By Mark Edwin Afawo
Director of Photography (DOP)
Date: August 1, 2024

On the morning of July 21, 2025, I walked onto set with excitement humming in the air. It was supposed to be a big day for our production team  lights, camera, magic. Everyone was geared up, ready to shoot what we believed would be a defining scene. But by sunset, the only thing we had captured was a lesson — a hard one.

Let me take you back.

The day started with promise, but something felt… off. The setup was slow, conversations scattered, and most noticeably no one seemed to know what the next move was. As Director of Photography, I should have been calling the shots  literally. But instead, I was fumbling, checking gear, hoping to fix a growing problem I had caused.

The Missing Piece(s)

My first mistake was staring me right in the face:
we didn’t have a wide-angle lens.

For most shoots, that would be a setback. For this one, it was a disaster. The entire shot plan relied on wide framing. We couldn’t improvise. We couldn’t cheat it. We simply didn’t have the lens to tell the story.

Whose job was it to confirm the gear list before call time? Mine.

But it didn’t stop there.

My second blunder was worse:
I hadn’t prepared a shot list.

No blueprint. No visual map. Just vibes. The crew stood around waiting for direction — direction that didn’t exist. I found myself trying to improvise angles and lighting setups that should’ve been locked down days ago. Time slipped away like light through an open shutter, and all we had to show for it were scattered ideas and confused faces.

 When the Crew Falls Apart

To make matters worse, the crew coordination was nearly nonexistent. People weren’t sure of their roles. Assistant directors asked questions no one had answers to. What should have been a tight, collaborative machine looked more like a group project gone wrong.

That day, we didn’t just fail to shoot — we failed to function.

But every set back, no matter how painful, is also an opportunity. And this? This was my masterclass in humility and growth.
 A New Scene Begins.
We’ve officially rescheduled the shoot for August 4, 2025. But this time, the energy is different. There’s a hunger for redemption. Here’s how we’re doing it right:
    •    We’re filming with a high-resolution iPhone. Not because we’re settling, but because we’re embracing flexibility and creative freedom. With mobile cinematography, we’re turning limitations into innovation.
    •    A complete and detailed shot list is in the works every angle, every move, every frame pre-visualized and shared with the team before shoot day.
    •    Crew roles are now clearly defined. No one will step on set unsure of their purpose. Everyone will know their place and how their part fits into the bigger picture.
    •    And most importantly, I’m stepping back in with new eyes — committed to better planning, stronger leadership, and a renewed creative fire.

 What I Learned

This experience taught me that filmmaking isn’t just about gear and talent — it’s about clarity, communication, and respect for the process. I learned that even with passion, without preparation, a production falls apart.

I take full responsibility for what went wrong — not out of obligation, but out of growth. I owe that to my crew, and to myself.

August 4 isn’t just another shoot. It’s our comeback. A second chance to do it better, smarter, and together.

So we roll again.
Lights. Camera. Redemption.

Mark Edwin Afawo
Director of Photography