By Zak Wattiez

Continuity task involving filming and editing a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character, with whom she/he then exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue. This task should demonstrate match on action, shot reverse shot and the

180-degree rule.

These camera angles are to be included in our preliminary task.

The 180 Degree Rule:The 180° rule is a basic guideline in film making that states that two characters (or other elements) in the same scene should always have the same left/right relationship to each other.

Shot Reverse Shot:

Shot reverse shot is a film technique where one character is shown looking at another character (often off-screen), and then the other character is shown looking "back" at the first character. Since the characters are shown facing in opposite directions, the viewer assumes that they are looking at each other.

Match on Action:

This shows continuity between shots, for example if a character is walking in one shot, in the next shot that character will still be walking.

Cindy walks up the stairs and towards the walkway.

Cindy walks down the walkway towards the common room and into beeps the door unlocked.

Cindy walks in the door and along the short corridor to the inside doors of the common room.

The receptionist turns from his computer and watches Cindy walk past his door.

Cindy walks through the doors of the common room and spots

Bruce.

Cindy goes and sits down opposite Bruce and they argue

about her sandwich.

Bruce stands up to Cindy and then she slaps him round the

face dropping her keys.

Cindy picks up her keys, then storms out the common, leaving

Bruce to sulk.

• 180 degree rule: This will apply when Bruce and Cindy are sitting down talking.

• Shot/reverse shot: This camera angle will be when Cindy is walking towards Bruce and the camera will switch from the either characters alternating. This will also be used in the scene when Cindy and Bruce argue.

• Match on action: This will apply when Cindy is walking to and through the door to give the impression well.

On this page you will see existing examples of; match on action, shot reverse shot and the 180-degree rule used on an episode of Eastenders which was broadcasted on 08.10.09.

This is an example of the 180 degree rule

You can see the 180 degree rule used first at 02.24 where both the characters are shown in the shot, it then cuts to show one of the characters at 02.25, when it finally cuts to show the other character at

02.30. The effect of using the 180 degree rule for this scene is to show the audience which two characters a conversation is going to take place with, also to show the audience the facial expressions

of both characters. This creates tension for the audience and a specific type of atmosphere as the audience get to see the characters reactions before and after dialogue.

This is an Example of Shot Reverse Shot

The shot reverse shot is first used at 07.37 where we see an over shoulder perspective of one character and the other character in full view. Over the next minute of the scene the camera angles

swap the positions of the characters back and fourth. The effect of using the shot reverse shot for this scene is to emphasise the importance of what each character is saying to one another, enabling the

audience to concentrate on the conversation. focusing on each character as they speak, the audience are able to define what type of conversation is taking place by looking at facial expressions and body

language and therefore an atmosphere for the audience will also be created.

This is an of example of match on action

You can see the match on action first used at 22.06 where a character walks into and through a pub. The shot cuts and we see an over the shoulder shot being used, however the character is still walking

through the pub, the shot cuts again and we see a front view shot being used to show the character still walking through the pub. This is an example of match on action as the character is still walking in each of the shots showing continuity. The effect of using match on action is to show the audience the scene

sustains continuity though the different shots showing the character is still walking through the pub.

The software we use to edit our films is called, ‘Adobe Premier Elements 7.0.’As a task to teach me how to use the software I was given a film to modify.

Here I learnt how to import files form various platforms, such as: DV Camcorder, Webcam, Mobile Phones, Pc Files and HDV Camcorder. After learning how to import files onto the software I was now able to start

modifying the film.

Once the film had been imported onto the software, I

learnt that you had to drag the film down to the bottom where you either chose to view your

film in:

•Timeline or

•Sceneline.

Timeline

In Timeline I learnt that the film you imported is placed under, ‘Video 1.’ This enables you to cut

parts out of your film, drag them above into, ‘Video 2’ where you can either delete the

scene, make it shorter or change the place of the scene in your film.

Sceneline

In scene line I learnt that you view the

freeze fames from the start of every different shot that you have in

your film.

Sceneline

I also learnt that on Sceneline you can apply different transitions between scenes by going

onto edit, selecting transitions, and then dragging the transition you want into the little

box situated between scenes.

Timeline

I also learnt that in timeline you can apply different effects to scenes by going onto edit,

selecting the effect, and then dragging the effect you want onto the scene you want it to

appear on.

Learning how to use the software I realised there are many different things you can apply to a film using, ‘Adobe Premier Elements 0.7’ that will modify your film. Other modifications may be

adding text to scenes or applying a theme throughout your entire film or just parts of it. And even though I now realise you can apply all of these modifications to your film in either timeline or sceneline, some modifications can be done easier and more accurately using one of them.

Please click the video to view

Our group came to a decision to make our preliminary task simple, however including all the criteria described in the brief, and experimenting with different camera shots.

Actors/Actresses:

As a group we decided for the preliminary task we would keep the actors/actresses for our film from

within the group.

