WARNING: This short film contains scenes adult themes, course language, nudity & necrophilia

TWO FEET UNDER from Cameron McGrane on Vimeo.

With no formal training in film making I share what I learned along the way by researching, advice and doing.

1. Do something unexpected

There is no better way to get the creative juices flowing by doing something outrageously different to anything you have done before.

My story starts in my home town late 2010, I had startup burnout and was insolvent. I put the word on the street and a friend called offering a crematorium job. I said yes and started the following day.
During my short stay in the death industry, I heard stories, met characters and learned about “things” I would never have discovered on my own accord. At the end of each day, I would tell my stories to friends and they would tell theirs. At night my imagination would run wild with the macabre fotter which was my job.
As I booked in bodies and handed over remains to family I questioned “Modern burial or cremation?” and the answer was neither which made me an advocate for natural burial which motivated the creation of the film

2. Tell the story before script

Anyone can write a script because anyone can tell a story.

A script is just a story written in a who said what form.
Imagine the time you told your last story, real or made up? It was all in your head and not written down but you were able to recite it like it was yesterday. When a story evokes emotion it’s a good candidate for a script.
The day, I wrote my script the story had become so vivid in my head that I wrote the script from beginning to end in under an hour.

When a film evokes emotion you have made a film worth sharing

3. Use a template

There is something about using a template with styles and scene sign posts. A template provides just enough structure and it feels all pro like. A template for my first time made it fun. I used a template for MS Word.


4. Understand Shot Types

Learning shot types will add to your street cred on the set and provide structure for story boarding

Before creating a story board get up to speed on the shot types. Knowing shots allows you design the story board and communicate to the crew the scene.
These are shot I used.

• Wide Shot
• Mid Shot
• Close Up
• Extreme Close Up
• Reaction Shot
5. Create a story board

Story boards are great way to picture how the scenes will be shot. They make it real and further conceptual rigour improving your ability to estimate time and resources.
I spent 30 minutes reading “Drawing for Dummies” to prime me but you can even do it with just stick figures.



Click for full storyboard

6. Carefully choose a location

Time is of the essence when shooting a film and when people are volunteering it’s paramount.

Be weary of more than one location as the logistics of moving crew and equipment around can quickly eat into precious shooting time.

If you can keep the shoot indoors then do it. When indoors you can control the light which makes it easier for the camera person to shoot. Outdoors is at the risk of the environment.

I was lucky enough to have a friend offer his premises to shoot the film.

With planning, thinking on my feet and a little luck I was able to shoot the film in a clever way.

I shot the scenes based on furthest distance from the car which we would pack the equipment into.
Kind of like a proper army clean when you are real dirty. Start at the head and work your way down all the way to the feet.

What this ment was we moved and shot taking the most adaptive path to the car so we could all go home.

Below is a diagram of order of scenes over the two days.



7. Create a scene schedule

“These people are volunteering Cameron. Don’t fuck them around” – Jeremy.

Jeremy’s wise words were enough to keep me focused on staying organised. I didn’t want anyone staying longer on set then neccessary. I wanted them to know before they arrived roughly how many hours were expected and when. With a scene schedule emailed days earlier the crew were reassured what was expected and that I valued time.


Screen Shot of Schedule

8. Find a crew and cast

A crew consists of a camera person, sound\boom person and a gopher to help with lights. Anything less and you are going to run into show stoppers. I also needed two actresses, an actor, a nude model and a makeup artist.

The only thing on my side when starting off was I had the nude woman. A late night conversation in my sauna sealed my jewel and driving force to get others on board.

“Oh you have the nude dead woman? You must be able to get shit done! I’m in.”

In all honesty, without this Facebook message reply by Richard referring me to Warren Coulton the film probably wouldn’t have been made.



I didn’t have any film making tacit knowledge (only google), gear or contacts and after pitching it to Warren with in days had actresses calling me and a crew (lighting, camera and sound).

Crews are happy when you feed them and you know your shit. I fed them and though my lack of directing skills were a flakey my project\time management and planning ment things moved quickly despite my rookie mistakes.

