AS preliminary task

Brief:
Continuity task involving filming and editing a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another characte, with whom she/he then exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue. This task should demonstrate match-on-action, shot reverse shot, and the 180 degree rule.

continuity
uninterrupted connection or union a detailed script used in making a film in order to avoid discontinuities from shot to shot the property of a continuous and connected period of time wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

continuity production

180 degree rule

• This is the basic guideline for film editing.







• states that two characters in the same scene should always have the same left and right relationships with eachother.







• if the camera passes through an imaginery axis connecting the two subjects, this is called crossing the line.
  

Our group will use the 180 degree rule when filming. This technique will help us when filming and help us with the continuity in our filming process. We will make sure that camera will not "cross the line" ensuring we stay to the 180 degree rule, and not passing through the imaginary axis. We made sure that we did not cross the line, otherwise this would enable our filming to become muddled up and not correct.
http://www.solutioneers.net/cinema/axis.htm

shot reverse shot

• This is a film technique where one character is looking at another character, and the other character is looking back at the first character.







• The viewer unconsiously assumes that the two characters who are in the same room are looking at each other.







• This is a technique and the editing of filming dialogue.

http://everything2.com/title/shot+reverse+shot

In our script our group has been using shot reverse shot to show the conversation whilst filming we need to make sure all the camera movemrnts match the conversation, when each character is moving or speaking. It is important that we use this technique whilst filming as this will be essentual for filming the conversation between the two characters. Overall when attempting shot reverse shot it was quite difficult, but after a number of attempts we got it right. We needed to re film in order for us to get it corret as well as filming some shots again.

match-on-action.

• This occurs when an action that begins in one shot is continued or complexed in the next.








• For example: exterior shot in which a character opens a door to a house. In the next shot the camera, now indoors, films her entering the front room, and closing the door.








• This is also known as a cut that connects 2 different views of the same action, and the same moment in movement,matching the movement across 2 shots.








• The action should start in the first shot and end in the second shot.








• again this links in with the continuity part of our task and will be mostly used in editing.

http://everything2.com/title/match+on+action

Match on Action took a number of times to get right whilst filming, we had to re film in order for us to complete this.

Shot sizes

Shot sizes vary in size, and our group is going to try to use a variety of these shot sizes. When characters are walking, or moving about we will use a long shot, and when the two characters are face to face we will use a 3/4 shot. When one character speaks we will use a close up shot. We will also be using medium close up, and we will be including the other types of shots as well. Here are the shot sizes that were used when filming:

Extreme close up (ECU)

Close up (CU)

Medium close up (MCU)

Medium shot (MS)

3/4 shot

Medium long shot (MLS)

Long/ Wide shot (LS/WS)

There is also an establishing shot that could be used wehen filming (EST shot) This established the location and sets the scene. We attempted to use and vary thre shot sizes, in order for out film to be productive and to show we have the understanding and knowledge of these shot sizes.

framing

We will make sure that the person on the camera follows the make of our story board and uses the correct strategy ensuring all the framing shots are correct. In the framing we will also have to consider the rule of 3rds. The arrows inside the frame signify character movment, and the arrows outside the framing signify camera movment.
camera movement

We will make sure that the person on the camera, has the correct understanding and uses the correct movments for when we are filming, and if any of these techniques are needed then these camera movments will be used.

Plotting Prelim script
Our script is set in a girl called Bo-Dee's bedroom in which the girl is sitting down on her bed. Her Jamaican boyfriend has just herd some shocking news that she has been cheating on him with his best friend. He is very angry about the news and confronts her and immediately she denies it. He shows her incriminating evidence but still she denies any actions of the affair. The argument becomes heated and the boyfriend refuses to stay any longer, in which he leaves the room. The girlfriend then rings up her secret lover and cheekily asks him what he is doing.

