Prep Show Hollywood Camera Work

Accent Coach Sarah Valentine works with US actor Zach Meiser to learn a Scottish accent for a scene. How hard can it be?
 
We’re doing more of these accent coaching episodes. If you’re an actor and want to learn a particular accent, get in touch and we’ll do it on the show! https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com
 
SHOW LINKS
 
Sarah Valentine: https://actorsaccentcoach.com/
Sarah Valentine IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1208516/
Zach Meiser (Helen Wells Agency): http://www.helenwellsagency.com/
Zach Meiser IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10010297/
Zach Meiser Actors Access: https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/Zacharythomasmeiser
Zach Meiser Backstage: https://www.backstage.com/tal/zachary-meiser/
 
OTHER WAYS TO WATCH/LISTEN:
 
Show Website: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prep-show/id1516200606
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/421oliun8XF0NKJulo7UEa
 
CONNECT:
 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HollywoodCameraWork
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/HollywoodCamera
Web: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com

On this episode of Prep Show, we help Director Ari Golan with the camera blocking on a Hallmark-type Christmas movie he’s in the middle of directing. Guests Ari Golan and Nigel Levy (Netflix, BBC, National Geographic).
 
Do you need help with camera blocking and want to be on the show? Get in touch! https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com
 
SHOW LINKS
 
Ari Golan / Atomic Imaging Studios: https://www.atomicimaging.com
Nigel Levy IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1383080/
The Doc Fix: http://www.thedocfix.com/
Leviathan Films: http://www.leviathan-films.co.uk/
 
OTHER WAYS TO WATCH/LISTEN:
 
Show Website: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prep-show/id1516200606
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/421oliun8XF0NKJulo7UEa
 
CONNECT:
 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HollywoodCameraWork
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/HollywoodCamera
Web: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com

On this episode of Prep Show, William Shatner and a director get into a kerfuffle. Is Shatner being a primadonna? Is the director clueless? So much to unpack! Guests Nigel Levy and Webb Pickersgill.
 
SHOW LINKS
Nigel Levy IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1383080/
Webb Pickersgill IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2167546/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
The Doc Fix: http://www.thedocfix.com/
Leviathan Films: http://www.leviathan-films.co.uk/
Deck Nine Games: http://deckninegames.com/
 
OTHER WAYS TO WATCH/LISTEN:
Show Website: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prep-show/id1516200606
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/421oliun8XF0NKJulo7UEa
 
CONNECT:
Facebook: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HollywoodCameraWork
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/HollywoodCamera
Web: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com

We try to fix the acting/directing in an interrogation scene from a film competition. It shows all the signs of being shot too quickly. The characters are unclear, and there’s some weird logic in the scene where the characters are having private conversations for all to hear. Joining us are actor Robert Riechel and director Rika Yasul Hammen.
Full Episode: https://youtu.be/M3qBFc5b6dY
 
SHOW LINKS
"Just Cops" Short Film: https://youtu.be/wkwJXaFZ-_0?t=156
"Just Cops" transcript of scene: https://www.dropbox.com/s/toj9jzvnq5obk41/Just%20Cops.pdf?dl=0
Robert Riechel IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5830123/
Rika Yasui Hammen IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4064380/
 
OTHER WAYS TO WATCH/LISTEN:
Show Website: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com
YouTube: https://youtu.be/M3qBFc5b6dY
Indie Film Hustle TV: https://www.indiefilmhustle.tv
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prep-show/id1516200606
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/421oliun8XF0NKJulo7UEa
Download MP3 Audio: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/2h4hsz/Prep_Show_Fixing_Interrogation_Scene_Acting_-_Robert_Riechel_-_Rika_Hammen_19kca2.mp3
 
CONNECT:
Facebook: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HollywoodCameraWork
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/HollywoodCamera
Web: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com
 
EPISODE OUTLINE:
0:00 - Intro
1:12 - Welcome Robert and Rika
2:07 - Watching the scene
3:16 - Robert's first thoughts
7:34 - Rika's first thoughts
9:12 - The suspect's choice
10:29 - Weird blocking
14:31 - Framing the cops
16:15 - Direction for the older cop
17:53 - Shooting quickly
18:17 - Summarizing so far
18:59 - Too open and available
20:18 - Relationship between the cops
24:23 - Conversation with suspect
28:24 - Letting it breathe
30:57 - Power on screen
34:17 - Criticizing without shame
37:57 - When it's not working
44:25 - Self-control as a director
48:13 - Production affecting the acting
54:27 - Doing the exercise
55:28 - Experimental attitude
57:30 - Pressure on a TV show
59:09 - Different location?
1:00:43 - This is difficult
1:01:18 - Bombing as a actor?
1:02:18 - Not trusting the director
1:04:28 - Wrapping up

NCIS Executive Producer/Director Mark Horowitz help us with the camera blocking on a dramatic scene by Nikhil Kamkolkar. Mark shows how to properly understand the characters before designing the camera work, resulting in deeper and more meaningful camera angles. Nikhil Kamkolkar is a New York-based Director behind films such as Leaving Priyanka and Indian Cowboy. Mark previously produced Doogie Howser, M.D. and JAG.
 