9. Tips and techniques to spike before shooting
• When more than one actor is interested in your film run a casting session
• Learn the 180 Rule
• Learn how to shoot with one Camera like you are shooting with two simultaneously
• Learn about Reaction Shots and take plenty of them
• Learn about Continuity. Ask everyone on the set to keep continuity in mind.
• When using some elses premises take before and after photos of where stuff is to put back correctly after the shoot.
• Don’t change the script after you start filming.

Listen carefully to your actors they have useful feedback.

• Revise and proof your script repeatably. I spent 30 minutes of revision it was not enough. Suprise surprise actors will read word for word what you wrote!!
10. Find a good editor

Great editors can make a crap shoot average and good shoot great. I paid Tom $400 and it was well spent.

Great editors “post production” using final cut are hard to come by. I found Tom via RMIT media faculty. Tom was an alumni free lancer and loved classic film which ment he had a strong appreciation for grind house. Apart from mad Final Cut Pro (software for editing footage) skills he could make his own music using a synthersizer. One of my favorite things about the film is the music created by Tom . Great editors can make a crap shoot average and good shoot great. I paid Tom $400 and it was well spent.

An important lesson when working with high end editors is to trust your creative instinct. I was talked out of my original ending where the audience finds out the funeral director is Belle’s dad instead going with the aids call. I regretted the decision

It was fun and surreal experience and it wouldn’t have happened with out life’s unexpected surprises. Put yourself out there, learn something new and tell the story!

TWO FEET UNDER from Cameron McGrane on Vimeo.

You only get one shot. Do not miss your chance to blow. This opportunity comes once in a life time. – EMINEM

“What would happen if you combined Leisure Dive with Do it in a Dress?

Leisure dive a destination where people share relaxed mid air above water photos and Do it in a Dress a movement that raises money to send girls in Sierra Leon to school.

What if I wore my dress, dived over the Yarra River in Melbourne with a spectacular city backdrop and had an awesome photographer shoot my possibly greatest dive of all time?

It felt like a quest, a once in a life time and I’d only had one shot because:

• the Yarra river is disgusting and I didn’t want to go in more than once
• leisure dives look better dry. I only had one dress and no hair drier support

What happened next……

1. Found an Amazing Photographer



The idea was tantalizing and since I knew a professional photographer, Stu Walmsley was happy to help out for a good cause I knew I had the right person for the job.

2. Picked the Dive Site



We loved the background and Stu could shoot from stable flat ground.

3. Chose a Landing



Even though I had more chance of a needle stick injury. I did the right thing and slid in to check for foreign objects and depth. It was only a metre deep but the bottom was quick sand sludge. Grosse. The peace of mind made for a more confident dive.

4. Visualized the Dive



To Stu’s amusement I spent a good two minutes visualizing my dive while whispering my mantra “Smile Cammy Smile”.

5. Simulated the Dive

   

   Launch is critical

   At Crossfit we box jump alot and my surprisingly explosive take off was a real asset. (Crossfit wanker I know…hehe). Practicing the jump and angle a couple of times provided confidence that I could hit the launch and angle to get the shot. It provided an opportunity for Stu to get his eye in too.

   

   Totally posing but hey my job was to pose. A required step to articulate the muscle memory for the dive.

6. Sucked it up and dived
   Dive 1

   

   This was to be the money shot. I’m dry, my dress is kinda down but I’m not smiling and my launch & pose was poor. Stu was a bit early and the lights washed me out. After this Dive Stu suggested I do it again.

   Dive 2.

   

   I think this was the best one even though I was wet. Great launch, solid shot, casual smile, I felt really comfortable at the split second in time. But I was wet and the dress was way up. Hard to see I’m even wearing a dress

   Dive 3

   

   Some say this is the shot. Perfect execution by Stu, brilliant background, massive launch but I was too manic at that stage and it didn’t feel or look…..leisurely.

And here my quest ends. It wasn’t perfect but was is perfection anyway? It was heaps fun and pretty damn hilarious. I went on a heavy dose of probiotics and am feeling great even though I was wretching shortly after the dive.

