We did it, we shot Kilig!

I have had the absolute time of my life bringing Kilig to life. It's been both fun and stressful but most definitely worth it. Over the past few months, Jess and I have been doing constant work towards our final film at university and I can say it is really starting to pay off.

When Jess told me about the idea, I jumped straight on it. I didn't think for a split second about going back, but I knew we had a lot of work ahead of us. Amidst a pandemic, we brought limited cast and crew on board. Constant zoom meetings and late-night pre-production calls. Finally being on set, we got to both watch our months of work come to light.

Photo by @AiNarapolFilm / Shooting Scene 2

Onset, we went through challenges. From shooting late nights through tough winds to limited crew and COVID guidelines. One highlight for me personally would be when our lead actress Maria made everybody the most lovely hot chocolate ever. Maria was quite literally a mother on set and I loved it.

From this experience, I can say that I have had a boost of confidence. Growing up, I have had issues about people taking me seriously (probably because I look like a child lol), and for me to step up and direct, having people take my judgment seriously made me feel extremely welcomed on set.

Photo by @AiNarapol

I’d like to take the time to thank the amazing crew we had on set. Jess has pulled me through thick and thin with this project. I cannot stress how much pre-production she has gone through, not only that, she jumped in and sound opped the project! Jordan really helped transform this film, giving me the chance to focus on directing and camera a lot more while he sets up the lights. Ai, I mean what can I say about her? Partner in crime at Yellow Pocket, much love for her doing all the BTS, styling, and acting as Hazel. Last but not least, Shaun, an absolute legend in doing quite literally anything you tell him, (he was 1st AC by the way)!

I'm happy to announce we are beginning our post-production phase. I'm excited to share the final project with you all. I cannot thank everyone who has helped enough with this project. Whether you lent us props, donated, shared, volunteered, whatever. I love you ❤️. #film #project #university #sheffield #sheffieldfilmcrew #sheffieldhallamuniversity #kilig #kilig2021

Using CineTracer to Previsualize Film Projects.

Every time I work on a new project, something with specific shots and scenarios. I realize I need a way to explain my vision to clients, actors and crew members. Shot lists are the usual way, you’d grab a piece of paper, sketch out each shot and write down notes to remember below them. Don’t get me wrong, typical shot lists are great. However, drawing requires a lot of time and talent. I’m not a good drawer at all and there are some things CineTracer can do that drawing just can’t replicate (unless you’re really good at drawing and are willing to spend a lot of time!)

CineTracer is a pre-visualization program for filmmakers. it’s great for director of photography’s trying to get their vision across. It’s essentially a game you download from Steam and then you can build a set in a 3D sandbox space using props, actors, lights and the list goes on!

Representing lighting in CineTracer is one of the main benefits. You can create accurate scenarios, even with haze to create realistic light beams. There are even props such as c-stands to see where your lights can be set up in a set, this I really can appreciate.

One thing that stands out about CineTracer, is the camera function. You can literally choose what sensor size your camera is and lens focal length. This is really important to showcase, visually, whether the lens is wide or tight, something that isn’t as clear with sketching.

Not only this, you can set the aperture within the camera to create an accurate representation of depth. I will say that CineTracer is in active development. There are some issues and annoyances, one being that auto-save is not a thing. But it’s truly impressive for what it is.

Check out CineTracer on the official website here!

Thanks a lot for taking the time to read this blog post, it means a lot.

Lots of love,

Darshan.

We Reached Our Goal!

Hi everyone!

We did it - Kilig has been successfully funded! Thanks to all our 39 generous backers, we finished fundraising today with £827 to make this project. None of this would've been possible without your help and we are so grateful for the support we've received. You can click here if you’d like to see our Kickstarter campaign page.

If you would like to continue your support towards the project, you can follow our social media pages: Facebook, Instagram or Twitter!

If you’d like to chat about the project at all, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

Thanks again for reading this short little post today, but I cannot stress how much I love all of you who have supported us along this journey. Seeing that many people have faith in us has boosted our confidence a ton!

Love you all,

Darshan.