Script

our script involves two people who are lovers. We decided to make our script involving a boyfriend and girklfriend as it would be dramatic and entertaining to film. The girlfriend has clearly cheated on the boyfriend and the jamacain is not happy about this. He storms in in a rampage to question her about the affair which she denies. The argument ends when the jamacain storms out of the bedroom angrily enabiling the girlfriend to phone her mystery lover. This helps the actors/actresses know what to say, so they can memorise their lines, they ca also learn how to say it with emotion. It is also responsible for the set to know what to do. we had to lay it out correctly and it helped us when filming, we each had our own copies so the actors/actresses know and when to say their lines.

shot list

The shot list helps us know what shot sizes to use and when to use them. It has to be layed out correctly and neatly, well presented so we can read it clearly. It needs to be as clear as possible to understand and read it. It has lots of information on, in a small space. It tells vital information we need to know, such as the time of day we are filming in(whether this be night or day). It also tells us the shot size we will be using, (LS, MLS, CU, e.t.c) and any camera movment if needed.

storyboard

our story board is basically the basic outline of our short prelim task. We drew out each shot matching with the shot size and the camera movment, we also added small detail in our story board saying how many seconds it will last and so on.

location Recce

This location recce is important as it states the power supplies, fire exits, and the objects in the room e.t.c. It gives us a clear idea of everything which is in the room which we are filming. This helps us with our filming process as we will need to concider everything in the room which could be a hazard or a risk. This also helps as we knew where the specific elemts of lighting were so we knew where to film in the correct places. we can also have a clear view of how the room is set up so we can set it up ourselves, a clear knowledge of energy source is applied when using location reccee.

Risk assesment

Power supplies/electrical’s
-Could electrocute yourself if not careful


Fan/Desk
-Could trip over it/bang into it
-If fan was left on would be a safety hazard
-could hurt/injure someone if bumped into

Shelf/items
-Objects could fall down if shelf is knocked/bumped into

Large Table/Chairs
-If bumped into table could injure someone
-If chairs in the way/knocked into could injure someone
-Chairs could cause someone to trip over

Size of room with too many people could cause obstruction of camera/people
-may cause injury as it will be too cramped

A risk assesment is needed as we need to recognise the possible risks and outline how we can resolve them. It is important that we know and can locate the risks. This also links to the location reccee, as by looking at the location reccee we can spot the possible risks.

mese-en-scene
When doing our prelim task, we needed to consider Mise-en-scene. This consists of a number of different things that needs to be included to make up the scene. The factors that are included in Mise-en-scene are Lighting, meaning of characters, costume, props, make up and hair, set design and character movement.

Curtis will be wearing a flat peak hat, bandana, a baggy tracksuit and trainers with his hair tucked in to the hat, no make up will be used on this character. This shows that Curtis is a very aggressive character, with a Jamaican background.

Bo-Dee will be wearing leggings with an oversized jumper with slippers.
Her hair will be pulled up into a scruffy bun, and will have basic makeup on. This shows that Bo-Dee is very laid back, and is in a comfortable environment.

Our set design will be based in a girl’s bedroom, and we will be using the props such as a radio, mobile phone a pair of knickers, the mobile phone and radio shows that we our scene will be based in modern day society and the symbol of the girls bedroom will show that she is a comfortable and stable character.

Curtis will walk in aggressively, and will remain aggressive the whole way through the scene. This will show that he has a short temper and is angry about what he has just encountered.

Bo-Dee will be very comfortable in her environment. This will come out in the way she is relaxing on her bed, and she is happy in her own company.

Curtis becomes even angrier and Bo-Dee tenses up and becomes anxious. This is because Curtis has found about her affair, and Bo-Dee is trying to play innocent and becomes very anxious.

The lighting would be very naturalistic, and we will make use of the lights that will be provided on location.

Evaluation

Planning
Throughout the duration of this task, our group had to put together some short footage of filming a conversation. We found this very enjoyable and found that we had a pleasant experience. We are all friends so it was easy to communicate and give our feedback and help each other. We had a difficult time when planning, and many things needed changing such as location recee and our filming room when in the process filming. We planned to film our scene in the drama studio, as it was not available; we had to think of other suitable rooms we could film in. We had to change rooms about three or four times before we found a suitable location for us to film, which was a small meeting room that was perfect for us to film.