Full Episode: https://youtu.be/j96FsbvepmQ
 
EPISODE LINKS
 
Download Script PDF: https://www.dropbox.com/s/mswgpyj9kjz9hab/Holden-SceneBlocking-Extract.pdf?dl=0
Download Initial Storyboards: https://www.dropbox.com/s/4gjww6e5u62o6tw/HOLDEN%20-%20Blocking%20and%20Framing%20Ideas.pdf?dl=0
Mark Horowitz IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0395317/
Nikhil Kamkolkar IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004667/
 
OTHER WAYS TO WATCH/LISTEN:
 
Show Website: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com
YouTube: https://youtu.be/j96FsbvepmQ
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prep-show/id1516200606
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/421oliun8XF0NKJulo7UEa
Download MP3 Audio: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/ywe4u4/prep_show_camera_blocking_with_ncis_director_mark_horowitz_nikhil_kamkolkar9l08c.mp3
 
CONNECT:
 
Facebook: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HollywoodCameraWork
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/HollywoodCamera
Web: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com
 
EPISODE OUTLINE:
 
0:00 - Intro
2:11 - Hello Mark and Nikhil
3:06 - Mark's approach
4:46 - Explaining the scene
5:37 - Reveal the big reveal?
7:37 - Mark's process
11:29 - What character can be physically expressed?
13:17 - Character movement
17:40 - Jane's journey
20:01 - Framing the characters
22:24 - Jane's motivation/emotion
25:48 - Holden's motivation/emotion
27:33 - Something major happens
29:21 - High or low ambition?
35:44 - Quick geography
40:55 - Scene opening
51:05 - How do they face each other?
53:42 - Line crosses
56:00 - First cameras
1:00:12 - When do they face each other?
1:03:34 - Returning to the kitchen?
1:07:33 - New angles on the characters
1:11:42 - The confrontation
1:19:53 - Change the side of the line
1:23:39 - Cross-cutting monologue?
1:27:27 - Ending reveal
1:29:58 - Putting in all cameras
1:50:20 - NCIS question
1:54:22 - Wrapping up
1:58:38 - Final thoughts

Amazing directing exercise where we figure out what to say to the actors in a scene that isn’t quite working. The scariest feeling for a film director is dead air in a scene. Everyone can feel it isn’t working, and you don’t know what the problem is or even what to say to the actors. We’re joined by director Brendan Hughes and actor Brandon Galatz as we work through a scene that has promise, but that currently isn’t working. The scene is from a short “Just Cops” from a 168 hour film project.
Full YouTube Episode: https://youtu.be/Z3RugS1IVpU
EPISODE LINKS
Original scene from Just Cops (starts at 1:42): https://youtu.be/wkwJXaFZ-_0?t=102Scene Transcript: https://www.dropbox.com/s/toj9jzvnq5obk41/Just%20Cops.pdf?dl=0Brendan Hughes Dad Jeans Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dad-jeans/id896300180Brandon Galatz IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3761258/Brandon Galatz Website: http://s.bl-1.com/h/cVlc3fjN?url=https://brandonkgalatz.wixsite.com/bgalatzOTHER WAYS TO WATCH/LISTEN:
Show Website: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.comYouTube: https://youtu.be/Z3RugS1IVpUIndie Film Hustle TV: https://www.indiefilmhustle.tvApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prep-show/id1516200606Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/421oliun8XF0NKJulo7UEaDownload MP3 Audio: https://prepshow.podbean.com/mf/play/oi5712/Prep_Show_Fixing_The_Acting_In_Cop_Drama_-_Brendan_Hughes_-_Brandon_Galatz_9l6yr.mp3
CONNECT:
Facebook: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HollywoodCameraWorkTwitter: https://www.twitter.com/HollywoodCameraWeb: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com
EPISODE OUTLINE:
0:00 - Intro2:09 - Hello Brandon / Brendan4:23 - Explaining the exercise6:30 - Watching the scene7:25 - First thoughts11:35 - Where are the beats?14:33 - Stressed production18:52 - Subtle acting21:03 - How to dial back acting21:48 - Holding back23:16 - Stronger back stories25:00 - Why now?29:04 - Better beats33:47 - Captain's motivation34:58 - Too many words, too fast38:36 - Handling interruptions40:01 - Better listening42:51 - Word images46:58 - Legitimate obstacles51:09 - Slowing the scene down55:53 - Captain's logic1:00:36 - Marking beats1:03:27 - Getting the scene to breathe1:16:34 - Balancing camera work and acting1:22:59 - Creating silence1:28:28 - Wrapping up