)

It is always easier for yourself if the director can send you any pics of the cast, that way you can create a face chart of the design according to the cast member/ character.

The last and final step...production, personally I always prefer to try and get to the location at least 15mins before my own personal call time, since I like to take my time setting up.

Great Conversations...

Personally, I do not travel with any music blaring in my ears. Earphones/Headphones/Mobile Phones are not the done thing for me. I enjoy hearing what goes on around me, listening to the sounds of the city and hearing people speak.

Ad you'd be surprised at the things people spew out from the mouths. Unintentional, snippets of conversation that coat my ear canals. But sometimes, something very amusing comes my way. And that is when I pounce, and write it down. A piece of paper, a book, whatever. It is written down and collected. I have stacks o conversation snippets, lying in wait, for the day when eventually they appear on a script.

---

'Caution Wet Paint' written by London.

Crew Rehearsals

There is a method to my madness. Or so I like to keep convincing my cast and crew. Well, that is my rationale behind what I do for CWP.

One of those moments of madness came in the script I wrote. It called for an upside down Union Jack to be unfurled behind Jay during the short film Jay and Kay save the World.

Now, when I wrote this, I thought this would be a funny thing to put into the background. As the time came nearer for shooting, I actually spent minutes lying awake in bed trying to figure, firstly, how to procure a flag and secondly, how to actually get the thing to unfurl.

Well, thankfully I know someone who owns a few Union Jacks. But the second, well, that was a bit trickier.

Well, I managed to figure it out. And you can see the result here:



(By the by, I quite like the new ident at the end)

La Producer: Behind the Camera Lens

Above: El Director on Set of The Railway Tracks

Hello Bloggers!

La Producer here - I hope all our lovely CWP readers are well and enjoying the latest installment of fun from the CWP set!!

Reflecting on the yesterday's blog in the week of Jay and Kay on set dancing to our upcoming production 'Caution Wet Paint: Jay and Kay Save the World', I thought I would share with you what the set can typically look like whilst filming.

When we began filming, I was always amazed at how the El Director performed several magic tricks to hide the commotion and make it appear as if there was only the main character (being filmed) on set!

So I present to you the set of another of our films

The Railway Tracks



El Director at the helm with Kuldip Nandola



Kuldip Nandola



El Director and Kuldip Nandola at The Mainframe of Caution, Wet Paint and Babarouge


SO with a little stardust from El Director and El Maestro, here is the finished product:


The Railway Tracks



La Producer xx

The beginnings of a great dance...

A tongue in cheek look at what we got upto over the weekend.

(Trying so hard not to give away the story...)

View the milky fun here!

Rehearsals - Day 1

We were shooting the rehearsals for the new short film. An exciting time for me as 'director' but also a scary time...

View rehearsals here!

Ari Gill on CWP (Part 2)

Greetings everybody! It's me again...so anyway, once we wrapped up our first day on Caution Wet Paint, I had to attend an audition call for another low budget feature in Central London shortly after. So, Charles kindly offered to give me a lift to the venue himself which I’d really appreciated as I was beginning to feel exhausted from the night before and therefore was in no condition to drive quickly within the time frame...especially when it was raining hard that Sunday.

Once I’d arrived, I gave it my all in that audition room because I liked the material and knew exactly what my motivations to this character ought to be and this really impressed the director a lot when I was done. But unfortunately after a few days they changed their attitude and decided not to cast me in their production... so there you have it!

Until next time...be safe and look after yourselves!

Ari

so tomorrow...

Just a quickie as tomorrow, that is it. Whatever happens it starts now...shooting begins, end of pre-production, rehearsals. And not a moment too soon...

Less Panic?

Well, not really. I suppose, the worst time when you're filming is the moment before the dawn. Before battle is joined. Yes, it is a cliche, but I cannot rest before a filming day. Note this week, I have had less sleep that at any time, not so much through being buy (and I am) but simply through just getting up. So much adrenaline is flowing through me that I am surviving on six hours a day, even with working night shifts.

And so this Sunday marks the first day that Ari and Kuldip are coming down for a rehearsal. And I hope to be slick that day, although inevitably there will be a lot of faffing, that is why there is a rehearsal.

And while the camera will be out and about, this is really a chance to see how the actors are rather than utilising the footage. However, you just never know how things may turn out...hence why everyone must be in full dress. Sometimes the best shots are completely accidental.

(el d)

Pre Production - Panic

In three days time comes the first day of rehearsals. Damn! I actually have to make sure that I look as if I know what I am doing...

La Producer: An Introduction

Right I thought with my first blog for some time, I would like to get a few things straight about my, ahem role as la producer. I command your attention for a few minutes please to enter my world of endless work for Caution, Wet Paint...

According to my favourite resource on the internet, (The Free Encyclopedia!), the role of a film producer is to 'create' the set conditions for making a movie...



...the producer is also involved with fundamental matters such as funding...


...arranging for distributors...(eeeeek!)



...hiring staff...



...the producer is also involved with every aspect of the film-making process and its completion


...and finally its creative process...



Hey what about the co-producer?!!

I hope you have been enjoying the journey of the 'Caution Wet Paint' webisodes, films and our great cast and crew. If you have not already, why not Step into Our World.

La Producer xx

dean watts (the gofer)

hi there I'm dean (the gofer) .
just want to talk about myself for a second. i am, as the nickname said, the gofer for charlie.
i run around for him, help him with any problems in sort his personal punch bag.
i 've worked with charlie before and have learned a lot...like...not to mess-up...and always wear a good pair of running shoes.

Running around Town

As you may have seen on this blog, I am doing a hell of a lot of pre-production. That means running around, doing crazy things and basically acting like a headless chicken. Meeting up with people a lot of the time involves a great deal of co-ordination and a lot of patience while waiting for the tube.

But I have to admit, I have never felt this sociable in ages...

Oh, and of course, I never forget my vlogging...

Ari Vlog

Ari Gill talks about CWP!