Evaluation of Preliminary task

9/02/10 -

what we learnt about the cameras and software during the Preliminary task...

During the Preliminary task we, as a group were taught how to use the cameras and tripods i.e. how to put the camera on the tripod, how to use the particular camera (turn on/off, record, rewind/fast forward, put the tape in/take it out, how to put the footage from the camera onto the mac's etcetera), and we were also taught how to use the software that we had available to the mac's, which includes garage band, and the studio on which we edited the film and sound. During the editing we were also able to trim, implement sound, and we also had to render the footage in certain areas where required.

using the necessary shots and cuts...

There are two very clear point of view shots; the first is when the character walking into the room first see's the character in the chair, this point of view shot is of the character walking. The other point of view shot comes when the two character's shake hands, this point of view shot is of the character sitting in the chair. Both point of view shots come towards the end of the film.

There is a shot/reverse shot in the same room as the two point of view shots. This is less obvious than the point of view shots because it is strictly speaking not a shot/reverse shot, this is because different angles are used during the scene, rather than the same shot, but now we know how to use the shot/reverse shot to maximum effect in confrontations.

We have not used a match cut in our preliminary because we believed that the use of one could be unnecessary or confusing given the content of the film. Our main use of shots was mid-shot and long-shot, but towards the end there were no long-shots. We have learnt that we should be including the use of close-ups to greater effect when we start our main task.

The 180 degree rule...

We understand this rule when filming and it is when an imaginary line is drawn which the camera cannot cross. As we have used a moving image we believed that the line could also be moved, which we now know not to be the case. The use of the 180 degree rule is a primary rule in continuity. On two occasions the 180 degree rule is broken, once when the character walking leaves the screen on the left hand side of the camera, and then re-enters walking from left to right; and the other when the two characters are sitting down and both appear to be looking to the right hand side of the camera, despite facing each other in reality.

What we will improve/keep the same in our main task...

In our main task we will try to iron out any creases that we made in the preliminary task, and hopefully there will be none or a minimum amount of mistakes made during the production of the task in order to create the atmosphere, and response from the audience that we would like to generate from the film. Also we need to make sure the film is believable or realistic, such as the 180 degree rule; when the target on screen is travelling in the same direction, if they leave the left side of the camera, therefore they must enter from the right side of the camera.

We will keep the characters on screen the same as everybody in the group is already comfortable with their individual role's, Therefore those working the camera, and also those editing will also keep their role's in the production of the film. We would also like to keep a steady shot rate like we have used in the prliminary task, so that we can still use a variety of shots. For the main task, one main factor that we would like to focus on is the sound, in the main task we would want a more appropriate sound track, and maybe more dialogue so hopefully we can do that.