As of uploading, the film discussed in this post has not been released, therefore will not be described by name. The images attached have had permission to post with the idea that it doesn't show anything impactful to the film.
Applying and Getting the Internship
Applying and getting the internship in the first place was something special. I had never worked on a professional film set as a paid position before, but I had tasked myself with getting some experience over the summer between my 2nd and 3rd year of university, where I study Film Production and Screenwriting. This opportunity kind of landed at my feet.
During my second year, I had taken a module surrounding production design and designing the layout of sets. Although I have always wanted to focus more on the producer and writing routes in the film industry, this course was a breath of fresh air and an insight into something different. I found the course inspiring and extremely fun, which I believe helped give the course guest lecturer a good impression of me. Not long after finishing the course, an email had gone round within my class from the guest lecturer; he wanted to hire some students for an International Feature Film he had been hired for and needed an extra pair of hands. And with my set goal, I jumped at the chance. The one downside, it was in 4 days and about 2 hours from where I live, and I don't have a car...
Sending him an email was the hardest thing I thought I'd had to do, I hadn't had proper experience before trying to apply for professional jobs in the industry and only had my CV for regular retail work. I researched carefully into what would be different between the two, quickly made up my CV, and replied, adding a selection of images from my student short films I had worked on and the set that was there, since I was the one to organise the prop bookings within them. I was also fortunate that my housemate and best friend applied, so when we both received an email back, accepting us, we were both ecstatic... And now needed to find a hotel room in our current budget.
Finding the hotel was easy, just a budget hotel for about £30 a night and we would just share a bed to lower the cost. We had the dates sorted, the hotel was booked, the car was filled with petrol, and then we received an email from the lecturer; he wanted us to visit his warehouse, get to know him and the rest of the team, and understand what the project is as everything has to be hush-hush.
Warehouse Set-Up
Once we arrived at the warehouse, I was astounded by the number of items that adorned the shelves. One floor was filled with racks and racks of costumes, in the back sat a cutting station for the costumier, and in the waiting room costumes sat on display. Walking down the stairs, we entered the main warehouse. Shelves and shelves filled with small props and boxes as well as loads and loads of different machinery to make everything from scratch. In the center of the room sat a giant wagon. Yes. A wagon. Something that was about to go to the same set we were, getting its final touches layered on and the cotton roof placed on top. Seeing everything in action was beginning to make the experience surreal, and we hadn't even set off to the actual location.
We met with our lecturer, now employer, his wife, and the rest of the team. Going through what was to happen over the next few days and what to expect. He gave us a tour of the warehouse, bringing us to a room where all the props he was taking to location lay, ready to be packed away, and then back to the office where he gave us the chance to read the script of the feature film! Although it was only two to three scenes of the script, it was still amazing to read something that was about to be produced professionally for a budget that I am still shocked to have worked on. After finishing the script, we went back to the warehouse floor to find a way we could help, which evidently was to help make some of the final props needed for the shoot and help pack away the items into carrying crates, making sure that we had an idea where everything was. The day was ultimately good, and the next step was to get a good night's sleep and set off for set!
The Trip and Day 1
The call time for the shoot was 10 am, but we were two hours away. After packing for our stay, we jumped in the car, turned on the loud Spotify playlist to wake us up, and headed down the road… after a mandatory Mcdonald's breakfast break. We knew that the weather would be hot… but this was heatwave time and we had barely prepared. The route was not too bad, but debtors led us down country roads that were 60 miles per hour and VERY windy, so we went about 30. The country road was one car wide, and absolutely terrifying as we kept climbing higher and higher. I was so glad to not be driving, but with my housemate still in her P plates, it was a first-time experience doing these for so long. Eventually, we started to descend the giant hill, still in the single-lane road, and it was now a steep drop in front and to the side of us. I mean, I say this but I don't think my housemate would say the same. I think my fear of heights might be creeping in. But nonetheless, we kept going and going through these country lanes and eventually came about 5 minutes left to the location. That was when, as I was distracted, my housemate very quickly turned the car, narrowly missing a tree… yep… a tree. Hey, it's random country roads, they're scary.
Anyway, we arrived at the location, parking up, taking our covid test, and greeting the other people on set. The first day was absolutely boring and a bit behind schedule, which meant that we spent a lot of time in the car sweltering as we waited for the director and producer, who was stuck in London, to arrive and explain where we needed to set up. We waited, and waited, and eventually, they arrived and we were quick to start setting up a 1900s medic camp in the middle of a car park with the sun hitting us square on. We worked for a few hours, and were permitted a break, sitting on the trailer of the van eating a lovely seasoned chicken roast out of a plastic container, something I never thought would happen, and to top it off with a caramel brownie before we set back to work setting up the many canvas tents. All in all, the first day ended up being around 13 hours long and I was ready for bed.
