Behind the scenes shooting series 5:
Archive for December, 2010
1. How do you feel about the development of your character in the last season? For some fans the 4th season represented a crack in the façade of perfection of Swain. Firstly, he betrayed his wife by admitting that he wished he wasn’t married, and then by kissing another woman. Then, he reported the inappropriate behaviour of Bomber and 2Dads. What do you think about such turn of events?
As to the first, I found it interesting to explore those cracks, particularly as it wasn’t really one thing or the other. I don’t believe he was planning on leaving Sally, but it’s something most relationships will encounter. The second was by the book. He had no choice but to report it.
2. Is there anything you would like to see happen to you character?
Every year we find our characters put in new and interesting circumstances. It’s when these characters are tested that it is most interesting – and this year was no exception.
3. What are the challenges of playing a medic? What medical knowledge have you gained?
Obviously getting to grips with procedures is the test, but we have some great advisors to help. As for myself, I have learned a fair amount of First Aid. I actually happened upon a motorcycle accident in the off-season and was able to look after the rider until the ambulance arrived.
4. What would you do if you hadn’t become an actor?
A Butcher!
5. Do you see any similarities between yourself and Swain?
It’s hard to say, but it’s probably fair to say that we’re both quite emotional people. Dare I say it, he’s more responsible than me. But being a father would probably make me more responsible too. We certainly both have a soft spot for kids!
6. What was your favourite episode in Season 4 to film? What was the most satisfying completed episode to watch? Why?
The body parts episode was a lot of fun to shoot because it was a high stakes episode to film. However I’m not much a watcher of myself on TV so I enjoy watching other cast members’ episodes. I enjoyed watching RO’s overboard episode; I thought he did a particularly good job.
7. Would you watch Sea Patrol if you didn’t work on it?
It’s hard to say, because you become so attached to it personally – and I must confess to not watching a lot of TV. But with the cast assembled for this show I think I would’ve been very interested in it.
8. What has been the greatest highlight of working on Sea Patrol?
The people I now call my friends! And of course all the great locations we get to work in.
9. What has been the most difficult thing about your time filming Sea Patrol. Why?
Probably the periods when we’re not shooting. Trying to find work in those periods can be tricky because of our dates. To go from working constantly for 6 months to working sporadically for 6 months can be unsettling.
10. Can you let us in on some of your storylines for Series 5?
I think this season we see more of Swain the cop, investigating some of the mysteries in the episodes. Also you will see Swain make the hardest decision of his life!
Categories: Interviews
Today is day 51 (of 88).
When we’re shooting in FNQ at Mission Beach, we go out to sea every morning at dawn and don’t come back till dusk.
We rarely shoot on land, just islands or beaches. However, when we come back down south we first shoot at a myriad of different locations – nearly 70 of them at last count. Sometimes we’re shooting three different locations in a single day. With a cast and crew of 70 people, a dozen trucks and countless cars, we’re a real travelling circus.
Where we stop and park we call ‘Unit Base’. That’s where big marquees appear (for two sit down meals), rows of toilets, make up and wardrobe vans, props trucks, buses and huge lighting, camera and grip trucks.
Our caterers Bronwen and Naz routinely deliver 200 plus meals a day (when you add in guest actors and extras). We also shoot lots of different smaller sets in the studio – ten in fact – in between all the locations. These we call ‘guest’ sets. For example perfect little breakaway sets of the below decks of a ‘SIEV’ (Suspected illegal entry vessel) or fishing huts or luxury cruisers or non-descript bedrooms, offices or hotel rooms. You would be surprised. Michael Rumpf our Production Designer’s job is to either find the right location (using our two Location Managers) or build a set to exactly match the scripts’ requirements. It’s quite a balancing act. Building sets and finding props is expensive, but enables us to shoot fast. Whereas locations actually exist so don’t usually require lots of building or props so that saves money. But they are slower to shoot in and all the travel time (plus packing and unpacking) is dead time and costly too.
So we strike a balance. Our measure is ‘screen time shot’ per day (which is the length in minutes and seconds of each sequence or sequences we shoot each day. Whilst at sea we average 6-8 minutes per day, on location we average 8 – 10 minutes per day. Whereas in the studio we can average 12-15 minutes per shooting day. That’s a lot of very fast shooting and that’s what we face after our Christmas hiatus.
