Shoot Day # 1
LOCATION :
DHA Phase 6, Residential Area (Dead-End Street)
BEHIND THE SCENES (DETAILS):
Our day started with a meetup at DHA Phase 6. We planned to shoot using our phones, but things didn’t go as smoothly as expected. The cars weren’t clean, so we had to make a quick stop at the car wash. After that, we headed to the location, a dimly lit residential area that we’d scouted earlier. It was a dead-end street, perfect for the isolated vibe we were looking for.
Once we parked outside a garage, the real challenge began: framing the two main actors, Ibrahim and Hussain. It was tricky to separate them and get them into character. Instead of focusing on the shoot, they started talking, which led to a couple of takes where the shots didn’t align. Eventually, after two or three tries, we managed to get the shot we needed. With no additional lighting on set, the dim natural street lights worked in our favour, creating a moody, atmospheric tone for the video.
SHOOT ANALYSIS:
The initial location posed challenges in terms of framing, but we persevered. The absence of lighting became an integral part of the scene, contributing to its gritty and cinematic atmosphere. After several unsuccessful attempts, the actors finally synchronised their movements with the shot, and the scene began to take shape. We also demonstrated creativity in the portrayal of the cars. In an unexpected turn of events, we randomly parked them on the main road to create an artistic shot, reminiscent of a potential “drug-exchange” scene involving a duffel bag in one of the cars. The actors embraced the improvisation and engaged in playful dancing around the cars, infusing the visuals with a distinctive element.
CHALLENGES AND COMPLICATIONS:
The most significant challenge was the inadequate lighting conditions. Since we only had streetlights available, we had to rely on the natural dimness of the surroundings, which made it challenging to capture clear shots. Moreover, the interior car shots, initially captivating, became repetitive after reviewing the footage. The framing of the shots from inside the cars started to blur, resulting in a somewhat uniform visual tone across different scenes.
UNPLANNED IDEAS:
A random yet creative moment came when we parked the cars on the road, just to capture a unique frame. We decided to make it look like a drug-exchange scene with the duffel bag, giving the entire moment an edge that wasn’t planned but worked out perfectly. The actors playing around the cars and dancing gave the scene some much-needed energy.
Shoot Day #2
LOCATION: DHA PHASE 6 RAYA PARKING LOT
BEHIND THE SCENES :
For our final shoot day, we relocated to a commercial parking lot near the same residential area where our earlier scenes had been filmed. This vast, open space, dimly lit and almost empty, provided the ideal backdrop for our desired slow-burning, ambient visuals.
Joining the cast this time were Sikandar and Zain, who arrived in their own cars, adding a sense of scale and movement to the shots. Specially Sikandar came to the set with new idea and scenes and more so bringing a chaotic yet fun and playful vibe which brightened up everyone’s mood .Ibrahim and Hussain reprised their roles as the core characters, continuing to play off each other as longtime friends entangled in a quiet, unfolding narrative.
SCENE SET UP AND KEY MOMENTS :
The spacious parking lot provided us with ample room to experiment. We set up wide, static frames with the actors leaning against their vehicles or standing in distant silhouettes. While there wasn’t much action in these shots, their stillness was what made them powerful. Our goal was to capture moods rather than fleeting moments.
Once we had completed the scenes set in the parking lot, the entire team decided to treat ourselves to some food. We ended up at a craft burger phase 4, which was a casual wrap-up to the night. Sikandar insisted on squeezing in a few extra shots, solo and vibing, without any context. He grabbed the camera and framed himself as the centre of the scene. It was an unplanned moment, but it added a spontaneous and perfect touch to the shoot that encapsulated the entire night
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UNPLANNED MOMENTS AND TEAM DYNAMICS:
Compared to the first shoot, this one felt more relaxed and unpredictable. The addition of Sikandar and Zain definitely changed the energy. Sikandar, in particular, brought a chaotic and creative energy to the set, while bringing new ideas and making jokes here and there to brighten up everyones mood,directing himself by the end of the night.
The team chemistry had improved since the first day, making it easier to coordinate, even with the unplanned moments and quick changes. It was less about controlling the scenes and more about letting them unfold naturally.
END of production:
After two exhausting days of shooting and constant communication, we finally wrapped up production on the video. Honestly, I found teamwork to be both tiring and challenging. Our perspectives didn’t always align, and each of us wanted a bigger role in the production process. Since we lacked experience working as a team on a video shoot, misunderstandings were inevitable.
However, the teamwork was beneficial in other ways. Collecting props and equipment, brainstorming ideas, and dividing the workload helped us move things along. Despite the struggles with coordination, the collaboration paid off when it came to bringing everything together — from gathering resources to presenting the final vision on camera.