Actors:

Zak Wattiez: Bruce

Hayden Simmons: Receptionist

Actress:

Michayla Oglesby: Cindy

Film Idea:

For our film idea our group discussed various scenarios that we could use in our film where we could easily incorporate the criteria in the preliminary task brief.

We came up with the idea where a simple conversation takes place between a girl and a boy, eventually transforming into an argument.

We decided we should use a place in our school that we had easy access to. Preventing any difficulties with filming and giving us as a

group maximum opportunity to experiment with different camera shots and angles for each

scene.

Locations:

•Walkway to the common room

•Entrance to/and the common room

•Office next to the common room

Walkway to the common room

Entrance to the common room

Common roomOffice next to the common room

Characters:Michayla Oglesby: CindyZak Wattiez: BruceHayden Simmons: Receptionist

Stage directionsCindy walks down the walkway to the common room and opens the door into the entrance. The receptionist turns from his computer, from inside his office, and watches Cindy walk through the entrance towards the common room. Cindy opens the door to the common room, walks through it and stops to look at Bruce. Bruce looks back at Cindy with a guilty expression, whilst Cindy walks over to him and sits down on the chair beside him.

Stage DirectionsThe receptionist here’s an argument in the room next to him, turns away from his computer and looks through the window into the common room. The receptionist sees Cindy slap Bruce round the face and storm out of the common room through the door into the entrance, where the receptionist watches Cindy walk through the entrance and out of the common room.

Dialogue

Cindy: I have just been to my locker (pause). Something is missing.

Bruce: Are you sure you had a proper look? Everyone knows that you struggle to see anything past your own nose.

Cindy: Bruce I’m hungry, I’m wasting away (pause). You’re the only person who has got a spare key to my locker and yet again my food has gone missing.

Bruce: Maybe it was the caretaker (pause). He has a spare key to everything.

Cindy: Don’t play Mr Innocent Bruce! I know you’ve been stealing my food.

Bruce: Cindy I swear, I didn’t eat your Tesco brand cheese sandwich.

Cindy: How did you know that I had a Tesco brand cheese sandwich Bruce? (Cindy realises that Bruce has lied to her) Bruce how could you lie to me? This time you’ve gone too far!

When:

We decided that it would be best to film either after school or during school time. This is because we felt the common room wouldn’t be used as much during these times. After working out what free time each of us as an individual have for us to be able to meet after school to film, we felt it was best to film during school as there wasn’t a day in the week that we could all meet together to film after school.

After planning as a group what our preliminary task was about and where we were going to film, we needed to discuss how and when.

How:

We firstly booked a video camera to use for the 16 th October, the 21st and 22nd October. After booking our video camera we then had to find a tape which had no previous recordings on, which we were allowed to have for our task and that would work in the video camera.

16th October:

During our media lesson on Friday period 5 and 6, our group went down to the library where we picked up the video camera we previously booked and fount a part of school which wasn’t being used. The reception area of our school was empty and so we took it in turns to practise various shots and angles with the camera, which is shown on a previous slide. We discussed any difficulties that we had whilst using the video camera, and tired to find solutions which would overcome then. One of the problems we fount whilst filming was that our hands were not steady enough to hold the camera whilst filming, resulting in a shot which wobbled up and down. The solution to this problem was to use a tripod which firmly stood on the ground. The new shots we filmed resulted in a steadier shot. After we all had turns filming various shots and angles, we took the tape out of the video camera and took it back to the library.

After practising with the camera we all felt that we were ready to shoot the scenes for our preliminary task.

21st October:

We collected our video camera from the library which we had already booked and placed our tape into the video camera. We started filming our preliminary task from where we had finished filming our practise shots. We started filming outside of the 6th form common room centre and finished by filming a couple of shots in the entrance.

22nd October:

Still obtaining the video camera we started filming straight away from where we left off. After realising shortly after we started filming that our lead character was dressed in different clothes, we realised we had to film the whole preliminary task again otherwise there wouldn’t be continuity between the shots.

Due to one of the areas we were hoping to film some of our shots being a workplace. We were unable to film during the time we had made as the room was always being occupied by members of staff. Due to this change in our filming we had to edit our script and cut out a planned point of view shot from a character within our preliminary task.

After filming shots again that we had already filmed on the 21st we finally obtained all the shots for our preliminary task; which involved all the brief criteria.

Question one: This does not apply to this video as there are no existing products of this nature.

Question two: The video reflects the social groups of the teenage couple genre, it shows a teenage boy as a deceitful natured boy that steals of his girlfriend. This also shows the teenage girl as being aggressive and angry towards the boy

Question three: I think this question does not really apply to the video I created as it is a simple task that has a very simple storyline. The only way I believe that this would be able to be used in an institution was to demonstrate teenage stereotypical behaviours

Question four: This does not apply as the moderator is the one who is viewing and marking the work

Question five: This also does not apply as this was only used for viewing of the moderator

Question six: Things I have learnt with the technologies whilst editing my video are various techniques and skills in how to edit and create new things that improve the video quality and overall production