When preparing and writing the script we needed to be careful as we wanted it to be entertaining for an audience but not boring. At first we all came up with the idea about one girl going shopping, and then went to another girls house to show we the shopping. The reaction we got was not good and we knew straight away we needed to do something about it. We wanted it more dramatic, and for it to deal with teenage life. We then came up with the idea that a girl should cheat on the boyfriend and he find out being very angry. We put this together well and decided to make it even more fun and interesting for the boy to speak Jamaican, this was very entertaining to film, and was in fits of laughter. It all got put together well and we was happy with our script. the planning and technicalities of continuity needed to be goos and up to scratch, we needed to ensure that we had continuity so the conversation could be put together nicely to create a fluent communicating conversation.
Filming
In our prelim task our group tried very hard to use all of the new skills and filming techniques we have previously learned. Our first attempt at filming was a disaster. We were very behind from the rest of the class, and we knew we needed to quickly film. At first we could not take it seriously as we were laughing and joking all of the time. The actors were forgetting their lines, and we needed to become familiar with the camera and how to use it. We had a test of getting to know how to use the camera, and to understand how to use it. We also forgot one of our major props which we needed to use, and was essential. Luckily one of our group members had a silky leopard print scarf which could be used and mistaken for some knickers. Our first attempt at filming was not good and we was sent back to re film as we had not got a wide range of shot sizes, we needed a variety of all seven shot sizes. This time we knew what we were doing and had stopped messing about, we were finally ready to film, we were also told that we needed to have a variation of shot sizes. Our group needed to quickly film, as we were already very behind so we could get on to the editing. We all had a lot of fun throughout this and we worked very hard in our team as well as independently.

camera techniques
When filming we needed to put all of the techniques and skills we had learned and put them into action. One of which was continuity, we used continuity in the sense that we took different shots from different angles, and in the end it all continued into one long conversation. We used consistency in characteristics of the actresses, plot, and places that are viewed by our audience. It was very hard for the actresses to keep all of their movements the same in each shot (in our case it was hand movements). We needed to take several shots, before we got all the movements the same but in the end it worked out nicely after taking several shots for the match on actio tecnhique.
Another factor that we needed to ensure we used was the 180 degree rule. We needed to make sure that the two characters that were in the same scene should always have the same left/right relationship. At our first attempt we had problems with this, as we could not find out 180 degree line, as we filmed in a particular small room. After a number of attempts we had the help of our teacher, who showed us where the camera could be placed to not cross the line. We eventually made our self an imaginary axis and we made sure that the camera does not pass through the line.

Match on action was another technique and skill we needed to learn and use. It was mainly used in the process of film editing, with a cut that connects two different views of the same action at the same moment in the movement. We did this by carefully matching these actions over two different shots. We did this when Curtis holds up a pair of knickers which needed to be carried through over two shots using hand movements, which the movement began in the first shot and ended in the second shot. We had difficulty with these movements and needed to re take the shots over and over again before we got it right. During the process of this it was very stressful for the actors, which made it frustrating for all the members of our group, with help and support we did it successfully in the end.

Finally, shot reverse shot was another technique that we added in to our task. Our group had no trouble with doing a shot reverse shot, although we needed to make sure that the camera did not break the 180 degree rule. We attempted it a number of times so that in case there was anything wrong with the first attempt we would have back up and use the second attempt. We showed one character looking at another character, and then the other character is shown looking back. The characters are facing the oppose direction, which makes the audience think that they are looking at each other. Our group was very happy and pleased with the way we did the shot reverse shot technique.

