Short Film - Wheeler

Original Concept

For this project, we originally planned to shoot "2020", Aidan's feature film concept. However, when the weather didn't look like it would cooperate, we resorted to making "Wheeler", a concept we created around a year ago but never got to making it. It took inspiration from "Misery" and "Front Window." The concept: with two broken legs, Mr. Wheeler can't do much. Bored, he gets out of bed for a midnight snack only to find his house being robbed (he thinks).

Process

Pre-Production: Thomas created the storyboards, while Aidan and I finalized the script. We gathered our three actors: Mr. Rink (Thomas's stepdad), Thomas, and Abby from Get Real last year. We had three filming dates planned (all indoors).

Production: The first filming day, we settled on shooting act 1 in the bedroom when all the exposition is provided. For the second, we got most of act 2 but Abby didn't show due to a miscommunication. So, working our way around it, we filmed with her on day three, which worked out a lot better. Day three went well and was fairly fast (three hours or so). I think the crew worked well together.

Post: This was the most arduous part of the process. I stayed after school and during Power 50 several times to perfect this ten minute short. So much so that I had the entire film memorized (I had seen it too much). It was becoming my life... ha ha.

Role

I co-wrote this film with Aidan as well as did first AC on set and edited the entire thing. Editing, as aforementioned, was the most stressful aspect of Wheeler. Being first AC I enjoyed. I feel like we got mostly clean shots as compared to other peer projects. I also, as always, enjoy the writing part. Creating the idea.

Five Guarantees

Technical Skills: I learned more about Premiere Pro, as always. I also learned from Aidan (camera-wise). The biggest thing with Premiere Pro was messing with the audio and the new LUTs which I have never used before.

Communication: This group always communicates well, except for the fact that Abby didn't show that one time. But, we got it fixed the next day so all is well.

Leadership: I had to take command of the editing ship. This ten minute film was daunting, to say the least. I didn't realize that until I got into the thick of it. I also had to stay calm on set and lead everyone else to Wheeler victory.

Collaboration: We all worked together well. From Juan with the lights, to Thomas with the directing. Aidan and I on camera, Jose on sound. We worked as a collective unit and made a good product.

Project Management: We turned the video on time... so that was good. Of course, we had to jump through a few hurdles to get there. As aforementioned.

Different/Same

Different: I would have lit the act 3 a little different, as well as fix the score on the intense act 2 scene. Some of the sound effects and audio would need to be changed as well.

Same: Most of it. I'm proud of this project and the way it turned out. I'm also glad we got to it after waiting an entire year to do so.

Experiences/Conclusions

Through this project, I got to work with Mr. Rink again, which is always a joy. This was also my second time working with Abby. They're both kind of the De Niro to Scorsese actors for our films. We have a lot of recurring actors, but we try to mix it up every project. I'm glad that we were to create a fun thriller after not having done so before. Finally, I'm glad that I got to work with the same group of creative individuals.