We've officially reached the home stretch and are finally on day 3 of filming. While this scene was the shortest on paper, it turned out to be a true test of timing and patience. Since I was shooting on-site at Target, I had to navigate the continuous flow of shoppers, carefully capturing footage in those small, brief intervals where the aisles were actually empty. I strategically scheduled the shoot for a weekday instead of the weekend to avoid the largest crowds—a decision that definitely paid off—but executing the perfect shot still required a bit of maneuvering and a lot of waiting for the coast to be clear. Despite the practical obstacles, the scene itself was quite simple, needing only a few vital shots to capture the moment. It was a significant milestone for the project, as it symbolizes the very first time the audience sees our main characters, Asher and Sophia, finally interact.
Lighting Choices:
Since I was filming in a major retail store, I had to work within the restrictions of Target's signature high-key environment, where the lighting is unavoidably bright, consistent, and beyond my control. Rather than fighting the harsh overhead glow, I decided to embrace it, utilizing the sterile brightness to highlight the boring, everyday reality of the setting. This compelled me to rely largely on my camera settings to ensure the skin tones stayed natural and the highlights didn't wash out under the intense rack of lights. By embracing the available light, the scene gained an authentic, surveillance-like quality that perfectly enhances the spontaneous nature of Asher and Sophia's first encounter.
This makes the scene feel realistic, like a normal day at the store:
This helps my scene feel high-stakes, like the center of a tense interaction:
Due to the scene being very straightforward, I didn't need a large variety of shots to get what I needed. I stayed true to my original storyboards, focusing on a particular set of shots to tell the story efficiently without over-complicating things. I mainly relied on establishing shots to set the location and mood of the scene, tracking shots to follow my characters through the Lego aisle, and a combination of close-ups and mid-shots to capture small details of that first interaction between Asher and Sophia. By following the plan and remaining intentional, I was able to obtain high-quality footage without wasting time on unnecessary angles.
For the mise-en-scene, I kept Asher and Sophia in the same outfits that they wore while getting ready to ensure visual consistency throughout the film. Even though both characters are dressed in causal, comfortable clothes, their individual styles emphasize their personality differences: Asher elevates his with sharp, freshly ironed pieces and a pair of Jordans, while Sophia goes for a more dressed-down vibe in an oversized hoodie and worn-out Birkenstocks. Placing this interaction against the background of a actual Target aisle filled with Lego sets not only embeds the scene in realism but also supplies a vibrant pop of color that makes the frame feel lively.
Sophia's Outfit:
That's a wrap on production! I'm happy to have completed the filming process of my project and can't wait to dive into editing. The shoot was an amazing experience, and I am incredibly satisfied with all the captured footage. All the prep work—writing scripts, picking the perfect location, and drawing storyboards—really paid off. It made the shoot run very smoothly and kept everyone on the same page about the final vision.
Now that filming is completed, I'm moving straight into post-production! This is where I'll be modifying all the tiny details to make the project perfect. My main priority is finding the right music for the opening scenes. Since there is no dialogue, the sound effects and music will be doing all of the heavy lifting to set the mood. Plus, finding the track first is crucial so I can cut the footage to the beat! After that, I will be diving into the rest of the edit, color grading, sound design, and ultimately, adding the opening titles.
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