Last Stages of Prep
Running into the last 7 days before departure and it is all go. Not least because, being freelance, I also have to do my tax return before I leave, rather than my traditional submission on the 31st Jan.
But on my to-do list this week are;
Popping back over to see Keela Outdoors to pick up some kit with the SES patch attached. I’m delighted to have them on board as a supporter and what a lovely team they are. The kit is top notch too so I’m very excited to test that in proper conditions. It has proved excellent in the benign surroundings of a -3C dog walk in a park in Edinburgh, so it should be ideal in the mix at high altitude.
Picking up a few last minute bits, like another big holdall. I was going to get another Olive Green army surplus bergen but I don’t have time to “de-army” it, by which I mean slap as many flag patches on it to make it look as little like an actual military rucksack as possible, just because in some countries, they probably don’t want foreign military personnel turning up. Not that I’d be giving off many James Bond/Jason Bourne vibes as it is.
Confirm filming times with interviewees. See if I can’t squeeze in one more collaborator.
Lay out all the kit and make sure I’ve got it all. Double check all the filming kit. I’m going light but there won’t be many chances for getting spares.
Try and spend a bit of time with the family. They’re used to me buggering off overseas for work now, but this’ll be the longest stint for the boys so far.
Take time to sit down again with all my research and the structure plan and really dial in efficient interview plans and shot lists. There will be plenty of scope for ad hoc stuff but this is a big project and I’d hate to get back to the edit suite and think “dammit, I’ve haven’t got enough GVs, or coverage of that bit or this bit” - a simple list will give be a framework and choices later on.
Try and get things lined up for when I come back. I’m a professional, freelance filmmaker that is the main breadwinner for the family, with a mortgage to pay etc. I have faith that taking the time to make this film will be beneficial career wise, but I still need to pay the bills and don’t have the luxury of a carefree, zero responsibilities, financially supported context in which to create this passion project. But that is good in a way, as it focusses the mind. But yeah, I’ve had to give myself over to this so much that I’ve probably not been as good as I usually am at rewarming all the professional relationships, and doing dull stuff like SEO audits of my website.
Testing kit also. I aim to use a solar power array to charge power banks with which to then charge the camera batteries overnight. It worked in the couple hours of meagre sunlight in my greenhouse in Scotland (albeit only up to 50% but that’s pretty impressive considering).
Final admin checks ins e.g. info requested by airlines, etc. As well as making my own production manual with all the info on logistics etc sorted out.
So it’s a fairly frenetic time at the moment, but it’ll hopefully mean that as soon as I step on that plane next Friday morning, the focus can entirely be on executing the project and giving us as good a chance of success in telling this story as possible.
