The Spy Who Wasn't: Pre-Production 03

The time has come. Tomorrow, Saturday 25th May, is the first day of shooting. If I'm still here by Sunday, we'll call that a success.

It's been a real rush to get everything in order before the first day. Over the past week I've struck a deal with a different, more forthcoming shop owner for one of ours scenes. I've also reworked all the shotlists, gone over the locations with the DoP, and asked a cafe to open half an hour early just for us. Crew have dropped in and out, but at least we're now definitely covered for two days out of three.

Applying for permits has been an interesting learning curve. The first obstacle was realising that I needed insurance documents to apply for a permit. The next was realising to get insurance documents I needed a risk assessment. It's a good thing I gave myself a lot of time on this one. I took a risk assessment template from work and filled it in to the best of my ability, and then applied for the minimum insurance needed for this shoot - Employer's and Public liability. Miraculously it was accepted (despite having to clarify that by 'working at heights' I meant 'in the upper floor of a building' and being promptly told that I didn't need insurance for that). Using the Hackney Council permit system was easy enough, although approval time was slow and it proved that the office was much more receptive to phone calls than email. Regardless, the film officer was very helpful.

Surprisingly, two other unforeseen factors have had me stressing the most out of the whole process - parking and food. After a series of back and forths with the council trying to get visitor parking permits for outside my flat, I realised that it was easier and ultimately cheaper to reserve private parking using the JustPark app. This parking is secure and nearer the location, so a win-win. The food on the other hand has been more troublesome. Our morning schedule doesn't allow for a sit down breakfast, and even if we had the time, we're starting earlier than the cafe's are opening. My solution has been to deputise breakfast orders to our runner, who will go to a local cafe that has agreed to open at 7.30am on a Saturday just for us. I still have adrenaline from negotiating that deal. It's also brought to my attention that I hadn't budgeted for food, so that's now added to the monetary weight over my head. Guess I'm living off beans for a while.

I feel that I have prepared as much as I can from a director's point of view, and a producer's. I will never again attempt to play both roles at the same time though, especially on no budget with no support. There are far too many small variables and factors to consider in both roles that it's impossible to do both well without having an aneurysm, but I think I'm ready. I think.

My only real concern left is the cast. Although they're absolutely great in front of the camera when it's just me dishing out lines from behind a DSLR, I'm worried how they will cope with a full crew on a tight schedule, be it knowing lines off by heart, or just plain stage fright. Ultimately though it was still the right move to go with people I know and trust to play my characters, and who I know have the ability to be funny. Either way, I guess we'll see tomorrow!