Shoot Day 1

As soon as we arrived at the apartments we had selected, we hit a few snags. The biggest issue? We couldn’t find the red high heels that our lead actress needed, no matter how hard we searched. To solve this dilemma, we opted to paint a pair ourselves. What seemed like an easy fix turned out to be quite time-consuming, taking up a significant part of our schedule. 

Meanwhile, we had our actress start her makeup to prep for the shoot.

Transitioning to the filming phase, our focus shifted to establishing a dimly lit, suspenseful atmosphere that would enhance our horror narrative. The hallway's basic lighting fixtures, mainly standard light switches, provided a unique opportunity for us to get creative. By experimenting with these switches, we fine-tuned the light levels to create the low-key lighting effect we were aiming for. This experience really emphasized the importance of being adaptable and inventive with the resources available to us in order to achieve the cinematic effects we desired.

We came equipped with a gimbal, hoping to use it for some smooth, stabilized footage. But, with time constraints and not being too familiar with how it worked, we decided to take a more direct approach. I took the camera into my own hands, experimenting with various angles to get the shots we needed. In the narrow hallway, I utilized techniques like Low-Angle Shots, High-Angle Shots, and Dynamic Movement. 

Day 1 was a true reflection of the vibrant world of film production, where unexpected challenges and creative trials weave together to create the rich tapestry of the filmmaking journey.