VLOG: Slapping scene and Fight Showdown

ACTORS

• Yakuza member - Eugene Laureta
• Kato Maki/Father - Francois Francisco
• Kaya Maki - Chantelle Anonuevo

SCENES

• Kaya's father slaps her across the face for her disobedience
• A fight ensues between Kaya and an unknown Yakuza member

SHOT LIST

• 2-shot 
• Reaction shot (Extreme close up)
• Tracking shot
• Mid-shot/Profile shot
• Perspective shot
• Low angle shot

For the slapping scene we filmed inside my living room and for the fighting showdown, we filmed in a nearby carpark. 

James was in charge of directing and filming the fighting scenes while Chandler, Jasmine and I filmed and directed the slapping scene. Today we used the tripod to stabilise the camera during the 2 shot and when it came to the perspective and profile shots I held the camera.

Slapping Scene

We directed Francois to remove his glasses before backhanding Chantelle; I suggested he do this so that when the audience watch the trailer, they immediately focus on his hand even before he slaps her. We were a little concerned about this scene because we didn't want Francois to hurt her so we rehearsed the scene a few times before he really did slap her. We agreed to improve the sound effect on Adobe premiere by downloading a non-diegetic slap sound. 

We also spent a few minutes voice coaching Francois because he had to say: 
Anata no basho o shitte iru (TRANSLATION: Know your place) 

Fight Showdown 

The sun was shining and the warm breeze was refreshing, it was a perfect day to film outside. We tasked my brother, Eugene, with the fighting choreography. To give him some idea of what we needed, I explained that Chantelle had to win the fight. We gave him a few minutes to teach Chantelle a few moves while James, Chandler and I discussed the different shots. We also planned to speed up some of the motions in case they were too slow. 

James tracked the fighting choreography in a circular motion to give the illusion that the camera rotated 360 degrees. The result was a seamless fighting sequence. 

To conclude the scene, James filmed Chantelle punching Eugene unconscious using a perspective shot. 

As with Francois, we voice coached Eugene and Chantelle because of the Japanese dialogue: 

Dono yo ni fukaku watashitachi no rutsu? (TRANSLATION: How deep are your roots?)

and 

 Sono fukakunai. (TRANSLATION: Not that deep)