PRELIMINARY TASK

review

INTRODUCTION

This week my group and I filmed and edited

our preliminary task, a crucial aspect of our

AS level, for this task, we had to include in

our conversation three important principles

when filming: match on action, shot-reverse

shot and the 180 degree rule.

MATCH ON ACTION

This is when one shot is cut to

another that matches the action

and pace of the first shot. This

can be useful in creating

continuity when you’ve filmed a

scene weeks apart.

SHOT-REVERSE SHOT

This is when two characters are having a conversation

and one character is filmed looking off the screen to

where the other character is supposed to be and vice

versa. One character must face the left and the other

the right, so you can edit between them talking and

listening. This is often used in films when two prominent

actors cant be in the same place at the same time.

180 DEGREE RULE

This is when there is an imaginary line

that cuts across a room, dividing it in

half. This is for when one is filming many

different shots and is switching between

characters. When switching, one must

ensure that all shots are filmed from the

same side of the line. If the line is

crossed, then the continuity is broken.

HOW MANY MISTAKES DID YOU MAKE?

Thankfully, throughout the process of

filming and editing we did not make too

many mistakes. The only mistake I can

recall making is overstepping the

boundary for the 180 degree rule.

However, this was noticed instantly and

immediately re-filmed and resolved.

H O W D I D Y O U M A N A G E T H E G R O U P D Y N A M I C S A N D C O L L A B O R AT I V E N AT U R E

O F F I L M - M A K I N G ?

Since there was going to be one character on

screen at all times we added a short scene of the

other character waiting for her to arrive in order to

allow her to get to practice with the equipment.

Other than that, we all took turns in filming, with

one of of us filming the establishing shot and the

character walking through the door, the other

filming the waiting and the other filming the

conversation . Whilst editing, we all took turns

equally in editing different parts of the recording.

HOW DID YOU MANAGE THE EQUIPMENT?

The equipment was not too difficult to

manage as we had previously been

given a masterclass on how to use it.

We collectively managed to set up the

equipment easily, two of us working to

set up the camera and dolly, and one of

us working with the lights.

HOW DID YOU MANAGE THE DEADLINE?

It was easy to manage the deadline as

each group were given allocated slots –

one for filming and one for editing - from

our teacher to ensure no one would

overstep the deadline. However, we did

have to edit into our break time, but this

was not a problem and we successfully

managed to meet the deadline.

WERE THERE ANY HEALTH AND SAFETY LOGISTICAL

PROBLEMS?

Since we weren’t filing on a hazardous site,

there was not much to worry about with health

and safety problems. However, since we did

experiment a bit with red head lights, we had

to make sure we didn’t burn ourselves whilst

maneuvering the equipment around.

Additionally, we had to be careful when walking

around due to all the wires from the lights that

were strewn across the floor.

H O W D I D Y O U O R G A N I S E Y O U R H U M A N R E S O U R C E S – P E O P L E I N VO LV E D I N Y O U R

P R O D U C T I O N ? A ) A C T O R S B ) C O S T U M E S C ) P R O P S

Our actors were the people involved in the filming and editing of our

preliminary task. From my group, I was the only one who was not on

camera so the other two girls in my group were the actresses, but we also

ensured that they would be able to do work behind the camera. Since we

were filming during school time, we just wore what we usually wear to

school . However, one of the girls in my group was wearing a hoodie and

since she was playing quite a menacing character, she lifted up her hood

to make her look more intimidating. We didn't’t use many props in our

preliminary task as it was a simple conversation . However, for this we did

use a table and chairs to make it look more like a business meeting.

HOW DID YOU MANAGE YOUR CAMERAS?

We created opportunities for everyone to use

the camera even those who ere acting on

screen. Managing the actual cameras weren’t

too difficult to operate as we were given a

class on how to use them previously. We did

things like make sure we white balanced the

room in order for everything to look perfect on

screen.

HOW DID YOU MANAGE YOUR L IGHTING?

Although we were only filming a conversation, we

decided to play around with the lights a little. We

used two key lights in the room. However, when we

looked back on our recording we realised everything

was a little overexposed. This was not a major issue,

however during our actual opening title sequence to

our thriller film, we will need to ensure the lighting

is perfect. Lighting takes a lot of time to master,

therefore this was all part of the learning process.

HO W D ID YO UR STO RYB O ARDING AND SHO O TING SCRIPT WO RK IN

PRACTICE? D ID YO U MAKE CREATIVE D ECIS IO NS?

We were given an idea of what to do by our

teachers so there wasn’t much storyboarding

needed. Surprisingly, we did not come up with

a particular script and just improvised on the

spot. Since we were meant to film a

conversation, we made it a little more

interesting by creating the characters of a good

guy and a bad guy. This made things slightly

more dramatic and a bit less boring.

HOW SUCCESSFUL WERE YOU IN MANAGING YOUR

TIME?

I think we managed our time well,

completing the filming within an hour

lesson and the editing within around half

an hour as it took a while to get used to

the editing program – Adobe Premiere

Pro. We had been taught how to use it

earlier on in the year, however it did

take a bit of time to get the hang of it.

HOW DID DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY ENABLE YOU TO DEVELOP

CREATIVELY?

Although this was only a short task, by being able to

experiment with the camera and lighting I became more

familiar with what to do. By getting a closer look at the

camera, it enabled me to test out different angle shots and

camera distances, which will prove to be useful when

producing my final piece. By being given the opportunity to

play around with the lighting, I was able to become familiar

with different techniques I could use in my thriller.

Additionally, from editing the task on Adobe Premiere Pro, I

was able to get the hang of using the program. This would

we useful for when editing my final piece.

IN F ILMING AND EDITING, HOW DID YOU ENSURE THAT THE MEANING

WOULD BE APPARENT TO THE AUDIENCE?

To be completely honest, there was not

much meaning to our preliminary task.

However, we did make it clear to the

audience through the use of costumes and

tone of voice who was the good guy and

who was the bad guy.

WHAT TYPE OF PEOPLE HAVE YOU REPRESENTED?

In our preliminary task, the characters

represented were essentially a ‘good guy’

and a ‘bad guy’. However, since there was

not much development of the characters

as it was a 30 second clip, the only things

indicating that there were indeed a ‘good

guy’ and ‘bad guy’ were the costumes,

tone of voice and the dialogue.

WHAT SORT OF REALISM HAVE YOU CONSTRUCTED?

In our preliminary task we did try to

create some sort of a gangsta realism.

However, since the clip was very short

and filmed in the Media Studies studio

in our school, we were not able to

construct the gangsta realism we were

going for properly.

WHAT ROLE DO THE MISE -EN-SCENE, ACTING, D IALOGUE AND STYLE OF

CAMERAWORK PLAY IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VERISIMILITUDE?

There was not much construction of verisimilitude in our

preliminary task as although we did attempt to create a

sort of gangsta type realism, we did not have the facilities

to produce a convincing and effective mise-en-scene and

filmed in the school’s Media Studies suite. The only thing

that actually hinted towards this gangsta atmosphere was

the hoodie one of the character’s were wearing, the

dialogue and the characters tone of voice. However, since

there were only two students on the camera, and not two

professional actors, the acting was quite substandard and

no proper realism was constructed.