Evaluation Activity 7

Looking back at your  preliminary task (the continuity editing task), what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to full product

In the preliminary task I learnt how to operate the cameras which we would later use for our main task. If I had not had done the preliminary task it may have been harder to operate the camera, which would be more time consuming. Doing the preliminary task made me confident with the camera and Mac and how to upload my film as we filmed it.


Doing the preliminary task helped me understand different shot types and angles, so that when I came to make the main task opening sequence I could use a variety of shots that I had learnt and use them appropriately. For example, by using a high angle to hide the bosses face (in our main task) this helped disguise her facial features and expressions from the audience, making her character more believable and mysterious.


Also if I had not done the preliminary task I would not have learnt how to effectively frame shots and understand rules that should be applied to film:
(Our group used these rules/techniques in both our Preliminary Task and Main Task.)
Shot-Reverse-shot:
We effectively displayed this rule in both our Preliminary Task and Opening sequence. This rule/technique helped to add interest to our film ,especially our opening sequence where we used shot-reverse-shot to show  the Agent on the phone, then the suspect who she was looking at whilst on the phone, and then back to the agent to see her start running.
Match on Action:
We used this in our chase scene to carry on the action over two shots. This technique proved to look and be quite effective especially when fast paced action/movement was occurring in our film.
180 Degree Rule:
We applied this rule to our film, particularly in one shot when the boss is holding a mobile phone to her ear and the computer is seen in the background. If we had moved the camera to the other side of her body (more than 180 degrees) this would have potentially confused the audience a s the mobile phone would no longer be seen, but her dialogue still heard.


My preliminary task was less time consuming then our main task, but in our main task we were more organized, which meant there was more thought towards types of props, suitable costumes ,and settings that where typical of the action adventure genre,etc.
I also had more time, when creating our main task, to discuss and make our storyboard and shot lists. We also created a filming schedule, unlike in the Preliminary Task, which helped me to keep track of what filming needed doing when, and editing time in between filming.


Doing the Preliminary task helped me to avoid making mistakes when creating our opening sequence, in our Preliminary task we had to re-film a shot as we framed it incorrectly. This was due to filming shots at different times and only having a list of what needed to be in the shot and a storyboard.
In my main task we assigned roles to everyone we needed in our film and made sure that they knew what we wanted from them in each shot before we began filming each time. This made the process of filming quicker and as everyone was clear on their roles and lines (The script was made in advance and everyone learnt their lines quite quickly)  there where no main disagreements that could not be resolved whilst filming or when editing.


I learnt a large amount about music and Diagetic (for example voices of characters) and Non Diagetic sound (Sound effects added). In our preliminary task we did not use any special effects or many transitions, we only used transitions at the start and end of our  task.In our main task I learnt to place the transitions in place and how to shorten them or increase/decrease their speed and any insert pauses. I used special effects, which from feedback from people who have watched our main task, we used them in suitable places and they added to the action/adventure feel of our film. I also learnt how to record voice-overs, which I used for two characters to make their voices stronger over background noise (such as wind in the park shots) and to create a greater depth to the voices which could not be detected on location.

Stills from both my Preliminary and Opening sequence tasks:

Preliminary Task Stills:

Close up of Hand on door
(Displaying Shot-Reverse-Shot)

Carrying on match on action
(Feet shown walking towards table)
Use of Low angle Shot



Displaying the 180 degree rule



Opening Sequence (Main Task) Stills:

Shot
(Walking along path on mobile phone) 
 Dialogue said:'It's....hang on.....

Reverse
Audience then see suspect 
starting to walk away then run.
Use of Long Shot

Shot
(Still on mobile phone) 
Dialogue said
'Its black (talking about the backpack on the
suspects shoulders) with a large grey logo
on it... and he's heading towards the exit
of the ground.' (hangs up quickly)

We used shot-reverse-shot again in our main task when the agent character is talking to her boss .This technique worked well for mobile phone conversations in our film.

Overall by doing my Preliminary task I have learnt how to consider continuity when making a film as it helps it feel realistic and make sense to the audience watching. I also learnt how and when to use shot types and framing appropriately.