The Virtual End
Watch First Episode
Synopsis
The Virtual End is a comedy series following 6 friends as they work through the 7 stages of grief during a quarantine. When all hope of going back to 'normal' is dashed away, our friends hit bottom, each reacting differently to their own situation.
The Virtual End
The Virtual End follows the frantic, yet humorous, story of six friends and family members moving through the seven stages of grief in a pandemic. Phipper Films found a way to create this project while the world was closed for business. Here are some ideas for when external limitations get in the way of your plan for your film.
Share Ideas
When problems arise, fight the urge to keep them a secret. When leading a team, it’s tempting to pretend like everything is going exactly as planned, and there are times when this is the right move. But having at least a few people to confide in can help you get to a viable solution quicker. Additionally, having a positive attitude about complications signals to your team that you are able to overcome any obstacle, and they needn’t fear bringing problems to you. Sharing in the successes and obstacles during your project makes for a stronger team and final product.
Be Flexible
There are so many steps and elements involved in making a movie. It can feel like there are roadblocks at every turn that prevent you from moving your project forward. For this reason, it’s important to remain flexible. Begin the project understanding that your pre-production plan will absolutely not go the way you had designed it…and be okay with it. Little gems can pop up when things go awry. Phipper Films was unable to send a camera team to film the second angle of each shot in The Virtual End. Instead, the actor (yes, I said actor) had to learn how to use their phone or a camera to get the shot. Our directors looked at each camera angle before the scene to ensure the shot was just right. This imposition improved the skills of both the directors and the actors while making the series look more authentic.
Think Creatively
Problems pop up any time a plan is written. It’s a law of the universe that if something could go wrong, it will. When creating a film it’s your job to expect things to fall apart. The advantage you have over say, a day-trader, is that it is in your nature to think creatively. So, when things go crazy on set remember to ask, how can we fix this?
While shooting The Virtual End we ran into a problem with a door opening in the opposite direction from the interior to exterior shots. We could have tried to find another location with a door opening in the right direction, but that would have meant another move and more time. Instead, we simply flipped the video in post production. This creative solution saved a lot of time, money and headaches. Being creative when a problem arises is key to completing a project on time and on budget.
Phipper Films Services
You don’t need to fall into a state of grief when things come undone during production. Phipper Films can help you work through solutions when they arise.
