We’ve wrapped up most of the main shoot days now, though there are still a couple left in the pipeline, and last week I was focusing on the odds and sods. The script for Automatic includes a few street scenes that I hadn’t really given much thought to, so last week I ended up cycling around Brighton with a GoPro, scouting for potential locations.

I needed a few quick shots from a flat in a tower block, so I put out some ads. Some kind friends came forward with suggestions, so I checked out a couple of those.

I’ve done some more editing, and after getting the extra B-roll the previous week, I think we’ve finally got the Downs scene under control, a relief since I was worried we might need to reshoot. I’ve also started going through all the media systematically, and realised I’m missing a couple of shoot days’ worth of audio and video, so I’ve been chasing that up with the DOP and sound guys.

Meanwhile, I’ve been trying to schedule the final truck scene for a day when all relevant actors, crew and locations are available. Tricky as ever, but it’s looking good and we may have two “Odd & Sods” shoot days pencilled in for the coming weekend. As always when a shoot day draws near, new ideas pop up and fresh problems appear. Today’s random task was putting out a request for anyone who can lend me a large pair of bolt cutters.

There’s still plenty to do, but I can finally see light at the end of the tunnel – as far as the filming goes.