What I learned for next time (there won’t be a next time):

• Smile before diving. Dive 2 and 3 I pre-smiled and it stuck.
• The chances of getting the first shot are extremely slim
• Wear a longer dress
• Bring a couple of dresses
• Try for a support person with a hair dryer

Super huge thanks to Stu – Hopefully who will provide a technical brief in the comments below.

Remember if you want to help girls in Sierra Leon get an education so they one day have the resources and free time to do their very own leisure dive then please donate to my Doitinadress page

Ingredients

• Bunch of Kale

Many types and derives from the Wild Cabbage family. Smaller the leaf the sweeter the taste. Known to contain residual pesticide. Non organic look for leaves with holes and bugs

• 1 x Citrus

Citrus juice is the key to changing the perceived flat earthy flavor to a tarty, spiritedly and plausible taste.
The older+mature the vegetables the more citrus required.

• 1 x tray of Ice

Critical to blending your Kale finely and quickly. Get into the habit of filling it immediately after. No ice in the morning equals no smoothie.

Tip #1: Kale, lime and ice (+water) are all you need. Other ingredients are optional.

Tip #2: Living in a group house? Make it clear – not refilling ice is punishable by a rotting wet towel flicking

• 1/4 cup Chia seed

Regarded as a super food and chock full of protein and good fats.
Chia turns generates gel when left to site in water. Shaking your finished smoothie later will blend the gel (omega 3 fat) and act as an emulsifier. I buy in bulk on e-bay.

• 1-2 tables spoons Udo’s 3-6-9

Great for complexion, expensive, fridge life of 8 weeks (can be freezed) and makes one super horny.

Tip: No time to let smoothie sit? UDO’s is excellent for stopping separation making for a smooth chunkless texture

• 3-6 drops 50/50 Ginkgo \ Brahmi mix

Believed by some to enhance learning and memory retention.
What evidence there is suggests taking daily to build up a residual. I took it for 7 months daily and felt it made a different but who knows? Any brain needs met were likely from high daily does of omega 3.

TIP: Save money and convenience and buy in liquid form from a natural medicine shop for approx $25 100ml (last 3-6 months)

Hardware

• Nano-bags

Locate at your local market. I’ve use them and they work brilliantly. All moisture evaporates and the greens come out crisper then when they went in. Nano bags don’t work with bananas and tomatoes but who puts them in the fridge anyway?

• The Blender

Shop for a minimum 600W, Ice crushing blades, big jug (1.5L) and surge button.
I love my Sunbeam Blender Pro. Reliable and easy to replace parts. (blended my lid once….)

• Container

You won’t be drinking the amount of fibre generated in one go so you need storage.
When shopping for a bottle look for big mouth; solid grip; 1L plus; Odour and shatter resistant; made from 100% BPA free plastic; dishwasher and freezer safe.
Yep it’s right here

Process

1. Add Ice

Refill yo

2. Add Kale

Wedge Kale stalks next to ice so they touch blades.

3. Add Water (just under 2/3rd)

Too little and you won’t get traction too much and the smoothie will overflow

4. Prime Kale

Pump the surge button. Blades pull Kale into blades and use the ICE and water as an abrasive. Go to next step when Kale and ice is well and truly jammed into blades.

5. Start Blending

Different to video – I add subsequent ingredients while I blend. It gives me more control over observing texture. Pay close attention to the sound the blender makes as different ingredients are added. In the end it just makes the morning a little more exciting.

6. Add Lemon

Roll lime\lemons to break down juice compartments for easy squirt. Don’t use juicer. One more thing to wash up.

7. Add Chia, Udo’s oil, Ginkgo\Brahmi

Paying attention to texture and sound. What do you hear?

8. Blend for 2 minutes

For best results let rest for 10-15 minutes then blend again for 60 seconds.

Poor into your container. Quickly wash your jug (nothing sticky here). Head out the door.

RAAAARRRRR

And with that philosophical moment behind us it’s time to have a sausage on me.

Once upon a time two sausages sizzled in fatty bliss until…..