Question Seven

Question 7 -Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

During our Prelim Task we had to be able to film and edit a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character. A couple of lines of dialogue must then exchange between characters & match on action, shot/reverse shot and the 180-degree rule should be demonstrated.We did this by filming.

While filming we made sure we used a series of shots. We made a storyboard in order for us to know what to do, when to do and how to do it. The shots we used were, single shot, long shot, shot reverse shot, two shot, high-angle shot, low shot, centre shot, medium close up, over the shoulder shot, back shot and side shots. We did this so we could be able to film the character in different positions. However, what we had failed to do was to have safety shots. We had a lot of shots but no safety shots, which deducted a lot of marks from our prelim task.

This enabled us to make progress, as w knew that in the previous task we had failed to have safety shots. So while making our post-production we made sure that we had taken three safety shots for each hot, and we did so at three different angles three times. So at the end of our filming and when it came to editing we had a range of images to choose from, at different positions, this was very handy, as we had noticed that even some of our safety shots were not even good enough. This was due to our camera guy Daniel, who had taken some really good shots, however he had failed to take them accurately. Because during our opening, Claire was on the floor glancing through her photo-album in her living room, but we had taken it in school, so we brought props to make it look like a room. However, during some of our safety shots you could see the orange floor of the class-room and not the grey carpet we had used to cover it. Although it was very small, we could see it. But as we had had other safety shots it did not really matter, as we were able to use the others.Therefore, I learnt that it is always good to have safety shots, as you will defiantly not have enough shots or the shots could be bad. Therefore, back up shots are mandatory.We were also conscious of the mise en scene.

During our prelim task we always had to make sure that the position in the framing was right. This was because we had to film a character walking to open the door. To make it more realistic that the person was walking, we used the trekking device, as this made it a whole lot more realistic and much better. However, the problem that occurred was that it was too fast, and we had not even noticed that someone had walked past, as we were not going steadily with the trekking device.

We were able to make progress because during our post-production we made sure whenever we used any sort of equipment, we made sure it was steady and looked professional as well as realistic. Such as the camera, Daniel the camera guy always made sure the camera was on point. Because during our opening sequence at a particular point the phone drops, and we wanted it to look as effective as possible but professional at the same time. Therefore, we decided that while the phone is falling the camera will fall too, so it would look like the camera is trekking the phone, and when we did so, it just looked awful and unprofessional, as the speed of the camera was too much and there was a massive “thud” on the ground from the phone. Therefore we started thinking of other alternatives that we could use. Then finally we had come up of a solution, which we would leave the camera on the floor, and face it upwards, and so when the phone drops the camera would just trek it until it lands unto the ground. This went well, as it looked good and professional.

Therefore, the prelim task helped us to progress as it enabled us to learn from our mistakes. And we learnt how to use the equipment properly and to its best.

During our post-production task we had to edit. I personally found editing very hard digitising, but as I kept on doing it, I became more confident at it.Once we had finished with our film, we had to start editing. While editing, we realised that we had to cut some scenes out immediately. This was because some of our scenes were just too long. This is because our opening is based on Claire’s photo-album, and instead of us just to glance through a few pictures, we decided to analyse each photo, which was altogether around eight still images. When I asked a few people on their thoughts of the film, they said it was “very emotional but good, however the shots were a bit long and boring” ( Funmi). After hearing some more feedback in relation to the theme of boredom we decided to cut down some scenes, as we did not want our audience to get bored in just the opening of the movie. So to improve this we started using some editing techniques.

We used a fade in and fade out technique for the automation of the images, this was to make it quicker, and so our audience didn’t get bored. We also decided to add credits over the photo-album, however after discovering some feedback that the credits distract the audience from the actual opening we had to delete them and replace the credits somewhere else, which was at the end.We edited because if we had just left the opening the way we had just filmed it, it would not look anything like an opening at all. This is because we have to add credits to inform the audience who we are, and what the film is.

We also have to make major adjustments to our opening if we want it to look professional and realistic. This is because we had a lot of safety shots, and if we did not erase them it would just be repeated. But the main reason why we edit, is to perfect it. We have done the hard work by filming it, we now have to add the final last touches just to perfect it and make it sell. If we do not do this then it will just look unprofessional and no distributor will want to buy it.

Finally, my progression has certainly developed from my prelim task to my post –production, as I have been able to learn from all my mistakes. Such as safety shots, mise en scene, costume, hair and make up and the representation of character. While making my post-production I kept bearing these five criteria’s in mind. This is because during the prelim task we had failed in these five criteria’s and for my post-production we could not make the same mistake, as it will not show any progression neither would it show any improvement. Therefore, I would say without the prelim task as a starting point, my post-production task would not have met the standard it is now, as I would not of known how to represent the character well through her make-up, costume and hair. Neither will I know that I need to have a vary of safety shots to keep myself on the safe-side just incase the photos we took were bad or that the position in the frame has to be just right and so does the movement of the camera.