Red Flag is an original short made in my intermediate single-camera class. The story plays with the awkward and uncomfortable moments during blind dates, playing with the concept of red flags that are too big to ignore.
This project was the first big production I have made, allowing me to learn all about pre-production planning, post-production work as well as use our time efficiently to shoot the necessary shots for the short. This project allowed me to think on my feet, stay organized, adjust the set around the necessary space and stay calm in times of chaos. It was a great learning experience and opened my eyes to the realities of camera production.
Below you can find the final director's cut of 'Red Flag' as well as the production document with all the necessary pre-production planning that went into this production.
RED FLAG
Group 3 - RTA 314 Single Camera - Professor Zachary Cox
Directed, Written and Edited by Meg Hargrave
Starring: Mary Rodgers, Kiyana Lashgari
Camera: Madeleine Nigro
Sound: Jed Perada
Lighting: Mary Rodgers
AD: Kiyanna Lashgari
Planning Process
Blocked Script
Treatment
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Storyboards
Shot List
Location and Lighting Plans
*only a few showcased
Challenges
Some challenges that came up during this project were;
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Deciding on a story. The first big challenge I had was using my prompt of a 3 minute, two-person scene to create a story I wanted to tell. It took many drafts, and ideas but through brainstorming, I was able to come up with the idea of a blind date.
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Setting the short in such an odd filming location. We had been assigned the basement of our school building to shoot in, which became a challenge to design a set around. I had to visualize the layout with the help of my location plans to truly adjust and plan out where each set would be.
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Capturing flatering lighting. Lighting also became a struggle as we filmed in between lockers, with highly reflective surfaces. With assistance from my peers and professor we came up with the idea to light from above and behind the lockers rather than in front of them. The lighting was then able to flatter the subjects better and avoid the reflection off of the lockers.