To schedule all this is a very complex task. We ensure we have all the scripts finished and locked well before we shoot. They run per episode an average length of 55 A4 pages. They contain an average of 60 scenes per episode. That means there are nearly 800 scenes to be scheduled over 80 plus days. Think of a jigsaw puzzle. We shoot all the blue pieces (sea sequences) first, then all the green pieces (locations) next, then all the brown pieces (studio) last. That means it’s not uncommon for us to shoot scenes from five different episodes in a single shooting day. That’s quite a challenge for the actor and one of the reasons we rarely let anyone change dialogue too much. It’s too easy to make a mistake – then later in the editing room we could find the pieces don’t fit together. Hate that! When editing we rarely drop a scene – on average only one or two scenes get deleted in the entire season. That shows how unbelievably precise everyone is.
You can’t shoot a show as difficult and dangerous as Sea Patrol without a very clear plan (a script), a carefully thought through schedule, top professionals behind the camera and dedicated actors in front of the camera.
Just a final note on our wonderful actors. It’s very rare for an actor to be in the same room as the real character they are playing. Not so on Sea Patrol. Because when we go to sea we have a fully crewed real Navy warship (all her crew sleep on board). So our actors are working beside the real captains, radio operators, chief engineers, chefs, as they do their job. And these Navy personnel coach our guys every step of the way. It’s been a fantastic partnership that way. The actors are the bravest of all, as they have to stand up in front of the audience.
But it all sure is tiring, especially after these last two weeks with lots of night shoots. Everyone is looking forward to our two week break over Christmas.
All join us in wishing all our fans a very Merry Christmas and all best wishes for the New Year.
Cheers
Hal and Di
Please Note: Behind the scenes pictures from series 3 and 4 have been used for this production update.
Categories: Series 5 Production Blog
1. How did you feel about being the ‘baby’ of the group in Season 4? Do you think the almost parental attitude that the senior sailors had towards you this past season might make it more difficult for you to return as an active and competent member of the team? Does Bird have a lot to prove?
I can’t lie, it was kind of fun being the baby of the team. I know my senior members are there looking out for me. I certainly gained a lot of experience last year and I’m a lot more confident now to do everything expected of my character. Bird is now a Seaman, it’s a step up from a Gap Year Student and I’m really looking forward to the challenges that that brings
2. Who are you closest to on the set of Sea Patrol (and why)?
Everyone on the show is an absolute pleasure to be around. This season has been great hanging out with my neighbours, Dominic and Conrad – and it certainly feels safe having those boys close by.
3. When Season 4 started airing on TV did you sit down with all your friends and watch it? Or did you nervously watch it by yourself?
I did do the whole relos and friends shindig. But just quietly I’d already seen a preview of the first episode. So by the time it came on TV it was a much more enjoyable experience!
4. How would you like to see your character evolve? Do you see any parallels between a young Navy recruit and that of a young actor like yourself?
I feel Bird has found her place within the Hammersley family and has some great relationships on board. Therefore, it’d be lovely to see her develop in other aspects of the Navy life like fine-tuning her cooking skills and becoming more proficient at using weapons.
5. What was it like to get a role on such a big show?
Absolutely incredible! Sometimes I find myself thinking, “Wow – here I am on this gorgeous ocean filming a great Aussie show”. I’m very grateful.
6. What is your favourite tourist activity in Mission Beach and why?
Dunk Island! Tropical resort full of water sports and fun in the sun. Need I say more?
7. What was your favourite episode in Season 4 to film? What was the most satisfying completed episode to watch? Why?
Being my first year on Sea Patrol I truly found excitement in each and every scene. But, the ‘Universal Donor’ episode would have to take the cake. A storyline based on the trade in human organs created quite an eerie vibe on set and it was such a fulfilling experience to act out Bird’s horror that she was gong to die. I enjoyed watching ‘Big Fish’ the most. It had all the key elements that make up a good episode. Great storyline full of twists and turns. The action was balanced and went well with the drama.
8. What would you do if you hadn’t become an actor?
The first thing that comes to mind is psychology. It was a subject I thoroughly enjoyed at school – so perhaps a career that branches off that.
9. What skill/talent would you like to show off in an episode of Sea Patrol?
It’d be hilarious if we found a karaoke bar one night on R&R. Like most of the cast, I enjoy singing ☺
10. Can you let us in on some of your storylines for series 5?
Obviously I can’t reveal too much, but I can say that there is heaps of action and drama that Bird is involved in. She certainly isn’t on her gap year any more, so with that comes greater responsibility. Hopefully you enjoy watching her journey!
Categories: Interviews
