Filming log: My First Spellbook

In a way it was quite reminiscent of last year to be working with Murdo on a production. I was production assistant on his second year film, "Broken Bubbles" and in many ways it was good preparation for "My First Spellbook".

A large portion of my job was prop procurement (in the pre-production anyway) and I have to admit, I enjoy taking a wodge of petty cash and being told to spend it. The biggest challenge was getting furniture, and in this area Meg (production assistant on Taxidermist) definitely outshone me. I'll definitely keep in mind the place where she bought it, sounds like a great resource. I did have to deal with the slight challenge of getting Hallowe'en-esque decorations in the middle of May. I got some funny looks for that, I can tell you. Still, between Alicia in first year, a joke shop and our brilliant art department we managed rather well.

The phase I enjoyed the most was definitely when I transitioned into being the 2nd AD. Partly that was because I could enjoy a slightly more leisurely day (I woke up every day with a phonecall from the crew pick up, needing to field some problem or other) and partly because, you know, I think AD work really suits me.

The only thing I didn't like about being the 2nd was that I was so far from the action. I'd write up these call sheets and movement orders and then hear back about what was happening. It's like organising a party and forgetting to invite yourself. It's hardly as if I was needed, I just really love being on set.

That brings me to my favourite day: the day I stepped in as 1st AD: our 1st, Sean, was ill and it fell to me.

I really, really enjoyed myself. It's like being given a set of interesting and important problem solving problems laced with people management. Brilliant.

I did well, too. Everyone was happy (well, happy enough, as far as I could tell) and we finished ahead of time.

The next two days I was 3rd, along with Julia. Because of the nature of our set up we had very little to do for most of the day though that was amply made up for after 3. I did help out with the tarantula event, escorting Ginger and her owner through the school and generally keeping it on the down low.

After three: the two hours of doom. I have to wonder how primary school teachers manage because children are... insane. I'm used to working with kids, but they tend to be older and to have chosen to be there. These kids were press ganged and at times difficult to marshal. My biggest test was the last set of shots on Friday when it was getting late, they wanted to go home and we needed them to be at their most docile.

Oh dear.

The result was that the crew got to hear my teacher/sergeant major voice. Apparently it was hilarious, but it was also very effective. Through a mixture of praise, authority and the invocation of the head teacher we got them to do what they needed to. Eventually. They marched up the stairs, not too fast, not too slow, and they didn't looking into the camera. Or few enough of them did that it can be cut around.

It was a great film to work on and I feel really invested in it, having been there from so early on. I can't wait to see it, I'm sure it'll be great! And I'm really glad to have established for myself the way I want to get into the industry.

I also have a theory: child working hours have nothing to do with how long children can work. It's how long adults can work with them. I went home far more tired on Friday than I did after any 12 hour Taxidermist day.