Day 2
The morning of the second day was a lovely temperature, and then it quickly flipped to being in the 30s, and I was dying. The morning started out with a lovely, complimentary full english breakfast and a trip back to the car park. Throughout the day, we needed to finish setting up the medic camp, ready to film that evening. My housemate and I were split, she was brought to film with the crew while I helped the art department continue setting up. Although the bulk was already up and ready, the set needed dressing with the props, fake dead bodies, and lighting to give it the feel it needed and not some random camp in the middle of nowhere. I was tasked with spraying mud on wood, filling lanterns with kerosene, and lighting fires in little brasiers, ready to present to the director once they finished. Being in the direct sun, surrounded by fire and the only shade being the canvas tents that acted as saunas, meant that I went through about 15 bottles of water. Looking back on it, I'm fairly certain that I ended up having some sort of heat stroke or heat exhaustion afterward as I felt utterly terrible, drained, ill, and ready to pass out, But hey. That's mostly my fault for not bringing a hat or sun cream on the first day. All in all, the second day ended up being around 15 hours long, getting back to the hotel late and the call time for the next morning being incredibly early.
I won't shy away from it. I cried. By the end of the day, I was so tired and ill that after a 13 hour day and 15 hour day with about 3 hours of sleep in the center, I wanted to quit and I was regretting my choice. BUT I powered through, and after a good night's rest and a later call time of 8 am, I was ready to deal with it. I had two days left and I could get through it, and boy am I glad I did.
Day 3
The next day was very chill, although still hot, we were to change location and set up a new camp. We went up a steep hill, carrying more tents and pots, pans, crates, and all sorts to make a normal, sleeping camp for the next scenes. The set was based in a small canyon-like area, with giant high rocks surrounding us. The view was amazing as we went up. This was also the first time that my housemate and I were tasked with doing very small set decoration to make the area look lived in. As we set up the area, we heard rumours of animals arriving at the set and we realised that the set is going to look even cooler than it already did. One by one, donkeys, goats, chickens, and horses all piled up into the canyon area, ready for wide shots. All the animals were lovely, on the small breaks it was as if the whole set turned into a petting zoo. Sooner or later, filming began, and the day was going fast. Because of the high canyon walls, although the temperature on the ground was hot, up in the cliffs was like small wind tunnels. I was in heaven. Animals, nice weather and nice scenery.
During the second half of the day, when we were getting into more close up shots of the set, rumours started spreading amongst the extras. My housemate and I were walking back to the set, and we saw a Ferrari drive up to set. A very strange sight when you're normally surrounded by trucks, vans, and people in work clothes and even more so up in the steep woodland area. We got back to set, and upon hearing rumours and the car we had just seen; Tom Felton was on set.
Now, most people reading this won't know, but I am a massive Harry Potter fan, and having grown up with it and being a Slytherin, I had a starstruck crush on him. However, we were on a professional set and I needed to keep my cool. As much as I wanted to 'fangirl', here was not the time or place. When he came, I must admit, I didn't keep my cool. As much as I was trying, I was trying too hard to not stare, or make eye contact. And every time I made eye contact with my housemate, who was a similarly huge Harry Potter fan, we couldn't help but smile. Eventually, after Tom had had a look around on set, our employer introduced us to him and we had a lovely conversation with him about the situation of Covid-19 and the impact that it has on the film sets and our current education as film students and University. He was absolutely lovely, and it made my previous night of tears all worth it. This was something I probably would never do again.
Day 4
With the final day, there was not much difference and everything seemed a lot more relaxed. Everyone knew what they needed to do so as soon as breakfast was over, we headed to the set to make sure everything was still in its place from the previous day. Though my employer had a semi-surprise to share with us; we would become the 'standby props' personnel for the day, shadowing the director and being his go-to people between the props department and him. This was a great experience, being able to give very quick ideas about the props to the director and helping him with his vision.
Overall
Overall this day was calm and it probably helped that I knew it was nearly over. As much as I love the film industry, I think I've realised that being on set isn't for me and that my calling was in the pre-production, behind-the-scenes stage of the industry. But this was a great experience and an amazing kickstart to my summer. Something great to add to my CV while also helping add to decisions of my future career.
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