Director's Weekly Post Production Blog WEEK 57 Friday December 05th...

We started grading at 9.30am Monday morning. The FX shots that had been missing before were there on the server ready to slot in. Things went wonderfully. We were back in the flow. JC came up with something very good in the Jode train set scene. Even Rubens, the runner provided a perfect biscuit selection in the afternoon!

By the end of the day we had completed reel 5 bar one shot that was partially missing and had made inroads to reel 6. Caroline even turned up to watch some of the grading. Looking ahead to the tripping scene it was quite clear that there were still some shots missing from the conform. At the end of the day I went to see a screening of “Slumdog Millionaire” (Danny’s best film I think since “Trainspotting”) and then popped back afterwards to see Matt Watson, the night shift scanner who was going to do all the shots needed to finish reel 6. I reminded him of the “for want of a nail the horseshoe was lost, for want of a horse the battle was lost” etc story and told him he was that nail and that all depended on him completing the grade. He said he would not let us down. Rebecca was confident it could all be done that night also. Further Caroline agreed to be by the phone all night in case he needed to speak to her about the EDL. All hands on deck time!

On Monday I finally got through to Creditor X at Company X and explained to him in detail about the situation. He seemed a little more understanding on the phone. The worry at the end of the day was learning that from Wednesday Midnight Transfer that they have another job booked into the grading suite. I slept uneasily that night knowing that everything that needed to be done had to be done so that we could complete on time.

The next morning we continued to motor. We discovered that the shot that was partially missing from reel 5 had been dropped in over night but that we couldn’t see all the scenes initially and despatched Sarah, the day scanner to re-do a shot that had some bobble on it. The scenes at the lake looked beautiful. “It looks like honey” said Roger mirroring the dream that Jonnie had had the night before we shot the final scene there.

Despite JC having to have a longer lunch to see a film that he will grade next, we pressed on relentlessly, finally getting into the tripping scene at about 2pm. Then the system crashed. I was reduced to kneeling on the floor and praying that the technical problem could be sorted quick enough for us to get back to the grading.

After it was sorted, JC started doing conforming that hadn’t been completed the night before. He was cross that he had to do this. Later, though, thanks to Rebecca, we found the shots that were waiting to be inputted. JC was upset again that no-one had told him that they should to be dropped in by him. The fault, I guess, is in the timings of the different shifts and that there is no overlap to facilitate better communication of what has been done and what needs to be done!

I had to rush out to a NPA Executive committee meeting at the end of the day and left the two of them to complete the grading of the more abstract flash frames and some frame correction on the tracking shots in the final office scene. Near the end of my meeting, Roger texted me to say that everything that had been conformed had been graded. Out of the 105 minutes of the film we had graded 104 minutes and 40 seconds. There is just 20 seconds left but those seconds still need to be conformed.

On Wednesday I went to see Richard Fish again to explain how little more we have to do. I couldn’t get hold of him and instead saw Rebecca. She told me there was certainly a will now to complete the grade before I go away and that it would happen.

On Thursday again I popped in to Midnight Transfer. Rebecca told me they would complete the conforming on Saturday and Sunday and that I could finish the grade either Monday night or Tuesday morning.

Today I got an e-mail from Rebecca confirming grading for first thing Tuesday morning. It will be cutting it fine but I hope it will be enough time. Roger, thankfully is also free then. Also today Yoram called saying he would try and help with the Company X situation if needed. That was good news.

Tomorrow I will start packing for the trip as I am certain next week before I go will be so so hectic that I will not have the time.

It is now nearly 2am. In two hours time I will have to take a taxi to the airport. It’s been a hectic few days.

The weekend was spent drafting contracts, packing for the trip, finishing the books I am reading and watching every Batfa screener that I have so far been sent – even Kung Fu Panda!

Monday started with some money being promised for investment in early February. That money should be more than useful. Afterwards there was a lot of exchanges between me and Jonnie re; the end titles. We both want pertinent and personal things at the end of the titles. In the end we went for a solution all inclusive. Anyway we will have to lock the end ones soon after I return. There are now only a couple of things outstanding.

At midday I scooted up to Stevenage to see my Father for lunch. He seems a lot better in his mind but physically he is still quite slow. The only shame about going away for Christmas is not seeing more of your family. I felt a tinge of guilt for not being there for him during the festive season.

On Monday afternoon I met with Mark Foglio at Molinare. They will start the de-spotting first thing in the new year provided they get the film over to them from Midnight before the Christmas break. It might even be nearing completion by the time I return to the UK.

Later Rebecca told me that Matt Watson had been in on Sunday to conform the remaining 20 seconds but that he had not finished it yet. “He would do so tonight.” I called Caroline. She told me that she had spoke to Matt on Sunday and had re-delivered the same day, as asked, the most simplistic EDL possible of those 20 seconds un-conformed. As Matt had not called her back she assumed it was alright. I informed her that it was still not completed and asked her to call Matt again when he arrived at 8pm Monday night. I couldn’t believe that we would fail again for want of the conform being done – it was just 20 seconds worth of material.

That night I sent out an e-mail with all the things that need to happen while I am away. Neil Harris will be in charge of the post production. Jonnie will be in charge of the financial situation. I will check in with both by text message if I find coverage. As I sent it I found another e-mail from Creditor X.

The other bits of the day were spent chasing credits and signing music contracts. All are done now.

Tuesday started early at Midnight. I discovered that Matt Watson had done everything needed bar the infamous missing moon shot. That was a relief. Like a star he stayed later and scanned the final missing shot. He was a really helpful. I told him he should be up for star employee of the month which he liked!

We completed the grading as quickly as we could (trip and moon shot) and then checked the SFX shots were all in the film now. They were. Now all that needs to happen is for Roger to review and check it all. This will hopefully happen either this week or next. Rebecca has been incredibly helpful over the last few weeks so I am very hopeful. She works very hard at Midnight always there early and late. A real asset,

At the end of the session Greg came in to get us out of the suite before the next customer came in. I am sure they will all sigh a collective sigh of relief when the job is finally done.

I do not know if I will be able to write my blog while away. It all depends on access to internet cafes etc. Also if I get any mobile coverage to receive text messages so I can know what is happening with the film. Anyway, I have read the introduction to “Pamela” and am reading for the experience!

Now off to bed!