Student Perspectives – Production

Daniel Colella on the challenges of shooting in a swimming pool:

“The physical production of P.E. posed unique challenges, as filming in a swimming pool demanded careful coordination for a smooth and safe shoot. It was not as simple as grabbing a camera and “diving” right in. Lighting required particular attention; our G&E team positioned all lighting equipment outside the pool area to ensure that wires and gear remained safely away from water. Additionally, a lifeguard was always present to oversee safety and monitor anyone in the pool.

To prepare for the pool scenes, the cinematographer and I conducted tests with an underwater camera housing months ahead of production. This preparation helped us master camera operation and plan complex shots in advance. One notable sequence involved following Ben, the main character, swimming from one end of the pool to the other. To achieve this smoothly, we devised a pulley system using a rope tied to the camera operator’s life vest, which allowed the crew to guide them steadily across the water, keeping the subject perfectly framed.

Given that this was a student production, collaboration with the school’s production safety team was crucial to ensure we adhered to all safety protocols. By meticulously planning and prioritizing safety, our team maintained a professional yet creative environment throughout filming.”

• Film Title: P.E.
• Logline: A heavy-set teenager braves the nightmare of P.E. swim class.
• Website: www.danieljcolella.com

Vahan Bedelian on relying on the people around you:

“I entered film school with the stated goal of making a great thesis film that would perform well in festivals, and I was obsessed with that goal. I studied other films that had played at prestigious festivals, breaking them down into mock shot lists and analyzing the pace and rhythm of their editing. I stayed prolific, shooting three extra short films in addition to the three we were required to make in grad school. I cast my actors a year in advance, even putting a casting notice out on a Korean-language radio station in search of someone to play the mother. I went through twenty drafts of my script, edited my storyboard together with sound effects and voiceover, and spent six weeks choreographing the fight with my stunt team before even bringing in the actors to learn the moves.

You will notice that every one of these sentences begins with the word “I.” That reflects a flaw that existed early on in my creative process. I tried to turn this film into a success through sheer force of will and meticulous planning. I wanted to be one hundred percent sure that it would work before arriving on set.

But ironically, what made The K-Town Killer my most successful short in the end was learning to let go and rely on the people around me. A great example is the scene many people cite as their favorite—the scene of the mother placing an egg on her daughter’s black eye. This wasn’t one of the beats I’d spent months meticulously planning, locked away in my preproduction tower. It was a last-minute suggestion from my codirector, Healin Kweon. Because of this, on the day of production, we were able to let go and allow our actors to discover the scene in the moment while the DP followed them.

Thankfully, this scene came early in the shooting schedule, and I was able to apply the lesson I learned throughout the rest of production. That lesson was a reminder that filmmaking is a collaborative process and that the best moments in cinema require a degree of spontaneity. If you try to force the film to bend to your will, you risk killing that spontaneity. That is the nerve-wracking thing about filmmaking: You’re spending thousands of dollars per day, and you only have one shot to capture the best footage you can. Despite this, I believe it is important to maintain a degree of uncertainty on the day. That uncertainty can be anxiety-inducing, but it’s also the nature of the craft.”

• Film Title: The K-Town Killer
• Logline: A professional fighter hiding her career protects her mother from an abusive landlord.
• Website: www.bedelian.com