Sorry for the lack of updates. For a lot of the time I’ve been unwell, and then I’ve been having other problems/incidents causing the film to be delayed. I didn’t think it was worth blogging about them as it wouldn’t help the project and would just get me more upset.
Anyway, forget that, the important thing is Shattered Pieces is close to complete! (Pause for applause). For some reason, I won’t get into, I ended up doing all of the visual effects and I’m currently finishing off the last shot. (The applause gets louder). It is the “biggy” and the actual VFX shot most people will notice, but I think I will have it done by tomorrow evening! (The crowd goes wild).
BUT, (gasps followed by sudden silence), it doesn’t mean the film will be complete. As I’m finishing off this last shot, Chris Reading is doing the sound design, and the music is still being put together by Vince Pope. Once all of that is finished, Howard Berry (editor) will put all of that together, and then the two of us (which would probably end up being more like me sitting next to him while he does it) will colour grade the thing and put the last finishing touches to it.
All in all, I expect two more weeks until Shattered Pieces is complete. Then, all that’s left is sending it away to festivals and waiting. Oh, I may also have a sort of wrap-party/screening for cast, crew, family and friends, but my first concern is getting this thing finished! It’s taken long enough.
Oh, and for those wondering why I haven’t posted any VFX work-in-progress images/videos; The simple reason is: I don’t want to spoil anything for you or give you false ideas about what the film. Plus, the VFX in this is quite basic and mainly invisible things like TV and background replacements. The focus is on the story between these characters.
Hopefully the next time I’ll blog it will be telling you Shattered Pieces has been completed. Ah, so close!
I lay in bed for a few hours, trying to sleep. When I finally felt like going to sleep, it was time for me to have a shower and get ready to leave! This time, my brother didn’t want to come, so I had to pack up the car with food and drink for the crew myself. I was running a bit late; I had told Andrew Ormes I would be at his house at 3am (it was now 3.10am).
I started up my car, and began to drive off. As I was driving, there was an unhealthy noise, so I parked the car and got out to check. My tyre was punctured! I ran back home. My mum told me to take her car, but then I had to bring my own car back to my road to park it in a safe place and transfer all the bits and bobs I needed to take. Long.
After that panic, and a few puffs of my asthma inhaler, I was off in my mum’s big car. I really dislike driving it, but I had no choice.
This was our last day of shooting, and it was all (mostly) in a cafe. We were filming at Fly One Cafe on Copthall Avenue (London). We started off with a few night time shots of Ted looking into the cafe.
Claire and the extras arrived for 6am. I couldn’t get any extras because of such an early start and because of closures on the underground, so I had to use Rob (Claire’s boyfriend), Vijay (the owner of the cafe), my mum, my aunty Amina, Andrew Ormes and Andrew Ormerod.
Everything went well and smooth. Our sound recordist, Clare Edmans, was feeling unwell and had to leave early, but we had shot all the dialogue and important sound stuff already. We then went out to shoot a few shots of Drew running around in the streets.
And that’s it. That was a wrap. It feels really odd. I’m feeling upset that next week I won’t be meeting my cast and crew and doing a ridiculous night shoot. They made my first live-action film experience great and enjoyable.
Thank you to all the cast and crew on Shattered Pieces.
Now, it’s months of post-production. 
Here’s some production stills taken by Andrew Ormerod:
