Many local film fans, filmmakers and City Eye students will have known and worked with our colleague Rachel Stephens over the last 9 years. Rachel recently left her role with City Eye Projects and Productions to embark on the next chapter of her filmmaking career. Rachel is working with Southampton based filmmaker and former Chair of City Eye's Board of Trustees, Phil Peel, on his feature Gone to Ground. We are delighted that Rachel has agreed to send back news from location to keep us all up-to-date with her new experiences.
 Rachel Stephens and script supervisor Charlotte Straw checking in with director Phil Peel as camera assistant Daniel Sarpong sets up the camera | In Rachel's words... "Much like writing and editing, finding a rhythm for film production is important and the first week of shooting feature film ‘Gone to Ground’ was all about getting into sync. This being my first role on a feature length production I personally have had to pace myself and adjust to the tempo of on-set life. With over two weeks still left to shoot, it is important to stay focused and energised. |
"The whole cast & crew have also spent this first week establishing a rhythm with working together, a routine for set dressing each scene and checking props & wardrobe and a pattern for setting up lights & positioning the camera. Once we had this down, we were then able to find a rhythm to shooting, setting up & filming scenes more effectively as the week went on.
It is a challenge to get that many people in-sync especially with all the different variables that go into setting up a shot but when we were synchronised, we achieved some great moments for the film including capturing some shots in just one take!
Overall it has been a busy and challenging week. I am looking forward to getting back to work this week as now we’ve got the ball rolling and are familiar with each other, we should achieve even more wonderful things for the film."
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‘In an isolated farmhouse, an old man’s world of gardening, memories and crosswords is shattered by the arrival of an injured and traumatised woman on the run.’
Gone to Ground is an independent feature thriller from writer/director Phil Peel. www.grindstonefilms.co.uk
Rachel Stephens is a freelance filmmaker and former City Eye employee. Rachel is working as production assistant on ‘Gone to Ground’. www.rachelstephensfilms.co.uk
It is a challenge to get that many people in-sync especially with all the different variables that go into setting up a shot but when we were synchronised, we achieved some great moments for the film including capturing some shots in just one take!
Overall it has been a busy and challenging week. I am looking forward to getting back to work this week as now we’ve got the ball rolling and are familiar with each other, we should achieve even more wonderful things for the film."
______________
‘In an isolated farmhouse, an old man’s world of gardening, memories and crosswords is shattered by the arrival of an injured and traumatised woman on the run.’
Gone to Ground is an independent feature thriller from writer/director Phil Peel. www.grindstonefilms.co.uk
Rachel Stephens is a freelance filmmaker and former City Eye employee. Rachel is working as production assistant on ‘Gone to Ground’. www.rachelstephensfilms.co.uk
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