Filming Process

Today I was able to wrap up my filming process after two days of shooting. I have been to a number of different locations including my models houses, studios and even a tattoo parlour.

Filming in total took just two days, I didn't need to re shoot anything. On each day I filmed 3 of my models, on the Tuesday 23rd I filmed Alexis, Sayanora and Poppy and the next day I filmed Anni, Georgia and Emily. Condensing this into two days was actually quite a stretch when considering travel time to each person, setting up camera, going through lines and my plans with each person. However, due to efficient time planning and the call sheet I was able to stick to schedule and get this all completed to the standard desired.

I started each filming process by introducing my aims and project overall, although I had already sent them this over email/messenger I thought it was important to brief them again so they'd know the type of thing I was looking for. I then went through the 'script' with them, for some they didn't really need these guidelines and they were able to talk about themselves and femininity fluidly but for others, understandably, found it a bit hard to come up with something on the spot which I as the director had already considered. I went through some different ideas for lines and asked them each a few questions on femininity in order to get a raw response for the film.

I filmed the content first before audio, doing a similar thing with each of the 6 girls. Eye contact shots, talking shots, more personal shots of their room/setup/location. Each person I was filming in different ways and adding newer shots:

• Alexis - birds eye view of her work, my favourite shot was this one. I liked it because it shows her in her element as an illustrator, touching and connecting with her jewellery pieces. I rested the camera on the table (I didn't have a tripod) so the shot was steady and I appreciate the change in focus of her hand.

• Sayanora - I also got some good birds eye views of Sayanora doing her work, this was important as I wanted to show her being a hardworking University student. However, my favourite candid shot was one of her laughing because it shows personality and freedom.

• Poppy - I took the most shots of Poppy out of all my filming, shooting her space in halls and also her getting a tattoo. Her narrative was her talking about expressing herself through her body art and it worked out well that she had actually booked in for a tattoo on the Wednesday that I was shooting. They were definitely my favourite pieces of footage as it perfectly tied together everything she had been speaking about in terms of femininity.

• Anni - For Anni I didn't get as many shots as I would've liked however I still got enough for the film. I would've liked to film more in her personal space like her bedroom but I don't think she was 100% comfortable with that. Regardless, my favourite shot of her was one of her simply sitting on the stairs in her garden making eye contact with the camera, with the camera slowly focusing on her.

• Georgia - Filming Georgia in her space was enjoyable, I liked capturing her space at her house and how she moves around it and uses it. I got a number of shots of her skateboarding and smoking. My favourite shot I took of her was one of her smoking out of her window, I got one internally and jokingly said I wish I could take one but from the other side of the window. This is when she pointed out that there was a large flat space of roof outside her window I could stand on, which I did and got my favourite shot.

• Emily - I filmed Emily in her studio which was once her shop for Studio Zipcode. She was working on a garment and had other pieces laying around with fabrics, branding and equipment. I took a handful of shots of her working and this was my favourite one, as it shows her working on an item however the camera stays focused on the garment.

Overall, I really enjoyed this filming process. It was an intense couple of days but it was so nice to meet new people, see familar faces and old friends, filming them and talking to them about my ideas and projects. I was so happy with the selection of girls I chose and I feel like they perfectly together give insight to the broadness of femininity and how embracing it can be succeeded through different ways - whether that's through your business, self expression, being creative, hardworking or your heritage.