Preliminary Task-Final Evaluation

I am very happy with how our final product turned out. If I was to change anything about the footage I would attempt to make the part where the main character sits down before she starts talking smoother as this makes the filming and editing seem less professional. The part of the preliminary task that I found the hardest was the editing as I had never used adobe pro before so it took me a while to learn how the software works. But after asking my teacher and other members of the class who have used the software I got the hang of it quickly. Once I learnt how to cut the clips and add sounds I found the editing the most enjoyable part.

As a result of our thorough planning of each shot, once we had changed our location, the filming went smoothly and was completed quickly. After we filmed each shot each member of the group watched it to make sure everyone was happy, before we decided whether we needed to delete and re-film or stick with the shot we had created. This made the editing process much easier as we didn't have lots of unneeded shots to sift through.

When we first started filming we only used the handheld camera, this wasn't adequate for the type of shots we were trying to create as it was unsteady, and so we found a tripod to use. The tripod improved the standard of our filming immensely so I am glad we made the decision to use this piece of filming equipment.

My favourite shot is the slow motion of the cup hitting the floor. This turned out a lot more
successful than I thought it would. I am proud of this shot as it was the first part of filming I have ever completed.

Preliminary Task-Editing

Editing the footage

During the editing we split up into groups of two. While two of us started editing, the other two searched for appropriate sounds to add to the piece. We then switched, this allowed everyone to have a chance at editing. 

We found the editing rather easy. It took us a long time to put our clips into place and cut off any unnecessary parts to the clips. Another part of the editing that took a long time was the sound as we found it difficult to edit the volume on Adobe Premier Pro as we wanted the sound to be quieter at parts and too fade out. The quality of our film greatly improved after we added our sound. As good practise we added titles to our preliminary task. While adding these titles we played around with the different transitions on and off of the screen.

As a result of completing the editing for our preliminary task I now feel better prepared for when I have to complete the editing for my final thriller piece.

Preliminary Task-Filming

Filming the Preliminary Video
We each took turns with filming different shots, this allowed everyone to get used to using the camera.

During the filming we found it difficult to locate a room that fitted our narrative.
We started off in an English classroom at school but once we started filming we thought that it would be more believable to have the killer in a 'home' setting, this is why we decided to move to a food technology room located at our school. As a result of this scene change, we had to re-film some of our shots as the English classroom has carpeted floor but the food technology room has laminate flooring. For example the cup drop shot had to be re-filmed to make the film have continuity as the long shot of the main character would be on laminate flooring but the close up of the cup hitting the floor would be on carpet.

When we started filming we used a handheld camera but found this created shaky, unsteady shots so we then decided on using a tripod, by using this piece of equipment our shots were created at a higher, professional standard. 



 

Preliminary Filming Planning.

In today's lesson we were put into groups (I am with Lucy Hickling, Emily Brookes and Melissa Hogg). In these groups we were set the preliminary task of filming and editing a continuous piece involving someone opening a door, sitting down before engaging in a short piece of dialogue with another character. The piece must contain shot-reverse-shot, match on action and stick to the '180-degree' rule.


We started the planning for this task. Our group decided on the theme of a lady walking into a room only to be faced with a well-known-mass murderer. 

See below the story board created during planning: 


 Lucy drew the pictures and wrote the ideas for each part of our short extract while the rest of the group gave and discussed ideas.

1. The first shot we are going to be filming is a forward tracking of the main character walking towards the door. This shot is going to be accompanied by creepy music to create suspense.
2. The shots being filmed in the next frame is a long shot of the mass murderer sat in the empty room. This shot is going to be accompanied by dramatic music.
3. In the third frame we are going to film a close up shot of the characters shocked expression before cutting to her hand and then to the cup as it hits the floor (to create our match on action). As the cup hits the floor there will be sound effects of the female gasping in shock and of the cup bouncing.
4. The next camera shot we are going to be filming is mid shots on each of the characters as they exchange the dialogue, these will be turned into shot-reverse-shot during the editing stage. The music accompanying this shot is going to build in tempo and be quietly playing in the background.
5. A reverse tracking shot will be filmed as the main character moves to sit down opposite the mysterious killer. The sounds effects used within this shot is going to be slow footsteps to demonstrate her reluctance to approach the killer.
6. More mid shots of the characters are going to be filmed as they exchange more dialogue before going to a close up of the killers face before cutting to a black screen. Before the screen goes black there is going to music overlaying the image of the killer's evil smile. This music we are planning to use is going to gradually build to a crescendo. 

During in the filming there are some props that we need to use, such as a cup to be dropped to show surprise, a table and chairs at which the killer and main character will sit at to exchange the dialogue. 
The characters are going to be dressed in casual everyday clothing, adding to the narrative enigma of the piece as the audience won't know that one of the characters is a killer until the main character reveals this.