Difficulties
In order for this task to be successful, we needed to outline any problems we had when shooting, and fix them. We did not break the 180 degree rule, although we needed help with creating the imaginary axis and placing the camera. We used both of the techniques shot reverse shot and match on action. We did not have any major problems with these techniques; accept getting the right movements in match on action. If we were to face any severe issues then our group would make sure that we edit it to get it right, gaining all the help that should be needed.
Our mise-en-scene needed to be considered and stuck to whilst filming, and acting. Mise en scene consists of a number of different things. The factors are: lighting, meaning of characters, costume, props, make up and hair, set design and character movement. We did not have any major problems with sticking to our mise en scene. We needed to change our filming location as we could not find an appropriate room at our specific time to film. In the end we found a set location which we were happy with. We did not use any lighting, we used the lighting that was available, which was normal light switches. We used light as our film is set in the day time. We stuck to our mise en scene costumes, which we had decided, with the characters wearing a tracksuit, leggings and a jumper top. Hair and make up was also basic, with the girl having it tied up in a bun. We used a number of different props, such as school bags scarf’s, mobile phone and many other accessories were included. The knickers we needed were not available and this was our main prop. This caused frustration for the group but in the end we used a thin leopard print scarf which looked very much like a pair of knickers, we were all very relieved and happy with the way everything turned out. The set design was located in a girl’s bedroom, which we stuck to all the way through the task.
Framing and shot sizes
The framing we used was very basic, but we did do certain shots with excellent framing. Framing was one of the stronger parts of our task, as well as shot sizes, and camera work. We all tried to make sure that we had accurate framing, but one shot could have been more accurate, this was the extreme close up of Curtis swearing, which could have been more accurate but it was not that bad it needed to be re done, as we did not have time. Once each shot was taken, every member of our group would have a look, and we would all agree to proceed any further. We used a variety of shot sizes, and when editing all of our shot sizes worked effectively together. This was very effective when editing and showed our knowledge of different shot sizes. This also improved our continuity. As I was on the camera, I was very nervous at first as I did not have a clue what I was doing, but I got the hang of it and we all worked as a team to achieve effective camera work. It took a number of times to shoot certain shot sizes, but in the end it all worked out.
Skills
The skills I gained from this whole experience would be basically everything our group has done. Before we started the course I had no idea what the 180 degree rule, shot reverse shot, and match on action was. I have gained the knowledge about them, and also put them to use using camera work. I have also learned how to use a camera, and my knowledge of different shot sizes, camera movements and framing techniques. I also learned how to edit a piece of work on the school’s edit sweet, which our group thoroughly enjoyed.
Learning and putting all of these skills into action was very interesting, even though I would still like to improve. I would like to improve the use of lighting, we did not really experiment the different shades and types of lighting, I will do this by researching different types of lighting and lighting film techniques, such as 3 point lighting, colour temperature, and spot temperature. I would also like to familiarize myself with different types of camera movements that we did not use in our film making. These all include, panning tracking, jibbing and tilting.

The first skill i improved was learning about three point lighting. The three point lighting technique is a standard method used in media such as video, film, still photography. The technique uses 3 different lights. these are called, key light, fill light, and back light. The key light is the main light and usually the strongest and the most influence on the look of the scene. It is placed to one side and creates a shadow for the other side.

The second light is called the fill light, and is placed to the opposite side of the key light, it is used to fill the shadows created by the key light. The fill light would usually be softer and less bright then the key light. To achieve this you could move the light futher away or use some spun.

The back light is placed behind the subject and lights from the rear. Rather then providing direct lighting (like the key and the fill) the purpose of this is to provide definition and subtle highlights aropund the subjects outlines. This also helps seperate the subject from the background and provides a three dimensional look.

This was out Image 1: When we was trying to figure out what to do we immediatly realised that we needed to create a shadow on the persons cheeks and make them have a lighter shaded and shiny forehead. we was looking for a darker background with their face lit up and have a shiny effect.

Our picture: I think we generally got the idea of having the shadows on the cheeks. The problem with this is that the natural light we had around us was too light and we needed a darker background in order to get the effect we wanted. We also needed to show the forehead on this so we could also get the shiny effect. I think that we did get a good picture in the end and am haoppy with our attempt with lighting techniques.

Editing
Once we finished filming, we now needed to edit, putting it all together, using all of the techniques we learned. We were all trying to put off the editing, but then we were very excited and wanting to see what we could put together. When we first logged on the edit sweet we were all very nervous and had no idea what we were doing. Our teacher explained what to do and we were happy with what we needed to do. This was called capturing where we needed to capture each shot that we wanted and link it with another shot. We tried to use the different shot sizes we had made. Once we did this we viewed what we had done so far, and we was very happy with what we had produced. It all came together nicely. It was a very enjoyable experience for the group as we had a laugh especially at Sade’s extreme close up when capturing and viewing the footage.
The next part of the editing was to overlap the sound. This was very difficult to understand at first and we had trouble trying to figure out what to do. As Sade sometimes spoke too fast or too .loud, this was very hard to overlap the sound. We were shown how to do it by our teacher, and all of the members of our group found this very difficult. We all thought about it and each made an attempt to do it. It look time and effort but in the end we completed it, this part was the hardest part of the editing stage and once completed we wanted to view it. When we viewed it every member of our group was ecstatic with the work we had produced.
The last part of the editing we needed to do was to add titles in to this. This was pretty straight forward as all we needed to do was to add in the title of our story, and add our names at the end. This was no trouble and we soon finished editing.

Overall I think myself and the rest of my group thoroughly enjoyed doing this task. It gained my knowledge of using a camera and all of the different techniques and factors it comes with. We are very happy with the way our filming and the whole task was carried out.