Preliminary Task & Evaluation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Hx1Hhh93GY

Film Analysis & What I have learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this project?

The technologies used in the process when constructing this ‘Preliminary Task’ have been very useful and I have tried to use them to the best of my potential. Reflecting back to my storyboard when possible, I used this to keep me on track and guide me through the editing and filming process. Although next time when constructing another project I would definitely go in to much more detail when constructing my storyboard this would help us to recognise potential mistakes or errors before hand. I think also next time I should go into more detail when presenting characters within the film, this would then help the audience identify the persona of particular characters and construct a better understanding of the film, by incorporating a better understanding of ‘mise en scene’ next time I think I would much prefer to include props and a more detailed set and conversation.
The 180 degree rule is a basic guideline in film making that states that two characters in the same scene should always have the same left/right relationship to each other. If the camera passes over the imaginary axis connecting the two characters, it is called crossing the line. The new shot, from the opposite side, is known as a reverse angle. This was one of the main technologies we involved whilst filming; this effect is a basic but effective tool, very useful as a foundation when building on new complex skills for future filming.
We used many uses of continuity techniques when filming and editing to let the film run smoothly and realistically. One of the main continuity techniques is; Match on Action – this is when two shots cut together by having a character finish an action in the second shot begun in the first shot. We gave an example of this popular technique as Dave walked through the door into the class room, we had a shot on either side of the door walking through, and this was then edited to make a match on action shot.
We start our film straight away with a mid shot of Dave entering the doors – this helps frame the shot, and introduces the character vaguely, consequently hooking the audience to keep viewing the film to find out what’s going to happen and who Dave is portrayed as. We then pan around to the bottom of the stairs as Dave starts to walk up the angle then increases then flowing the mid shot into now a low angle looking up at Dave to present as maybe a more powerful character. Next we have a fast paced range of cutting as this is a fast moving scene, involving lots of movement. We then view Dave from a birds eye high angle shot contrasting a mixture of who is in power adding a glimpse of confusion interesting the reader to have a better understanding, whether or not there is a character looking down at him.
We next cut into a mid shot high angle with Dave walking into the camera incorporating a close up view involving expression and current emotion. This then reverses as he travels past we then appear to be looking up the stairs at him moving away at pace, the camera then follows Dave as hand held to give an act of realism maybe a suspicious effect on whether there’s someone following him. The camera then jumps ahead to around the corner as Dave travels past then panning round to view him travelling through the corridor containing a level mid shot view then containing a stationary shot letting Dave enter the class room ahead alone. We then cut to a close up shot of Dave’s hand compressing the door handle; this is then when the camera is at a view from inside of the classroom this is our match on action shot. A continuity technique to emphasize the complex editing skills we can then add to for our following coursework. Once Dave has entered the room we have a Long Shot at a mid shot level acting as an establishing shot introducing Dave to the unfamiliar setting. This shot then pans around to the table of which I am sat at, once Dave is placed on the seat an over the shoulder shot is taken as I introduce myself with a conversation starting topic. We had to involve this over the shoulder shot rather than leaving the long shot zoomed in, as we noticed after the first time the acoustics of the room was an issue as the cameras microphone could not detect my voice clearly enough. We overcame this issue with involving an over the shoulder shot. This shot then reverses to over ‘my’ shoulder as Dave reply’s to my topic issued. The camera in from this view then flows into a smooth zoom shot and close up of Dave’s face implying the expression and emotion portrayed from the topic raised. Our ending shot introduces a high angle looking down on the both of us implying the scene is coming to an end, with a fade out ending the film.
I think next time we should involve the many technologies of the Adobe premiere elements such as effects this then can add a more professional finish.
I overall felt that I have learnt many new technologies and definitely used them to my full potential and am willing to use these basic skills to build on a more complex and professional film for my coursework.